As we have discovered through some of our previous stories, there are many different routes into Building Control.

Some people come through university, others from technical roles or local government. Elliott Chamberlain’s journey was a little different.

Until a few months ago, he was running his own bricklaying business, grafting on site day after day.

Today, he’s an Apprentice Registered Building Inspector with Salus, combining degree-level study with practical experience as he begins a four-and-a-half-year journey towards qualification.

It wasn’t something he had planned and, like most people, he didn’t even realise Building Control was a profession.

Discovering Something New

For years, Elliott worked on construction sites throughout the Midlands, building extensions and managing projects through his own business. Early starts and long days were simply part of the job.

Like many contractors, he regularly worked alongside Building Control Inspectors. At first, they were simply another part of the construction process.

Then something changed.

“I’d come across Building Control through running my own projects. Having conversations with inspectors about how things should be done and why they’re done that way, I gradually developed an interest. The timing just felt right to give it a go.”

His curiosity had been piqued.

Rather than simply seeing inspectors turn up on site, Elliott found himself wanting to understand why they were asking particular questions and how building regulations shaped the buildings around him.

Like many people working in construction, he also started thinking about the future.

“Working on the tools gets harder as you get older. I wanted something that would give me a bit more longevity while still keeping me in the industry.”

Finding the Right Opportunity

Although Elliott hadn’t worked with Salus before, he’d heard of the company through the local construction industry.

The conversation that changed everything happened almost by accident.

“My dad and I were at a trade show and he actually asked whether Salus would consider taking on tradespeople rather than only qualified inspectors. The answer was definitely yes, so the conversation started from there.”

A few emails followed, then an informal meeting, then an interview.

A few weeks later, Elliott was part of the Salus team.

One of the biggest attractions was being able to build on the experience he’d already gained over the years.

“I’ve seen construction from the contractor’s side. Hopefully that gives me a different perspective moving forward because I’ve been there and understand how sites operate.”

Learning Every Day

Just over a month into the role, we asked Elliott what a typical week looks like.

The answer isn’t what many people might expect.

“Yes, there’s university work, and there are regulations to study.”

But much of the learning happens somewhere else.

One day he could be carrying out supervised plan checks. The next, he’s out on site shadowing experienced inspectors. Every project is different, whether that’s an office refurbishment, structural work or fire safety inspections.

“It’s quite a broad scope. One day it might be a small office refurbishment, another day you’re looking at structural elements or fire safety. It keeps things interesting and I’m definitely learning a lot on the job.”

What has surprised him most isn’t the amount of technical knowledge. It’s the people around him.

Coming from a trade background, Elliott wasn’t quite sure what office life would be like.

“I’ve actually enjoyed the office side a lot more than I thought I would. Everyone’s been really friendly and willing to help. Even little things like asking how your weekend’s been. I’d never really experienced that before, so it’s been a really nice environment to come into.”

That support doesn’t stop with the people sitting nearby.

At one point, Elliott inherited a company phone that still had the previous owner’s contacts attached. Rather than becoming a problem, it became another introduction to the wider Salus team.

“I’ve had to speak to people across different offices because calls kept coming through. Every conversation started with ‘Welcome to Salus’ and everyone was happy to help. I think that says a lot for the culture within Salus.”

More Than Memorising Regulations

Ask someone outside the profession what Building Control involves and they might imagine spending hours reading regulations.

The reality is rather different.

For Elliott, one of the biggest learning curves has been understanding how to apply those regulations in real situations.

“The biggest learning curve is knowing where to find the right information and being able to back up your reasoning. If you’re asking for something in a plan check, you need to be able to explain why.”

That ability doesn’t come from reading alone.

“I’m definitely learning more through mentoring and being on site. You can read something on a screen, but when someone explains it while you’re looking at it on site, it paints a much clearer picture. Listening to experienced colleagues, asking questions and seeing situations first-hand has accelerated my learning far more than sitting behind a laptop ever could.”

A Career More People Should Know About

One theme kept coming up throughout our conversation. It wasn’t the apprenticeship, the degree or even the regulations. It was simply awareness of the profession.

Elliott believes one of the biggest challenges facing Building Control is that most people don’t realise it’s a career option at all.

“To be honest, I don’t think many people know Building Control exists unless they’re already in construction. Even when I told my friends what I was doing, most of them asked, ‘What does a Building Inspector actually do?'”

It’s a question worth asking.

Building Control offers a career that’s varied, technically challenging and built around continuous learning. It combines office-based work with time on site, working alongside architects, contractors and design teams to help ensure buildings are safe and compliant.

Only a few months into the role, Elliott knows he’s only just getting started. He still has a degree to complete, regulations to master and years of experience ahead of him.

But if you ask whether he made the right decision, there’s no hesitation.

“I love everything about it.”

Sometimes the best career moves aren’t planned.

Sometimes they begin with a simple question:

“Why do they do it that way?”