What soft skills are needed for apprenticeships?

10 Apr 2025

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What soft skills are needed for apprenticeships?

In recent years, a rapidly growing skills gap throughout the UK has created a high demand for built environment and construction apprenticeships. However, while it’s crucial to possess the core skills and technical knowledge required by apprenticeships, it is also important to have the soft skills that aren’t teachable on the job.

Built environment employers seek a range of non-technical skills that can help build a positive culture and contribute to high-quality results. While hard skills will allow construction apprentices to do their jobs to a sufficient standard, soft skills will enable and empower them to build connections, think critically, solve problems, and excel in their careers in the long term.

two people smiling while working at Wates

Understanding the role of soft skills in apprenticeships

Soft skills refer to the behaviours, traits, habits, and attitudes relating to how people interact and communicate with each other. While hard skills require capabilities or expertise related to a specific job, industry, or niche, soft skills are more broadly reaching and transferable between roles and sectors. Soft skills and apprenticeships are inextricably linked—some employers even consider soft skills to be the backbone of apprenticeship s as they aren’t easily taught.

Why soft skills matter in construction

Although construction apprenticeships do require a necessary set of ‘hard skills’ specific to the industry, that kind of technical knowledge can be acquired through formal education and on-the-job training. On the other hand, soft skills are typically practised through mentorship and real-world experience.

The built environment is, at its heart, a people-oriented sector; working as a team and communicating with clients is at the core of the industry. So too is the ability to adapt to unforeseen issues, make decisions, and solve problems quickly: all things that require well-honed soft skills.

Key soft skills for construction apprenticeships

Soft skills are beneficial to a range of different professions and are applicable both within the workplace and beyond it. To thrive and grow in a built environment career, apprentices should practice these particular skills:

Communication and interpersonal skills

Collaborating with others—colleagues, clients, contractors, and more—is a cornerstone of working in the built environment industry; good collaboration stems from good communication. It’s crucial to understand a client’s vision and objectives when working on a project with them, which involves knowing which questions to ask and how to express ideas and opinions in a productive manner.

Communication skills can be the difference between great project outcomes and average results. This also extends beyond verbal relations—good written communication is important when applying for apprenticeships.

Teamwork and collaboration

Learning to collaborate well with others and be a reliable team member is a critical aspect of an apprenticeship and a key contributor to a long and successful built environment career. This skill stems from understanding others’ roles and responsibilities and how your role intersects with theirs. Having a positive attitude and respecting other team members can help apprentices build a reputation for working well with others and completing tasks efficiently and without conflict.

Problem-solving and critical thinking

A career in any industry requires its people to think critically and problem-solve, but often in the built environment sector, decisions must be made faster than in other professions. Construction apprenticeships expose their apprentices to a fast-paced environment where the stakes are frequently high. Clients can also have unique requests or specifications, requiring critical thinking to provide innovative solutions.

a group of people working together at Wates

Developing functional skills for the workplace

Working as part of a team can be an adjustment for apprentices who haven’t previously had that kind of experience. Some people’s first introduction to working environments is through apprenticeships, and the functional skills required to succeed in that space may be unfamiliar. Apprentices should know that they’re not alone in this, and developing soft skills may be more simple than they think.

Importance of practical learning

While hard skills can be taught in a classroom or with hands-on training, soft skills are best learned by being immersed in a team environment. Practical learning in this way exposes apprentices to the culture and etiquette of their workplace and allows them to become familiar with all the varying roles within the business. The social nature of immersive learning means apprentices can more quickly pick up these soft skills from their leaders and fellow team members, often without even being conscious of it.

Adaptability and aligning skills with industry needs

There are countless soft skills that can help employees of any industry excel, but instead of attempting to be a jack of all trades, apprentices should aim to be masters of one. Aligning soft skills with the current needs and climate of the industry is a great way for apprentices to ensure they’re growing and changing alongside industry trends, rather than feeling a step behind.

The built environment is an industry that’s inevitably prone to disruption—from changing weather conditions and late deliveries to major world events such as COVID-19—and the ability to adapt to these changes is imperative.

How to cultivate soft skills during apprenticeships

Apprenticeships and functional skills both involve learning curves. Just as with technical skills, developing and honing soft skills takes both time and practice. While they’re not as easily taught as hard skills, they are still a muscle that requires flexing and can be perfected over time with enough dedication. There are a variety of ways in which apprentices can build their soft skills:

Training and mentorship opportunities

Finding a trusted mentor can allow apprentices to model their skills based on the advice and behaviour of a supportive learning coach. This way of learning allows mentors to provide their mentees with feedback and gives mentees the space to ask questions, which can be invaluable when learning a new soft skill.

On-the-job experience and learning

In the same way that technical training is gained through practical experience, many soft skills are learned and developed on the job. However, unlike hard skills, this type of learning doesn’t necessarily require formal training or education. Working on a team, solving problems in real-time, and communicating with others offers an immersive, real-time learning experience. It allows apprentices to follow examples set by their leaders and peers, learn more about the industry at large and adapt their soft skills to suit their company’s particular ways of working.

two people working together while viewing at laptop at Wates

Building a strong foundation for success

Growing a successful career in the built environment sector is largely dependent on soft skills, and apprenticeships offer the perfect on-the-job experience to learn and hone those skills. These help to build a solid foundation that empowers apprentices to grow within the built environment sector and excel in a long, fulfilling career.

We provide apprentices and trainees with opportunities to build their dream construction careers through a range of early career pathways. Explore these and apply today, or get in touch with our team to find out more. Applications open in February 2025, so register your interest.

Questions? Contact us to discuss your queries.

To find answers to commonly asked questions or to discuss your queries further, please reach out to us today.

How can apprentices improve their soft skills?

Soft skills don’t necessarily require formal education—they’re best learned and practised in the real world through workplace experience and mentorship opportunities. Apprentices can model their behaviour off trusted leaders or mentors and observe how their team interacts with each other and with clients. Real-world learning is especially helpful for gaining experience in problem-solving and decision-making, which are vital aspects of working in the built environment industry.