The Scottish Building Apprenticeship and Training Council (SBATC) was formed in 1934.
The Scottish Building Federation, founded in 1934, took the initiative to create the Scottish Building Apprenticeship and Training Council (SBATC). This council plays a pivotal role in the construction industry by overseeing an apprenticeship indenture scheme.
The main purpose of SBATC is to regulate the training, qualifications, wages and working conditions of construction apprentices in Scotland. In order to achieve this objective, SBATC operates an indenture registration scheme (‘Scottish Building Apprenticeship Scheme’) and publishes apprentice rates of pay for those registered on the scheme.
The latest SBATC apprentice rates of pay can be found here: SBATC Pay Promulgation – Monday 2 October 2023
The Council is composed of Employers’ and Operatives’ representatives and is designed to provide a balanced platform for discussing and enhancing apprenticeships and training within the Scottish construction industry.
Steve Dillon (Regional Coordinating Officer at Unite the Union) is the Operatives’ Secretary and Vaughan Hart (Managing Director of the Scottish Building Federation) is the Employers’ Secretary.
Regrettably, following changes introduced in 2017 against the wishes of the industry, employers are no longer required to register their craft apprentices with SBATC. Unfortunately, despite continually attempting to remedy this situation throughout the intervening years, the Employers’ Secretary of SBATC has now written to the Operatives’ Secretary to issue notice of the decision to dissolve the Scottish Building Apprenticeship Scheme as operated by SBATC.
Consequently, SBATC will no longer accept new apprentice registrations from Monday 1 January 2024 onwards. All existing apprentices will have their registrations honoured until the end of their apprenticeship. SBATC will therefore continue to negotiate and publish apprentice rates of pay for registered apprentices for the coming years.
Replacement Certificates
Due to the changes implemented in 2017, SBATC is no longer in a position to issue replacement apprenticeship certification.
In the first instance, it is recommended that candidates contact the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) with a view to obtaining their qualification certification: SQA Replacement Certificate Service
Alternatively, candidates should get in touch with CITB
Construction Craft Apprenticeships
SBATC’s registration indenture is ‘time-served’ and concludes after the apprentice has served the requisite period under the programme, completed the relevant college course (Professional Development Award), fully submitted the portfolio of evidence, passed a final ‘Skills Test’ and achieved the relevant SVQ.
Craft apprenticeships are offered at SCQF level 6 (SVQ Level 3) across nine trades; carpentry and joinery, bricklaying, painting and decorating, stonemasonry, wall and floor tiling, plastering, roof slating and tiling, floorcovering and wood machining.
SCQF level 6 craft apprenticeship Indentures are available on two separate SBATC routes;
The four year route is predominantly aimed at school leavers and those who have limited experience of construction. The employer commits to giving on-site training enabling, the Apprentice to gain the relevant hands-on experience coupled with a formal education within a college environment.
Alternatively, the two year ‘Experienced’ route is aimed at individuals that have been working within the industry for a period of time yet have not been given the opportunity to undertake a formal apprenticeship. Adult apprentices attend the same college classes as those on the four year programme but must have relevant industry experience and are typically over the age of twenty two before starting the qualification.
More details about construction occupations, careers and apprenticeships can be found here: Go Construct and here: DYW Trades and Apprentices in Scotland
Further information on CITB employer grants for construction apprenticeships can be read here: CITB Scotland Apprenticeship Grants
SBATC Announces New Pay Promulgation for Construction Apprentices
Monday, 2 October 2023
The Scottish Building Apprenticeship and Training Council (SBATC) is committed to enhancing the prospects of Building Craft Apprentices and ensuring fair compensation for their hard work. Starting from Monday, 2 October 2023, SBATC has established new hourly wage rates for Building Craft Apprentices while they are registered with SBATC. These rates are as follows:
The SBATC apprenticeship pay promulgation can be accessed here: SBATC Apprentice Rates of Pay – Monday 2 October 2023
The agreement amalgamates the two-stage approach recently promulgated through the CIJC Working Rule Agreement (6% uplift in July 2023 followed by a 1.5% increase in January 2024 for Craftspeople and General Labourers) into one single uplift of 7.5% for apprentices as a one-year agreement.
This approach will simplify arrangements for apprentices, avoiding multiple uplifts across the year, whilst also allowing apprentices to benefit from the full 7.5% from early October rather than having to wait until January for the final instalment.
The promulgation includes a ready reckoner table to support employers to understand their National Minimum Wage responsibilities for apprentices with rates of pay detailed for each year of apprenticeship dependent on the apprentice’s age.
4-Year Apprentice Wages:
| Apprentice Age | 18 or below | 19 – 20 | 21 – 22 | 23 and over |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st Year | £5.68 | £5.68 | £5.68 | £5.68 |
| 2nd Year | £7.02 | £7.49 | £10.18 | £10.42 |
| 3rd Year | £9.32 | £9.32 | £10.18 | £10.42 |
| 4th Year | £11.32 | £11.32 | £11.32 | £11.32 |