Hi Q.Silver
Once you cousin has graduated you are right he will be on about £ 18k. He will have no knowledge of scaffolding and will need to learn the various types of scaffold structures and the calculations required.
Once experienced in the current market he could expect to earn in excess of £25, but that may be after two or three years in a scaffold design office.
Not sure where Scaffy is coming from. I dont know any design engineers with nice big new BMW's. I got a Mitsubishi L200 truck for business and a K reg Nissan Micra for private use.
I do know a few scaffold contractor/ owners who drive around in new Range Rovers with personalise number plates. So may be more money in that.
Wish him luck in his career. Been in scaffolding most of my working life and it has always been rewarding. Not always financially though.
Chris Eng