Trainee Building Inspector - Building Control

Are you ready to build a career that shapes the future of your community? We’re looking for a motivated and enthusiastic individual to join our Building Control team as a Trainee Building Inspector. As a Trainee Building Inspector, you’ll be part of a supportive and experienced team ensuring that buildings across Reading are safe, accessible, and energy-efficient. This is a career-graded role, offering structured progression and development opportunities as you gain experience and qualifications.

We seek the best talent from the widest pool of people as diversity and inclusion is the key to our success. Reading Borough Council is a Disability Confident Employer and is committed to the recruitment and continued employment of people with disabilities.

About the role:
As a Trainee Building Inspector, you'll be part of a friendly and knowledgeable team, learning on the job while gradually taking on more responsibility as your skills develop. You will:

• Carry out supervised site inspections of building works in progress, checking for compliance with Building Regulations relating to structural safety, fire protection, accessibility, insulation, drainage and more
• Assess building plans and technical drawings with support from senior colleagues, learning how to interpret and apply the relevant legislation and guidance
• Calculate and process application fees and maintain accurate digital records for all inspections and decisions
• Support the investigation of unsafe or unauthorised building work, helping to gather evidence and report findings
• Learn how to assess and report on dangerous structures, working alongside experienced inspectors to ensure public safety
• Provide clear, courteous and practical advice to members of the public, homeowners, architects, and contractors
• Assist in issuing statutory notices, reports, and decisions under supervision
• Participate in consultations with internal departments (e.g. fire safety, highways) and external bodies such as utility providers and emergency services
• Work towards building the technical knowledge and confidence needed to make independent assessments and recommendations

As you develop, you’ll take on more responsibility, including checking simple applications, issuing decisions, and conducting independent site visits.

You will be based in our Civic Offices (although working from home is not discouraged) in an open office working alongside others in the Planning, Transport and Public Protection Service. This enables co-working to happen naturally and provides a friendly and collaborative working environment.

About you

We’re looking for someone who is enthusiastic, eager to learn, and ready to take the first step in a rewarding technical career. You should have:

• 5 GCSEs at Grade C/4 or above (including Maths and English) or equivalent
• A full UK driving licence
• Some experience in the building industry or in a customer-facing role
• Strong communication and teamwork skills
• Good attention to detail and record-keeping abilities

About Reading

Reading is a vibrant town subject to considerable development growth and that brings with it a large and varied case load for the building control team. Ranging from major commercial and community development to more routine domestic and business construction projects. This is an exciting opportunity to join our team at a time of significant changes in the Building Control profession.

The success of the team relies on every individual playing their part to the best of their ability. As well as the colleagues that you will work closely with every day, you’ll also be part of Team Reading, playing your personal part in making Reading a successful and vibrant place.

Our vision is to ensure that Reading realises its potential as a great place to live, work and play, and that everyone shares the benefits of this success. Our values and behaviours guide how we will achieve this:

Work Together as one team - work collaboratively, with each other and with our partners, and demonstrate the Team Reading values in everything we do.

Drive Efficiency - show initiative, be adaptable to change and put forward ideas to help improve delivery and efficiency. Take responsibility for our own learning and development and for reaching our potential.

Be Ambitious - be demanding of our own performance – striving to be even better – and be prepared to engage with and challenge leaders in a constructive and positive way.

Make a Difference to Reading - maintain the highest levels of customer service and be flexible and willing to provide the services needed at the time they are needed.

Our offer

We offer support to grow and develop your career with in-house training and the opportunity to attend continuing professional development events. Innovation and ambition are strongly encouraged and your ideas for business improvement listened to.

A competitive salary is offered alongside a range of benefits including:

• Generous holiday entitlement - 25 days holiday each year plus bank holidays - rising to 33 days after 10 years' service, with the option to buy additional leave
• A wide range of flexible working opportunities
• Modern working environment at the Civic Offices in the heart of Reading
• Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)
• Life Assurance - three times your annual salary (for members of the LGPS)
• On-site day nursery (Kennet Day nursery) rated outstanding by Ofsted
• Season Ticket Loan - a loan to help with the cost of your rail or bus journey, to and from work
• Lease car salary sacrifice scheme allowing you to lease a brand new, greener car for three years. The monthly fee includes insurance, servicing and road tax

To arrange a confidential discussion on this position please contact the Building Control Team Leader - Paul Boland via email: paul.boland@reading.gov.uk or via phone: 07977 632 962

Closing Date: Tuesday 8th July 2025

Interview Date: TBC

Please note that the closing date is given as a guide. We reserve the right to close this vacancy once a sufficient number of applications has been received. Therefore, it is strongly advised that you complete and return your application as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.