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
Apprenticeship in Building Services / Electrical Engineering
2-4 yearsSkills to master
- Practical electrical wiring, mechanical system understanding, safety protocols, basic fault finding, teamwork.
You're ready to move on when
- Consistently demonstrating safe working practices.
- Ability to independently complete basic electrical or mechanical tasks.
- Clear understanding of how building systems like HVAC or lighting operate.
- 2
Facilities Assistant / Maintenance Technician
1-3 yearsSkills to master
- General building maintenance, understanding of building operations, tenant liaison, work order management, basic troubleshooting.
You're ready to move on when
- Strong understanding of a building's operational rhythm.
- Ability to manage and prioritise multiple small tasks.
- Good communication skills with building occupants and external contractors.
- 3
IT Support Technician (with a hardware focus)
1-2 yearsSkills to master
- Network troubleshooting, hardware installation, basic scripting, understanding of IP networks, customer support.
You're ready to move on when
- Proficiency in diagnosing network connectivity issues.
- Comfortable with installing and configuring new hardware.
- Ability to explain technical issues to non-technical users.