LABC trainee case study - Alex Galdo

Alex Galdo was part of the first cohort of LABC Academy building control trainees in Wales. He joined Wrexham County Borough Council as a trainee building control surveyor in September 2023 after spending 15 years as a tradesperson and site manager for a property development company.

“I would never call myself book-smart before joining the LABC Academy but I've really surprised myself with how well I've done. My experience on site has been a big part of that,” explains Alex.

“To work in building control I think you need a passion for construction which, if you’ve come from a site-based background like mine, you'll know whether you have that passion or not."

“I love the construction industry, but one of the reasons I wanted to leave the trades side was the long days. I could be out for 13-14 hours a day with the travel but moving into the building control side, I’ve got a mix of office and home working days, so everything is more manageable, plus I still get to go out on site and be in that environment.”

Four months before his traineeship was due to come to an end, Wrexham Council offered Alex a permanent position. He is now a Class 2A Registered Building Inspector which means he can work on individual dwellings under 7.5m, but is working towards the next registration class.

“As the newest member of the team, I’m shadowing more experienced surveyors to get the experience I need ready to be assessed for Class 2A - F which will allow me to work on both domestic and commercial properties up to 18m in height."

“Building control covers more than people realise. As a department, we’re working on everything from your domestic extensions and barn conversions through to big commercial units and the new 7,750-capacity Kop stand at the Wrexham AFC stadium.”