UK

United Kingdom · Property and facilities · Mid-Level (2-5 years)

Building Technology Specialist

As a Building Technology Specialist, you keep the pulse of smart buildings steady and strong.

Here is the whole job, in plain words. What it is, a real day, what you decide, how you're judged, how people get here and where they go next. Then the part no course gives you: twelve AI tutors who learn your work.

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Free to start: a plan built for this role, and a Future Fluency module to try first. No card.

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One email: what AI is changing in this job, and where to start free. With a link back here. Nothing else follows unless you confirm your address.

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  • Experience bandMid-Level (2-5 years)
  • Direct reportsNo direct reports
  • Reports toBuilding Technology Manager
  • UK framework levelUsually a coordinator, or early in a professional job

Also advertised as Building Automation Engineer · Smart Building Coordinator · Facilities Technology Analyst · Building Management Systems (BMS) Engineer

Built on 43,079 real UK job descriptions we analysed · grounded in qualifications employers recognise

Two short quizzes about you

1From this job to a course

The qualifications matched to this job

BPEC Level 3 Diploma In Plumbing Foundation BPEC Certification Ltd · Level 3 · covers 1 of 10 standards
City & Guilds Level 2 NVQ Diploma in Installing and Maintaining Refrigeration Systems City & Guilds Limited · Level 2 · covers 2 of 10 standards
BPEC Level 3 Diploma in Plumbing and Domestic Heating BPEC Certification Ltd · Level 3 · covers 2 of 10 standards
EAL Level 3 NVQ Diploma in Installing Electrotechnical Systems and Equipment (Buildings, Structures and the Environment) Excellence, Achievement & Learning Limited · Level 3 · covers 2 of 10 standards
EEA Level 3 Diploma for Engineering Maintenance Technician (Electrical/Instrumentation and Control) Energy & Environment Awards · Level 3 · covers 2 of 10 standards
City & Guilds Level 3 NVQ Diploma in Electrotechnical Services (Electrical Maintenance) City & Guilds Limited · Level 3 · covers 2 of 10 standards

Matched from the standards this job is measured against: a suggestion, not an official ruling.

The units you would start with

Understand and carry out electrical work on domestic plumbing and heating systems and components BPEC Level 3 Diploma In Plumbing Foundation
Understand and carry out electrical work on RAC systems and components City & Guilds Level 2 NVQ Diploma in Installing and Maintaining Refrigeration Systems
Environmental Technologies - On-Site Portfolio of Evidence BPEC Level 3 Diploma in Plumbing and Domestic Heating
Understanding the electrical principles associated with the design, building, installation and maintenance of electrical equipment and systems EAL Level 3 NVQ Diploma in Installing Electrotechnical Systems and Equipment (Buildings, Structures and the Environment)
Diagnose electrical system faults and implement problem solving techniques EEA Level 3 Diploma for Engineering Maintenance Technician (Electrical/Instrumentation and Control)
Understanding the practices and procedures for planning and preparing to maintain electrotechnical systems and equipment City & Guilds Level 3 NVQ Diploma in Electrotechnical Services (Electrical Maintenance)

The future skills this job leans on

AI Fluency working with AI as a thinking partner
Data Fluency turning numbers into a decision
Systems Fluency seeing the whole picture
Start my Building Technology Specialist plan, free
Your Plan Illustration

Built for Building Technology Specialist

6 units that map to this job, from the qualifications that cover it.

  1. Understand and carry out electrical work on domestic plumbing and heating systems and components BPEC Certification Ltd · covers 1 of 10 standards Level 3
  2. Understand and carry out electrical work on RAC systems and components City & Guilds Limited · covers 2 of 10 standards Level 2
  3. Environmental Technologies - On-Site Portfolio of Evidence BPEC Certification Ltd · covers 2 of 10 standards Level 3
  4. Understanding the electrical principles associated with the design, building, installation and maintenance of electrical equipment and systems Excellence, Achievement & Learning Limited · covers 2 of 10 standards Level 3
  5. Diagnose electrical system faults and implement problem solving techniques Energy & Environment Awards · covers 2 of 10 standards Level 3
  6. Understanding the practices and procedures for planning and preparing to maintain electrotechnical systems and equipment City & Guilds Limited · covers 2 of 10 standards Level 3
These are the real units behind this job, in the order they rank for it. Nothing here is marked done, because this plan has not been started by anyone yet. Yours would fill in as you go.

2AI and this work

Will AI change your work as a Building Technology Specialist?

Nobody can say exactly how. Here is what this job is being asked for next, and where to start.

How the AI economy is changing work like this

A broad read on this kind of work, not an analysis of this job on its own. Roles that share a pattern get the same answer here.

Fading: AI does more of this

AI is taking over routine data summaries and generating initial troubleshooting steps for common system alarms.

→
Rising: worth more because of AI

Your ability to interpret complex data and craft compelling narratives around system performance becomes even more valuable.

The new skills this role is being asked for

  • Prompt Engineering for Building Operations
  • Data Storytelling for Facilities
Why each one is rising

The future skills this job leans on

We'll only ever tell you what we can actually back up. No hype, no scare tactics.

What happens when you start

Next, a free account. We build your Building Technology Specialist plan as you set up, starting with a Future Fluency module on using AI in your job. No card.

Your first Future Fluency module is free. After that, your AI tutor is £70 a month.

Start my Building Technology Specialist plan, free Ready to pay? Subscribe for £70 a month

3What this role really is

We see you

You wonder if AI will ever truly understand the intricacies of a building's heartbeat. Yet, you feel a quiet thrill at the thought of having more time for the challenges that spark your curiosity.

A Building Technology Specialist keeps smart building systems running across a site or small cluster of buildings.

4A day in the life

Not a job advert. A real day, built from what this role actually holds.

08:45
You start your day by reviewing the overnight BAS alarms, identifying a spike in energy usage that needs further investigation.
11:30
You deploy new IoT sensors in a conference room, ensuring they're correctly configured to feed data into the smart building platform.
14:00
You meet with the site facilities team, offering guidance on optimising the use of building technology systems.
16:15
You update the technical documentation for a recent system change, knowing future-you will appreciate the clarity.

5What you'd actually use

The tools this job runs on, and how well you'd need to know each one.

Building Automation System (BAS) / BMS (e.g., Johnson Controls Metasys, Siemens Desigo, Honeywell Niagara Framework) Advanced

Navigating front-end graphics, responding to alarms, pulling trend log data, configuring new points, writing/modifying basic control logic (e.g., block programming in Niagara), troubleshooting complex system failures.

IWMS / CAFM Platform (e.g., Archibus, Planon, iOFFICE + SpaceIQ) Expert

Managing work orders, updating asset data, running pre-built and custom reports for space utilisation or maintenance history, configuring workflows, and managing integration points.

IoT & Smart Building Platform (e.g., Johnson Controls OpenBlue, Siemens Enlighted) Advanced

Monitoring dashboards for occupancy, air quality, or energy spikes, deploying and commissioning new sensors, configuring rules and alerts, using API data for custom analytics.

Energy Management Information System (EMIS) (e.g., Schneider PME, Eaton Brightlayer) Expert

Tracking energy consumption against baselines, identifying anomalies, generating monthly utility reports, conducting Measurement & Verification (M&V) for energy projects, building complex energy models.

Data Visualisation & Reporting (e.g., Power BI, Tableau) Expert

Connecting to various data sources (BAS SQL DB, IWMS APIs), building and publishing complex, interactive dashboards for operational teams and management.

6What you get to decide, and how that grows

Power in a job isn't your title. It's what you're allowed to decide. Here's how it grows as you move up.

The choiceComing in Where you are nowThe step above
BAS Schedule Adjustments Proposes changes to supervisor for approval. Independently adjusts schedules within defined energy and comfort parameters. Informs supervisor of significant changes. Defines parameters for schedule adjustments across a portfolio. Approves changes made by junior staff.
Critical System Fault Resolution Escalates immediately to supervisor. Assists with troubleshooting under direct guidance. Diagnoses and resolves routine critical faults independently. Engages vendors for complex issues after informing supervisor. Defines troubleshooting protocols. Manages vendor response for major incidents. Authorises emergency repairs up to £10K.
New IoT Sensor Deployment Assists with physical installation and basic connectivity under supervision. Deploys and commissions new sensors, configures rules, and validates data independently for specific use cases. Seeks manager approval for significant new deployments. Designs sensor deployment strategy for new projects. Approves new sensor types and platform integrations.
Capital Expenditure (Tech) No authority. Identifies needs and reports to supervisor. Recommends small-scale equipment replacements or software licences (e.g., up to £5K). Needs manager approval. Proposes and justifies capital projects up to £50K. Has authority to approve minor tech purchases up to £10K.

7How you'll be judged

The scoreboard, and what is not on it. The hard targets, how often each is actually looked at, and the quiet signals that never reach a dashboard.

BAS System Uptime
The percentage of time our Building Automation Systems are fully operational and communicating.
Target · 99.5% minimum

If a BAS controller goes offline for 4 hours in a month, that's a dip we'd investigate. We're aiming for near-perfect reliability.

Critical Alarm Resolution Time
The average time it takes from a critical alarm (e.g., chiller fault, major temperature deviation) being raised to its resolution.
Target · <2 hours

A 'no heat' alarm comes in at 9 AM; you've diagnosed and initiated a fix by 10:30 AM. That's hitting the target.

Energy Anomaly Identification & Resolution
Number of significant energy spikes or unexplained consumption patterns identified and investigated, leading to a resolution.
Target · 2-3 per quarter

You spot a consistent overnight energy draw on a floor that should be empty, investigate the BAS, and find a lighting schedule error, which you then fix.

IWMS Data Accuracy
Accuracy of asset data and work order categorisation within the IWMS for your assigned buildings.
Target · 95% accuracy

When we pull a report on all HVAC units, the data you've entered (make, model, installation date) is correct and complete.

Proactive Issue Identification
How often you spot potential problems in building systems *before* they become critical failures or occupant complaints.
  • You're regularly flagging potential issues from trend data, suggesting minor adjustments to control sequences, or initiating preventative work orders based on system behaviour, not just reacting to alarms. Site Facilities Managers will often tell us you've saved them a headache.
System Optimisation Contributions
Your ideas and actions that improve building performance, comfort, or energy efficiency.
  • You're proposing and implementing small tweaks to control setpoints, adjusting schedules based on occupancy data, or suggesting minor equipment upgrades that lead to measurable improvements. This might be a small change to a fan speed schedule that saves £500 a month.
Technical Documentation Quality
The clarity and completeness of your system documentation, troubleshooting guides, and configuration records.
  • Someone else can pick up your documentation and understand how a specific BAS point is configured, or follow your troubleshooting steps without needing to call you. It's all about making sure knowledge isn't locked in your head.
Collaboration with Site Teams
How well you work with the local facilities teams, acting as their trusted technical advisor.
  • Site managers actively seek your input on technical matters, they feel supported by your expertise, and you're seen as a helpful resource, not just 'the tech person'. You're able to explain complex issues in a way they understand.

8Would you like it

Both sides. What people enjoy, and what grinds them down.

What people enjoy
Solving Technical Puzzles

You'll spend a good chunk of your day diagnosing system faults, optimising control sequences, and figuring out why a sensor isn't reporting correctly. It's a continuous stream of technical challenges.

A specific floor is overheating, but the BAS shows everything's fine. You'll dig into the trend logs, check the sequence of operations, and maybe even physically inspect the VAV box to find the root cause.

Making a Tangible Impact on Efficiency

Your work directly contributes to reducing energy waste and improving building performance. You'll see the results of your optimisations in energy reports.

You adjust the start/stop times for a plant based on actual occupancy data, and the next month's energy bill shows a noticeable drop. That's a direct win from your efforts.

Being the Go-To Expert

Site facilities teams will rely on you for technical advice and support. You'll be the person they call when the 'smart' part of the building isn't so smart.

The facilities manager asks you for advice on a new IoT sensor they're considering, trusting your technical judgment on its integration and value.

What frustrates people
  • Dealing with 'stranded assets' – old, proprietary systems that are a nightmare to integrate or upgrade.
  • The 'manual override' problem – when local staff undo your optimisations.
  • Inconsistent or poorly labelled data from various building systems ('point-tagging hell').
  • The constant battle between IT and OT over network access and cybersecurity policies for building systems.
  • Pilot projects that prove successful but never get funded for wider rollout.
What this role does not give you
  • A purely strategic or 'big picture' role – you'll be hands-on with the tech.
  • A fully greenfield environment – you'll deal with a mix of old and new systems.
  • A quiet, predictable 9-5 – urgent issues can pop up at any time.
  • A role where you don't have to explain things to non-technical people.

9Who you work with

Your work directly impacts operational efficiency, energy consumption, and occupant satisfaction across your assigned buildings. Getting it right means lower utility bills and happier people working in our spaces. Getting it wrong means higher costs, more complaints, and a lot of reactive firefighting for the facilities team. You're a critical link in making our buildings truly 'smart' and responsive.

Inside the business
  • Site Facilities Managers and their teams
  • Energy & Sustainability team
  • Occupant Services (for comfort issues)
  • IT Support (for network connectivity)
  • Capital Projects team (for new installations)
Outside the business
  • BAS Vendors (for support and upgrades)
  • IoT Sensor Providers
  • Specialist Contractors (e.g., HVAC, lighting controls)

10What you need before you start

Not a wish list. The things you would be expected to already have.

  • At least 2-3 years of hands-on experience with Building Automation Systems (BAS) or similar industrial control systems.
  • Demonstrable experience in troubleshooting and optimising HVAC, lighting, or other building services controls.
  • A solid understanding of IP networking principles as they apply to Operational Technology (OT) environments.
  • Experience with data analysis and reporting, ideally using tools like Power BI or Tableau to build dashboards.
  • A track record of successfully working with facilities teams to resolve technical issues.

11What to practise next

Where the job is going, and what to do about it starting this week.

Edge Computing & Local Data Processing

As more data is generated by IoT devices, processing it closer to the source (at the 'edge' of the network) becomes crucial for speed and efficiency. You'll need to understand how local controllers and gateways can perform analytics before sending data to the cloud.

Edge Devices & Gateways · Real-time Analytics · Data Filtering & Compression · Local AI Models

  • This week: Research common edge computing platforms used in smart buildings (e.g., Niagara Edge, specific IoT gateways).
  • This month: Identify one data stream from a building where local processing could significantly improve performance or reduce costs.
  • Month 2: Explore the capabilities of our existing BAS controllers or IoT gateways for running basic analytics or rules locally.
  • Month 3: Discuss with your manager how we might pilot an edge computing solution for a specific use case.

Quick win: Investigate if any of our current BAS controllers have unused processing power that could be configured for basic local analytics or improved data logging.

12Staying current once you are in

What people here do to keep up
  • Attending industry webinars and conferences on smart buildings, IoT in real estate, and facilities technology.
  • Participating in online forums or communities dedicated to building automation and controls to learn from peers.
  • Taking manufacturer-specific training courses for new BAS or IoT platforms as they are introduced.
  • Seeking out opportunities to shadow senior engineers or project managers on complex integration projects.

13The rising capability

The rising capability

Zavmo analysis

What's rising in its place

This is where the work is heading, and the higher pay with it. Get fluent here and the shift stops being a threat and starts being your edge.

Prompt Engineering for Building Operations

Large Language Models (LLMs) are getting incredibly good at understanding and generating text. Soon, you'll be using them not just for emails, but to interpret complex BAS alarms, generate summaries of system performance, or even draft initial control sequences. The key is knowing how to ask the right questions.

  • Clear and Concise Prompting
  • Contextual Awareness
  • Output Validation
  • Task-Specific AI Tools

Data Storytelling for Facilities

You'll be generating more data than ever, but raw numbers don't convince anyone. The ability to turn complex building performance data into a compelling narrative – showing why a system optimisation matters and what the impact is – will be crucial for securing buy-in and funding.

  • Audience-Centric Communication
  • Visualisation Best Practices
  • Narrative Structure
  • Actionable Insights

14What you’ll use

What you’ll use

Skills this role draws on

Technical

  • BAS Architecture & Protocols (Practical)
  • MEP Systems Integration (Operational)
  • Operational Technology (OT) Cybersecurity (Awareness & Basic Controls)
  • Fault Detection & Diagnostics (FDD) Application
  • Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) & Lifecycle Analysis (Basic)

15The pathway

The pathway

How you actually get there, here

How you become one varies far more by country than what one does. This is the UK route. Most people take one of these ways in; the right one depends on where you're starting from.

  1. 1

    Building Automation Technician

    2-4 years

    Skills to master

    • Deep troubleshooting of BAS hardware/software, understanding of control sequences, basic network diagnostics, preventative maintenance on tech systems.

    You're ready to move on when

    • Consistently resolving complex BAS alarms independently.
    • Proactively identifying and fixing minor system inefficiencies.
    • Mentoring new technicians on system basics.
  2. 2

    Facilities Engineer (Controls Focus)

    3-5 years

    Skills to master

    • Operational understanding of MEP systems, energy management principles, basic project management for small tech upgrades, vendor coordination.

    You're ready to move on when

    • Leading small-scale energy optimisation projects.
    • Successfully managing external BAS service contractors.
    • Developing and implementing site-specific control strategies.
  3. 3

    Junior Smart Building Integrator

    2-3 years

    Skills to master

    • Understanding of various smart building platforms (IoT, IWMS), data integration concepts (APIs), basic data visualisation, network architecture awareness.

    You're ready to move on when

    • Successfully integrating new IoT devices into a central platform.
    • Building custom dashboards from disparate data sources.
    • Documenting integration points and data flows clearly.

16How people get here · where they go next

Came from
Building Automation Technician
2-4 years
You mastered deep troubleshooting of BAS hardware and software, becoming adept at resolving complex alarms independently.
You are here
Building Technology Specialist
Mid-Level (2-5 years)
A Building Technology Specialist keeps smart building systems running across a site or small cluster of buildings.
Goes to
Senior Building Technology Engineer (L3)
3-5 years
You'll lead technical implementations for projects across a larger portfolio, mentoring junior staff and designing complex control sequences.

The long view: This role can lead to managing building technology across a whole team or region, or into senior roles setting technology strategy for a wider portfolio.

The ten Future Fluencies

Zavmo analysis

The credential is what you can do today. These are what keep you valuable.

A qualification proves you can do the job as it's defined today. These ten are what decide whether you're still the obvious person for it in five years. They're the capabilities employers are now writing into senior roles faster than people are learning them. Zavmo weaves them through whatever you study, so you come out with both: the credential and the fluency.

The highlighted ones are the Fluencies your role leans on hardest, from how Building Technology Specialist is actually changing.

Where it leads

Roles this leads to

How you would learn this

One to one, on the work you already do

A tutor sets the task against your own job and marks the reasoning, at your pace. There is no cohort to fall behind.

A lesson from Understand and carry out electrical work on domestic plumbing and heating systems and components, worked against Building Technology Specialist.

Understand and carry out electrical work on domestic plumbing and heating systems and components Level 3

Applied to your work in Building Technology Specialist

This unit aims to provide learners with a thorough understanding of electrical work within domestic plumbing and heating systems. Learners will gain knowledge of relevant electrical standards, principles of electricity supply, and the layout of electrical circuits in dwellings, as well as safe isolation procedures. Upon completion, learners will be able to safely carry out electrical work on domestic plumbing and heating systems.

The Coach Last time, we discussed how you handled that unexpected energy spike. How did you approach the analysis this week?

You I started by comparing it to previous data trends and checked for any unusual activity.

The Coach Great start! Now, let's look at how you might use AI tools to predict these spikes before they happen.

How the thinking builds
  1. 1 Remember
  2. 2 Understand
  3. 3 Apply
  4. 4 Analyse
  5. 5 Evaluate
  6. 6 Create
An illustration of a Zavmo lesson, built from this role’s own route. The unit, its objective and every criterion above are the awarding body’s own words, not an example.

It is £70 a month, billed monthly. Your free first module is Future Fluency, and you can cancel any time.

Start my Building Technology Specialist plan, free
A year from now

A year from now, you confidently lead system optimisations that not only save energy but also enhance tenant comfort, making you the go-to expert for building technology solutions.

See Your Progress Grow Illustration
Building Technology Specialist
  • BAS Architecture & Protocols (Practical)
  • MEP Systems Integration (Operational)
  • Operational Technology (OT) Cybersecurity (Awareness & Basic Controls)
  • Fault Detection & Diagnostics (FDD) Application
  • Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) & Lifecycle Analysis (Basic)
This is your Mind Palace on learn.zavmo.ai. Every skill above comes from this role's own record, not an example borrowed from another job. A node lights up when you evidence it, and what you build stays yours between jobs. That is the part a course cannot do.

17The detail, folded away

Everything else the record holds

The career branches in full, how AI is already showing up in the day-to-day, and the questions people ask about this job. Here when you want them, out of the way while you decide.

Where it leads next, rung by rung

Where it leads

The career path, and where it branches

Building Technology Specialist is a start, not a ceiling. Each step below asks for new skills and hands back more autonomy.

  1. Senior Building Technology Engineer (L3)

    3-5 years

    You'll move from managing systems for a few buildings to leading technical implementation for small projects across a larger portfolio. You'll mentor junior staff and design more complex control sequences.

    • Advanced BAS Programming Designing and implementing complex, custom control logic.
    • Master Systems Integrator (MSI) Framework Understanding and contributing to MSI processes.
    • Advanced Data Analytics Building more sophisticated energy models and performance dashboards.
Working with AI on the job

Working with AI

Where AI is starting to help

Imagine spending less time sifting through endless data logs and more time actually optimising our buildings. AI isn't just for big data scientists; it's here to make your daily life as a Building Technology Specialist much easier, helping you spot issues faster and make smarter decisions.

In Realestate Facilities Management, AI is rapidly transforming how we monitor, maintain, and improve our buildings. For a Building Technology Specialist, this means using smart tools to automate the tedious parts of your job, giving you more time for the interesting, high-impact work.

Automated Fault Detection

AI-powered platforms (like Clockworks or ICONICS) can continuously analyse thousands of data points from our BAS to identify hidden equipment faults, control loop errors, and energy waste that a human might easily miss. This means you'll move from reacting to alarms to proactively fixing problems before they even become noticeable. You'll get alerts that tell you exactly where to look, saving you hours of manual investigation.

Predictive Maintenance Insights

Imagine knowing a chiller is likely to fail before it actually breaks down. AI models can analyse asset data from our IWMS (age, work order history, runtime) and sensor data from the BAS to predict the remaining useful life of critical equipment. This helps you schedule preventative maintenance more effectively and avoid costly emergency repairs, making your job less reactive.

Technical Document Summarisation

You know how long and dense those BAS specification documents or vendor manuals can be? Use a large language model (LLM) to rapidly scan and summarise lengthy technical documents, extracting key configuration details, troubleshooting steps, or maintenance schedules. This saves you hours of reading and helps you quickly get to the information you need to fix a problem.

Smart Troubleshooting Guides

Instead of digging through old notes or generic manuals, use AI to generate tailored troubleshooting steps based on a specific system fault or alarm code. Feed it the error message and the building's system configuration, and it can suggest a prioritised list of checks and fixes, accelerating your diagnostic process. It's like having a super-smart assistant for every problem.

Common questions

Common questions

How do you become a Building Technology Specialist?

Common routes in include Building Automation Technician (2-4 years), Facilities Engineer (Controls Focus) (3-5 years) and Junior Smart Building Integrator (2-3 years). Times vary with prior experience.

Where can a Building Technology Specialist progress to?

This role can lead on to Senior Building Technology Engineer (3-5 years), depending on the skills you build.

What new skills matter most for a Building Technology Specialist?

Increasingly, Prompt Engineering for Building Operations and Data Storytelling for Facilities. These are the skills our record of this role lists as growing.

Free tools

Want a read on where you stand?

Three free tools, no account needed. Each one ends with a role, a level and a way in.

Read the Zavmo manifesto to understand how you will be taught Meet your tutors

Or try another one

18Where to go from here

Other roles at Level 3

Same depth of qualification, different job. Useful if the work appeals but this particular role does not.

 More jobs in property and facilities

Stay in the field you know and move sideways rather than up.
If you leave this industry

The skills involved apply across Real Estate and Facilities Management, from large corporate occupiers to property developers, smart building consultancies and technology vendors. Understanding how to make buildings smarter and more efficient is useful across this sector.

This role profile is © 2026 Growth Engineering Technologies Ltd. Built from UK occupational standards and regulated qualification data, and written for Zavmo.

You're not behind. You're right on time. The shift is only just beginning. Your role won't look the same in two years. Be the one who leads the change, not the one it happens to. Start my Building Technology Specialist plan, free What happens next: a free account, then we build your plan as you set up. No card. Build your plan, see your roadmap and meet the twelve tutors matched to you. All free. When you're ready to start learning, it's £70 a month, billed monthly. Cancel any time and billing stops.