25/02/2026LABC trainee case study - Harvey Ellis

Harvey Ellis, 25, joined the Derbyshire Building Control Partnership (DBCP) as a trainee building control surveyor in August 2023 after spending seven years as a bench joiner. He was part of one of the first cohorts of LABC Academy building control trainees in England. 

I absolutely loved being a bench joiner, but I wanted to learn the technical side of wider construction, said Harvey. My brother is a building control surveyor, so hearing about the projects he was working on got me interested. I liked the idea that Id still be able to go on site but also learn the theory behind creating safe buildings.

DBCP is a local authority building control partnership formed by eight local authorities, including Staffordshire Moorlands. Harvey is one of four building control surveyors that operate within the Staffordshire Moorlands area. It is the second biggest district in Staffordshire and approximately one third of it is rural. 

A lot of our work is single dwellings and extensions, but I was recently involved in a plan check for a site of around 500 homes, says Harvey. It was great to work at that scale. Youre looking at the same technical elements such as drainage and fire access but how they interact across the site as a whole. That complexity made it a really valuable learning experience.

Harvey recently completed his Level 4 and 5 qualifications. He is now a Class 2A Registered Building Inspector and is already gaining experience in preparation for Class 2D and 2F. DBCP is preparing to support a large mixed-use development in Buxton that has some complex features that will help broaden his experience. 

Its a well-respected career and youre made to feel part of the site team when youre out inspecting, explains Harvey. Coming from a trade background helps it gives you a head start in understanding the construction industry, but the LABC Academy really brings the technical side together. Its like putting the final pieces into a jigsaw puzzle.