Internal applicants MUST apply via Opportunity Marketplace. Please ensure you complete your SKILLS and QUALIFICATIONS via “Me” tab/tile on Fusion or by clicking on the application link in the section of the application form titled “REVIEW SKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONS”.

ACTUAL CLOSING DATE: Applications must be received by 11:59pm on Wednesday 18 February.

Location: Various locations - Fixed term for 4 years
Hours: 37 hours per week.
Work Pattern: Monday to Thursday 8.00am - 4.30pm, Friday 8.00am - 1.30pm
Salary / Hourly Rate: £25,715 - £27,047

View the Trade Modern Apprentice job profile

Trade Modern Apprentice Recruitment 2026

Please read all of the information below, before clicking on the apply tab. This is to ensure you understand the process and do not miss any of the information as we will not be able to extend the deadline for any stage in the process.

Who we are

South Lanarkshire Council delivers a wide range of services that touch all communities and every household in South Lanarkshire. Property Services, within Housing and Technical Resources, is responsible for the delivery of maintenance and improvement works to the Council’s property portfolio.

Property Services is split between 3 service areas: -

Building Services
Assets and Estates
Consultancy Services.

Building Services is responsible for delivering construction and improvement projects in addition to undertaking maintenance works across the Council’s property portfolio, and we are looking for a variety of Trade Modern Apprentices to join the team.

Who we are looking for

The Council is committed to fostering equality, diversity and inclusion in it’s workforce. Therefore, we welcome applications from all sectors of the community including under-represented groups within our workforce. We are keen to receive applications from candidates who have a disability, who are from a care experienced background, who are from a black, Asian or minority ethnic background and from those who are new scots.

We are specifically looking for applicants who recently attended a South Lanarkshire Council secondary school and/or live in the South Lanarkshire area. Applicants must be 16 years of age by 26/09/2026 and no older than 19 years of age by 06/08/2026.

South Lanarkshire Council and Skills Development Scotland recognise that disabled people and those who are care-experienced can face challenges on their career journey. So, if you are disabled or care experienced and aged between 20 and 29 years by 06/08/2026, you may be eligible to apply if you meet the essential criteria.

Care experienced means you are or were, formally looked after by a local authority, in the family home (with support from social services or a social worker) or in foster care, residential/secure care, or kinship care (with family friends or relatives).

We welcome applications from individuals who can demonstrate a commitment to their own learning, as the successful candidates will become qualified and time served in their chosen trade. The apprenticeship will be completed through a mixture of on-the-job experience, working alongside qualified/experienced tradespeople; and off-the-job experience at college, gaining the underpinning knowledge and recognised qualifications required for your chosen trade. During your training you will also develop your core skills through the work you carry out.

Modern apprenticeships on offer

We have vacancies in the following trades:

Bricklayer, Electrician, Industrial Heating Engineer, Painter, Plasterer, Plumber, and Scaffolder.

As these are apprentice trainee opportunities, applicants do not need to have any previous experience or qualifications in their chosen field, however it is important to have an interest and understanding of the trade you choose.

Support during the application process

The recruitment process has 4 stages and applicants must complete each of these before the published deadline to avoid being withdrawn from the process. If you encounter issues at any stage of the process, you should contact us for support immediately by e-mailing modernapprentice@southlanarkshire.gov.uk making sure to explain your issue. This e-mail inbox will be monitored during working hours: Monday to Thursday 8.45 am – 4.45 pm, and Friday 8.45 am – 4.15pm.

Stage 1 – Submitting your application.

Check that you meet the essential criteria detailed on the job profile.

If so, please complete the application form, providing all the required information, making sure to submit it before the published closing date. As part of the process, you will also be required to provide answers to the 5 questions below and you should submit these along with your application on a separate document.

Application questions.

Q1. Please explain why you wish to apply for a Modern Apprenticeship with South Lanarkshire Council.

Q2. Please explain why you are interested in a career in your chosen trade.

Q3. Please explain why you consider yourself to be suitable for this role. (Your answer should focus on the skills, qualities and attributes you would bring to the role if successful).

Q4. Why good communication skills are important for this position?

Q5. Why good customer care skills are important for all South Lanarkshire Council employees?

Please note: If you do not meet the essential criteria for the post, your application will be withdrawn as the eligibility criteria have not been met. As we do not accept CVs, candidates who do not follow the application process (you must complete the application online) outlined above will also be withdrawn from the process.

Stage 2 – Online Assessment

All applicants will be required to register for and complete an online assessment as detailed below. The purpose of this this is to provide an indication of your technical ability for the role you have applied for. This will help the panel choose the best candidates for the jobs.

Key assessment dates

Registration guidance issued to applicants	Friday 20 February 2026
Candidate registration deadline*	Tuesday 24 February 2026 12pm (noon)
Assessment opens to candidates (guidance on completion issued to applicants)	Wednesday 25 February 2026
Candidate assessment deadline	Tuesday 3 March 2026 12pm (noon)

*Candidates who fail to register by the deadline on 24 February 2026 will be withdrawn from the process.

Stage 3 – Application Forms scored by Recruitment Panel (Shortlist)

Applicants who pass the online assessment for their chosen trade will proceed to shortlist. At this stage the recruitment panel will review and score applications. The highest scoring applicants will be invited to interview.

Stage 4 – Interview

Interviews will be held between Monday 20^th April and Thursday 30^th April 2026. Candidates should make sure they are available during this period as it will not be possible to re-schedule interviews out with these dates.

Feedback

Candidates who are unsuccessful at interview may request feedback on their application by e-mailing ModernApprentice@Southlanarkshire.gov.uk before Friday 22^nd May 2026 at 3pm.

Feedback will be provided by a member of the recruitment panel by phone or e-mail between Tuesday 26^th May and Friday 29^th May 2026. Unfortunately, due to the high volume of applications received it will not be possible to provide feedback to candidates withdrawn before the interview stage.

Updates on your application

All correspondence and updates on your application will be sent to the e-mail address you provide. Please check your inbox, junk and spam folders regularly to avoid missing any important emails, as we will be unable to extend any of the published deadlines.

The closing date for applications is Wednesday 18^th February 2026 at 11.59pm.

(Please note this post automatically expires at 11.59pm on this date and applications cannot be submitted after this deadline).

In Summary

You must have recently attended a South Lanarkshire Council secondary school and/or live in the South Lanarkshire area and meet the age criteria outlined in the advert.
Candidates can only apply for one trade; multiple applications will not be accepted.
Candidates who have applied for more than one trade will have all of their applications withdrawn from the process.
Successful candidates will be offered a fixed term appointment for 4 years line with the expected timescales to complete their modern apprenticeship.
Successful candidates could be placed in any of our 3 Business Units in East Kilbride, Hamilton, or Lanark.

Key Dates

Wednesday 18 February 2026 -11.55pm	Application closing date
Friday 20^th February 2026	Online assessment guidance issued to candidates
Tuesday 24^th February 2026 - 12pm	Online assessment registration deadline
Wednesday 25^th February 2026	Online assessment open for completion
Tuesday 3^rd March 2026-12pm	Online assessment deadline for completion
Monday 23rd March - Friday 27th March	Candidates notified of interview date and time
Monday 23rd March - Friday 27th March	Unsuccessful candidates notified
Monday 20^th April and Thursday 30^th April 2026	Interviews take place
Tuesday 5th May - Friday 8th May	Candidates notified of interview outcome
Friday 22^nd May 2026- 3pm	Deadline to request interview feedback
Tuesday 26^th May and Friday 29^th May 2026	Interview feedback window

If you require any further assistance relating to the application process, or if you want this information in a different format or language, please e-mail us at ModernApprentice@Southlanarkshire.gov.uk.

If you require to submit any further additional information to support your application (not a CV), please upload this under supporting documents.

Please apply online - All correspondence will be via your email address

Preferred candidates identified after the selection event process will be required to assist the recruitment team, if need be, to ensure timely completion of recruitment checks. If recruitment checks are not completed within a reasonable timescale, you may automatically be withdrawn from this position.

Canvassing of Elected Members or employees of South Lanarkshire's Council directly or indirectly in connection with any appointment within the Council shall disqualify the applicant.

Overseas Criminal Records Check

An Overseas Criminal Records Check is required where applicants born outside the UK (Scotland, England, Wales and Northern Ireland) or who have lived or worked outside the UK for a continuous period of three months in the past 10 years.

Applicants are responsible for providing evidence of the Overseas Criminal Record Check. The check must be translated into English and should come from the police, judicial authority, government department or home embassy of the country or countries concerned. The check must include an official statement confirming that the applicant does not have any history of or pending criminal record proceedings. Checks may be carried out to authenticate the documents provided.

Equal Opportunities and Armed Forces Community Covenant

South Lanarkshire Council is an Equal Opportunities employer and encourages applications from all members of the community.

We are a Disability Confident Scheme Employer and guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria of the person specification job description.

South Lanarkshire Council is committed to providing support to members of the armed forces, veterans and their families which is set out in the Armed Forces Community Covenant. Veterans & Service leavers are guaranteed an interview who meet the essential criteria of the person specification job description.

As an employee of South Lanarkshire Council, you would also receive a wide range of benefits including:

Enrolment in award winning local government pension scheme
To increase the value of their pension pot, Local Government Employees can opt to join the Salary Sacrifice Shared Cost AVC scheme.
Up to 33 days annual leave
Public holiday entitlement (up to 10 days)
Occupational sick pay
Family friendly policies - flexible working and leave, maternity/paternity leave enhanced leave.
Employee Discounts – including discounts at the cinema.
Range of benefits to support you (Cycle to Work Scheme, Physiotherapy, Employee Assistance Program which offers practical and emotional support)

PLEASE NOTE WE DO NOT ACCEPT CVS IN PLACE OF THE APPLICATION FORM.

To be considered for this vacancy you must complete the application form. All CV submissions will be disregarded.

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