The Level 2 Wireless Communications Rigger, and the 1 provider delivering it.
Supporting the UK’s cellular network and its infrastructure.
About this apprenticeship
What this apprenticeship covers
Working at height on masts, towers, rooftops, and other structures, apprentices learn to install, maintain, and modify wireless communications equipment. This includes antenna systems, feeder cables, and associated hardware that form the physical backbone of the UK's mobile network. Training covers safe working at height, rigging techniques, industry health and safety requirements, and the use of climbing equipment and mechanical aids. Apprentices also learn how to interpret technical drawings and site documentation.
Day-to-day responsibilities
A typical week involves travelling to telecoms sites, carrying out pre-climb safety checks, ascending masts or structures, and installing or adjusting antenna equipment to specification. Apprentices work alongside experienced riggers, handle tools and equipment at height, and complete site paperwork including risk assessments and method statements. Work may involve both greenfield installations on new structures and upgrades to existing infrastructure across urban and rural locations.
Career outlook
Completing this apprenticeship opens routes into roles such as telecoms rigger, tower technician, or site supervisor within the wireless communications sector. Employers include telecoms contractors, network operators, and infrastructure management companies that maintain and expand mobile networks across the UK. Experienced riggers can progress into senior rigger or team leader positions, move into project management, or specialise in areas such as structural inspection or small cell deployment. Demand for qualified riggers is consistent given the ongoing rollout and upgrading of mobile network infrastructure.
1 approved provider
Sorted by achievement rate.
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Career outcomes
Roles after completion
Completers typically move into roles as Wireless Communications Rigger, Tower Rigger, or Antenna Rigger working on the installation, maintenance, and modification of cellular masts, rooftop installations, and lattice towers. Some take on roles with specific infrastructure contractors as a Site Rigger or Steeplejack Rigger, carrying out work at height on telecoms structures. Day-to-day responsibilities include climbing structures, fitting antennas and associated equipment, running feeder cables, and following safe systems of work on active network sites.
Progression paths
With a few years of site experience, riggers commonly progress to Senior Rigger or Lead Rigger roles, taking responsibility for small teams and managing on-site activity. From there, a leadership track leads to Site Supervisor or Contracts Supervisor overseeing multiple crews. A technical specialist track runs toward Telecoms Infrastructure Engineer or RF Survey Technician, focusing on signal testing and network quality work. Some riggers move into health, safety, and quality roles within their contractor organisation.
Where these roles sit
The primary employers are specialist telecoms infrastructure contractors and subcontractors who work on behalf of network operators across the UK. Work spans rural mast upgrades, urban rooftop installations, and in-building coverage systems. Employers range from small regional contractors with a handful of crews to large national infrastructure businesses operating across multiple network operator frameworks. The public sector plays a limited role here; the majority of hiring sits firmly within the private telecoms supply chain.
How it's assessed
How the apprenticeship is assessed
Throughout the apprenticeship, learning takes place on the job, with the apprentice building practical competence in wireless communications rigging work alongside their day-to-day employment. Before final assessment, the apprentice and their employer or training provider confirm readiness through a gateway review, checking that the required knowledge, skills and behaviours have been developed to the necessary standard. Final assessment then confirms whether the apprentice can perform the role competently. Assessment models for many standards at this level are currently being updated, so check the standard's gov.uk page for the current specification before enrolling.
What learners need to prepare
Keeping records of workplace activity from the start of the apprenticeship makes the later stages considerably easier. Learners should document the rigging tasks, site conditions and technical challenges they encounter as they go, rather than trying to reconstruct evidence at the end. Working closely with both the employer and the training provider to track progress against the standard's knowledge, skills and behaviours will help identify any gaps early. Regular check-ins with a line manager or mentor, particularly around site-based practical work, will support readiness for the gateway and final assessment.
Choosing a provider
What good looks like
Look for providers with practical training facilities that replicate real mast and tower environments, including working at height. Achievement rates above 65% are a baseline; above 75% signals that a provider is keeping apprentices on programme and through assessment. Check that staff delivering the standard hold current industry cards (CSCS or equivalent) and have hands-on telecoms infrastructure experience rather than a generic construction background. Employer satisfaction scores on FATP profiles are a useful proxy for how well the provider communicates progress and adapts to site schedules.
Red flags to watch for
Be cautious of providers running very large cohorts on a small delivery team, particularly if achievement rates are declining year on year. Vague answers about working at height training, or providers who cannot confirm they meet current industry safety standards for telecoms rigging, are a serious concern. If a provider cannot point to apprentices who have gone on to work for network operators or infrastructure contractors, that gap is worth probing. Generic construction delivery not adapted to wireless infrastructure is another warning sign.
Questions to ask before you commit
- What working at height facilities do you use, and are they specific to telecoms mast and tower work?
- Which industry cards or tickets do apprentices hold on completion, and are these current with network operator requirements?
- What is your achievement rate for this standard, and how has it changed over the last two years?
- How do you accommodate apprentices whose site availability varies with network rollout schedules?
- Can you put us in contact with employers whose apprentices have completed this programme?
- How do your assessors stay current with changes to cellular infrastructure and equipment?
- What support is in place if an apprentice fails a gateway assessment?
Common questions
What entry requirements do employers typically expect for a Wireless Communications Rigger apprenticeship?
There are no nationally mandated entry qualifications at Level 2, but most employers expect apprentices to have a basic level of numeracy and literacy, often evidenced by GCSEs in maths and English at grade 3 or above (or equivalent). Physical fitness matters, as the role involves working at height. Apprentices must be employed throughout, so you need a job offer with a relevant employer before starting. Some employers may require a medical assessment.
How long does the apprenticeship take and how is the learning structured?
The typical duration is 18 months, though individual circumstances can vary. Apprentices work for their employer throughout and complete off-the-job learning alongside their day-to-day duties. The exact proportion of time spent in off-the-job training is subject to current government reforms, so check the latest specification on the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education website or gov.uk for the current requirement before planning a programme.
How is the apprenticeship assessed and what is the gateway?
Before moving to end-point assessment, the apprentice must pass through a gateway, a point at which the employer, training provider, and sometimes the apprentice confirm that all required training is complete and the individual is ready to be assessed. Assessment models for many standards are being reviewed under current reforms, so check the gov.uk standard page for the most up-to-date assessment approach. The apprentice must demonstrate occupational competence to achieve the qualification.
How does an employer pay for the training?
The funding band for this standard is £12,000, which is the maximum government contribution towards training costs. Larger employers with a payroll above £3 million use their apprenticeship levy funds. Smaller employers co-invest, paying 5% of the training cost with the government contributing the remaining 95%. If you are a small employer taking on an apprentice aged 16 to 18, training is fully funded by the government. Funding covers training and assessment only, not the apprentice's wage.
What does a Wireless Communications Rigger actually do day-to-day?
The role centres on the physical installation, maintenance, and modification of cellular network infrastructure. Day-to-day work typically includes climbing masts and towers to install antennas and associated equipment, running cables, carrying out safety checks, and working alongside engineers to commission equipment. Apprentices follow strict working-at-height procedures, use rigging equipment, and may work across different sites. The job is largely outdoor and physically demanding, often involving travel to various telecoms sites.
What can a Wireless Communications Rigger do after completing the apprenticeship?
Completing the apprenticeship qualifies someone to work as a competent rigger across the UK telecoms sector, supporting 4G and 5G network rollout and maintenance. From there, progression routes include moving into senior rigger or team leader roles, or working towards higher-level qualifications in telecommunications or construction management. Some progress into project supervision or health and safety roles within infrastructure contracting. The sector is actively expanding, so demand for experienced riggers across network operators and their contractors remains steady.
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Curated by Alex Lockey, FATP founder and editor. Last reviewed: .
Sources include the apprenticeship's official specification on apprenticeships.gov.uk, Skills England guidance, IfATE archive records, DWP funding bands, and provider data sourced directly from the public Apprenticeship Provider and Assessment Register (APAR). Standard reference: 423.
Some sections on this page were drafted with AI assistance from published source data and reviewed by a human editor before publication. See our editorial methodology for how we maintain this content. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.