LABC trainee case study - Zack Welbourn

Zack Welbourn, 38, joined East Riding of Yorkshire Council as a trainee building control surveyor after spending 12 years as a tradesperson and site manager for a property development company. He was part of one of the first cohorts of LABC Academy building control trainees.

“I saw the traineeship on Indeed at a time when I’d slipped a disc and was looking to move away from the heavier site work,” Zack explains. “I’ve always enjoyed the technical side of construction and figuring out how things work, so when I saw the trainee opportunity it just felt like the right fit.”

As half of East Riding's population lives in rural communities and more than 90% of land used for agriculture, most of the Zack’s work is domestic extensions, smaller works and new build. The team also have some commercial projects, which can range from small high street shop to larger warehouses.

Before his traineeship was due to come to an end, East Riding Council offered Zack a permanent position. He now splits his time between site visits and office-based plan checking and is preparing to join the council’s on-call rota for dangerous structures.

“It’s a chance to be right there when things happen, when the emergency services are involved and the decisions really matter. That kind of experience pushes you forward,” says Zack.

During his traineeship, Zack gained enough experience to demonstrate the required levels of competence to achieve his Class 2A-F Registered Building Inspector in early 2025. This means he can provide building control services on a full range of standard buildings up to 18m.

“I’d definitely recommend building control to others with a trades background. You’ve got to enjoy the technical side, so if you do, building control is a fantastic career. It gives you the chance to be part of a team while also managing your own area. There’s a lot of flexibility in how you work and plenty of opportunity to grow.”