ADVANCING SETTING OUT SKILLS ACROSS THE INDUSTRY

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5-DAY COURSE - SETTING OUT FOR CONSTRUCTION (CITB Assured)

The complete practical foundation for Setting Out Engineers

This setting out engineer course is ideal for engineers, trainees, tradespeople, site managers and anyone who wants to move into a Setting Out or Site Engineering role, or who is already in one but needs structured training in best practice. Everything is taught step by step in a relaxed and supportive environment, with plenty of individual attention and real site examples throughout.

COURSE SNAPSHOT

  • Duration: Monday to Friday (5 days)
  • Locations: London, Glasgow, Warrington, Newcastle, Leeds, Birmingham, Bristol, Ireland and others.
  • Certification: CITB Assured course, recorded on the Construction Training Register
  • Equipment: Robotic total stations including Leica, Trimble and Topcon
  • Price: £990 plus VAT
  • Suitable for: Engineers, trainees, groundworkers and other trades, site managers, career changers and employers who want to up-skill staff

KEY OUTCOMES

By the end of the course you will be able to:

  • Carry out levelling, taping and basic surveying tasks with confidence
  • Install benchmarks and establish control points
  • Build in checks and keep accurate records
  • Set out coordinates using a robotic total station
  • Apply industry standard setting out methods on real construction projects

If you are looking to build a solid foundation in the core skills used for setting out on construction sites, this 5 day CITB Assured course will give you the confidence and practical understanding you need. Over the week you will learn essential techniques including levelling, taping, using laser levels and working with a robotic total station, all taught in a clear and structured way. Over the final three days of the course you will complete structured Total Station training, learning how to use a robotic total station confidently and accurately on real construction tasks.

Practical Skills You Will Develop

  • Confidence with equipment
  • Good habits and reliable checking methods
  • Awareness of common mistakes and how to avoid them
  • An understanding of how setting out fits into the wider construction process

WHY THIS COURSE MATTERS

Setting out is an essential part of the construction process. The work needs to be accurate, checked and carried out by someone who understands not only how to use the equipment, but why each step matters. Employers want people who can follow reliable procedures and who understand the principles behind what they are doing, not just how to press the buttons.

This course gives you that foundation. You will learn the right methods to use, how to avoid common mistakes and how to build good habits from the beginning. Everything is taught using real site examples, so what you learn makes sense when you return to work.

Most people who join us are starting a new role, stepping up from a trade background or already setting out without proper training. This week gives you the confidence and understanding to progress with the right approach.

WHAT YOU WILL LEARN

(Modules Overview)

You will build a strong foundation in the essential skills needed to carry out setting out tasks safely, accurately and with confidence. The week is split into practical modules that build on each other.

Levelling & Tape (Days 1–2)

  • Check the calibration of the level instrument (two-peg test)
  • Transfer TBMs around the site
  • Carry out as-built surveys and produce reliable records
  • Set out profile boards and batter rails
  • Use a tape measure to set out right angles

Total Station

(Days 3–5)

  • Carry out field calibration checks
  • Understand and minimise common errors
  • Install primary and secondary control networks
  • Stake out structures, roads, and earthworks
  • Measure and set out offset lines
  • Understand the role of GPS/GNSS and how it integrates with setting out

This part of the course is a complete Total Station training module. Most people take it as part of the full 5 Day Setting Out for Construction course, but if you already have strong levelling experience, you may be suitable for our 3 Day Total Station for Construction course.

CITB Setting Out Course

CITB Assured Training

Completing a CITB Assured course gives you:

  • The course content meets CITB short duration training standards
  • We are approved to deliver it as an Assured Training Organisation
  • The course structure, learning outcomes and assessment methods have been reviewed by CITB
  • Your training is recognised and trusted across the construction industry

Construction Training Register (CTR)

Your achievement will be uploaded to the Construction Training Register once you complete the course. This allows you to:

  • Prove your training to any employer
  • Have a permanent, searchable record of your skills
  • Build a verified training history for future roles

Employers can look you up on the register to confirm what training you have completed.

Construction Training Directory (CTD)

Our Assured courses appear in the Construction Training Directory. This allows employers to confirm that the training is genuine, recognised and delivered by an approved provider.

CITB Funding

If you work for a levy paying organisation, your employer may be eligible for funding for this course.

CITB have announced several changes recently, but there is no need to worry if you are not fully up to date. We invest a lot of time and energy keeping track of the current rules so we can help you quickly and easily understand what funding you may be able to claim.

If you would like guidance on the current CITB funding status for this training, just get in touch and we will be happy to advise.

How Recognition Helps You

Completing a CITB Assured course gives you:

A recognised standard of training

Industry wide credibility

Training that employers actively look for

A clear record of your skills

A strong foundation if you choose to progress into further qualifications

WHO IS THIS COURSE FOR

The 5-Day Setting Out for Construction course is designed for a wide range of learners, from new entrants and apprentices to experienced staff who want to formalise their skills. It provides a clear, standardised approach that employers can trust and learners can build their careers on.

For employers, it ensures everyone works to the same standardised approach, reducing errors and creating consistency across teams. It also reduces the pressure on senior engineers, as learners return ready to contribute independently instead of relying heavily on on-the-job mentoring.

Self-Assessment Tool

Take our Self Assessment to find out exactly which competencies you already have and where your gaps are. It only takes a few minutes and will help you work out whether this course, or another option, is the best fit for you.

This course is suitable for you if you are:

New to
setting out

  • You want to learn the essential skills properly from the beginning
  • You prefer clear, practical, hands on training
  • You want to feel confident using the equipment

A site manager or supervisor

  • Managers who need a solid understanding of setting out tasks
  • Supervisors responsible for checking levels or coordinates
  • Site managers overseeing or wanting to get involved in setting out

An engineer or trainee engineer

  • Junior or graduate engineers who need practical experience
  • Engineers who want structured training in levelling and total station use
  • Anyone who has been setting out without formal training

Working in construction and ready to progress

  • Groundworkers, joiners and other trades
  • People taking on more responsibility on site
  • Anyone who already reads drawings but needs setting out skills
  • Workers aiming to move into a Setting Out or Site Engineering role

If you are not sure whether this course is the right fit, just get in touch.

We can help you decide based on your experience and future goals.

TRAINING LOCATIONS

Our 5 Day Setting Out for Construction course runs regularly in:

  • London
  • Glasgow
  • Newcastle
  • Warrington
  • Leeds
  • Birmingham
  • Bristol
  • Ireland

People travel from all over the UK and Ireland to attend, including many from surrounding areas where specialist training is not available locally.

This course can be delivered anywhere in the UK or Ireland as in-house or 1-2-1 training.

PLEASE GET IN TOUCH

OUTSTANDING VALUE -
MORE THAN JUST A COURSE

Most other training ends when the classroom closes. Ours doesn’t. The 5-Day Setting Out for Construction course is designed to keep delivering value long after your five days of training are complete - for both employers and learners.

When you book this course, you’re not just buying five days of training. You’re joining a network, gaining resources, and securing lasting support that makes this course exceptional value:

ACCESS TO OUR EXPERT SUPPORT COMMUNITY

Everyone who attends becomes part of our private SOFC Network - an active online community (via our dedicated community platform, Facebook and WhatsApp) and direct access to trainers if advice is needed back on site. This means questions don’t get stuck, problems don’t drag on, and employers don’t lose time.

EXTENSIVE E-LEARNING LIBRARY

Every learner gets free, unlimited access to our eLearning platform with over 30 hours of video tutorials. They can revisit key topics anytime, refresh before site work, and keep learning as new materials are added.

CHOICE OF EQUIPMENT

If your team uses a specific make or model, we can often provide it for the course (advance notice required at time of booking). This ensures the training mirrors the tools you’ll actually use on site.

COMPREHENSIVE COURSE TEXTBOOK INCLUDED

Every learner receives a copy of our highly regarded textbook, to keep on hand, a resource that supports both continuous learning and day-to-day site work.

TRAINING ON ROBOTIC TOTAL STATIONS

All our instruments are robotic, so learners train on the latest technology and gain the skills most relevant to modern site practice.

FREE TOTAL STATION PRACTICE DAYS

Learners can return for hands-on practice with our instruments at no extra cost, ensuring skills are refreshed and confidence stays high.

FREE RE-ATTENDANCE

If a learner needs a refresher, they can re-attend any part (or even the whole) of the course again, completely free. No extra cost, no barriers, just ongoing reinforcement of best practice.

This approach makes the five-day setting out course one of the most cost-effective training investments in the sector. Employers benefit from a workforce that’s more accurate, more self-sufficient, and less dependent on freelancers. Learners benefit from an ongoing support network and the reassurance that their training keeps pace with industry best practice.

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NEED A BIT MORE HELP?

If you’re not quite sure which course or format is best, or you’d like to talk through the options before booking, just give us a call. Our directors are always happy to chat, no sales pitch, no pressure.

We’d rather you spend five minutes with us now than lose hours trying to figure it out alone.

Whether it’s a quick question or a full run-through of your options, we’ll point you in the right direction and help you make a confident decision.

BOOK A CALL

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Course Structure and Attendance

Yes. You can attend the levelling part on one course (Monday and Tuesday) and the total station part on another course (Wednesday to Friday). Just let us know when booking so we can plan this for you.

Yes, as long as we know in advance. The trainer will help you catch up either during the week or at the end of the course.

Courses run from 9am to 5pm, with an earlier finish on Friday depending on progress and weather.

Equipment and Instruments

We teach using robotic total stations, typically Leica TS16, Trimble and Topcon. If you need a specific instrument, please check with us before booking and we may be able to arrange it.

Yes, you are welcome to bring your own instrument so you can learn on the equipment you use at work.

Yes. We offer 1 to 1 training and a one day Robotic Total Station course which can focus on your instrument.

Who The Course Is Suitable For

Yes. Many delegates come from trades such as groundworks, joinery, bricklaying or site management. If you understand the construction process and can read drawings, you will be able to follow the training.

Yes. Everything you need is taught on the course. If you want to build confidence with maths beforehand, we can give you access to our free online preparation materials.

Our training is modular. The 5 day course covers levelling and total station skills, and you can build on this with further courses such as GNSS, AutoCAD or instrument specific training.

Certification and Progression

You will receive a CITB Assured certificate, and your achievement will be recorded on the Construction Training Register. If you require a full qualification, we offer a Level 3 Diploma in Engineering Surveying.

No. This is a short duration course. If you need a qualification for a CSCS Gold Card, you may want to look at our ProQual Level 3 Diploma in Engineering Surveying. The 5 day course covers much of the practical evidence needed for the Diploma.

It is the CITB’s online record of your verified training achievements. Employers can search it to confirm your skills.

It is a course that meets CITB short duration training standards. We are a CITB Training Provider Network (TPN) provider.

Funding and Payments

If your employer is a levy payer, they may be able to claim funding. CITB have made several changes recently, but we keep fully up to date and can help you work out what support is available.

Yes, for company bookings. The balance must be paid before the course starts, but we can offer different arrangements at our discretion.

The final balance is due 28 days before the course start date. If you book within 28 days, the full balance is due at the time of booking.

Yes. Select the Klarna payment method at the checkout to pay in 3 parts.

Practical Questions

Yes. Days 3 to 5 make up a complete Total Station training module, taught with robotic instruments such as Leica, Trimble and Topcon.

Yes. We offer individual training or training delivered on your site. Contact us for further details.

In exceptional cases we can allow you to complete the 5 day course by attending different days across several scheduled courses.

They are sent automatically when you complete your booking. If they do not arrive, check your junk folder or contact us.