Construction plant mechanic
Construction plant mechanics service and repair heavy plant machinery like diggers, forklift trucks and cranes.
Also known as: Plant fitter, mobile service engineer
- Starter salary£26,000 a year
- Experienced£44,000 a year
- Typical hours40 to 44 a week
What you'll do
As a construction plant mechanic, you could:
- visit clients for routine work and attend breakdown calls
- identify problems using tools and digital diagnostic equipment
- service plant equipment, forklift trucks and heavy machinery
- inspect engines, gearboxes, electrics and hydraulics
- dismantle parts to fix faults before reassembling them
- carry out tests and safety checks before signing off jobs
- complete records for each job
Working environment
You could work on a construction site or in a workshop.
Your working environment may be dirty, noisy, physically demanding and you may spend nights away from home.
You may need to wear protective clothing.
Skills and knowledge you'll need
You'll need:
- the ability to use, repair and maintain machines and tools
- problem-solving skills
- to be thorough and pay attention to detail
- the ability to work well with your hands
- the ability to use your initiative
- the ability to analyse quality or performance
- customer service skills
- observation and recording skills
- to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device
How to become a construction plant mechanic
You can get into this job through:
- a college course
- an apprenticeship
- applying directly
College
You could start by taking a course that will teach you some of the skills you'll need to find a trainee job.
Courses include:
- heavy vehicle maintenance
- construction plant or machinery maintenance
- mechanical engineering
Entry requirements
Entry requirements for these courses vary.
Apprenticeship
You could apply to do an apprenticeship with a company that services and repairs heavy plant machinery.
Training options include:
- Construction Equipment Maintenance Mechanic Level 2 Intermediate Apprenticeship
- Construction Equipment Maintenance Technician Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship
- Lift Truck and Powered Access Vehicle Engineering Technician Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship
These take between 2 and 3 years to complete and are a mix of on-the-job training and study off site.
Entry requirements
You'll usually need:
- some GCSEs, usually including English and maths, or equivalent, for an intermediate apprenticeship
- 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths, for an advanced apprenticeship
Direct application
You can apply directly for jobs if you've got experience in mechanical engineering or the service and repair of heavy vehicles, like:
- construction plant machinery
- forklift trucks
- lorries and buses
- military vehicles
- agricultural machinery
Restrictions and requirements
You'll need to:
- have a full driving licence
Career path and progression
With experience, you could become a:
- construction plant technician
- technical services representative
- repair workshop supervisor or manager
You could also set up your own service and repair business or train apprentices.
Registration
- you'll need a Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) card or equivalent to train and work on a construction site
Guides for this industry
Related roles
- Job roleEngineering maintenance technician
- Job roleMaintenance fitter
- Job roleConstruction plant operator
- Job roleMechanical engineering technician
- Job roleHeavy vehicle technician
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