Getting On With Construction Engineering

Construction continues to be one of the largest business sectors in the world today. It builds from a wealth of skill sets which include Design, Architecture, Building Skills and Health & Safety factors. There are many routes to a variety of careers within the Construction Industry.

Choices for careers within Construction fundamentally span 3 skill levels. A large number of on-site workers tend to be Un-skilled or Semi-skilled workers who haven't gone through lengthy training. Skilled workers come next - they're often foremen or works managers who have a reasonable amount of experience and knowledge of their business.

Finally, there are Technical and Management workers. These people have trained to design and/or manage the overall process and as such are the most qualified within their field. You can return to this section later and refer to the various sites and links to training companies by bookmarking this page.

Construction Training within Great Britain

All skilled workers in Britain have to continue training after they've left school. Most trainees gain their skills through a combination of technical college training and work experience. In the United Kingdom during 2007, there were over 8,000 training positions started in construction alone. Today, as well as the eighteen thousand or so people being trained in construction, there are well over six hundred thousand people working in the industry.

There are three different sectors in the construction industry as a whole. The two commercial areas require similar trade and professional skill-sets, though each is unique in some ways.

Initially we have the building construction section. Fundamentally this is the process of adding to and enhancing domestic properties. The vast majority are small-scale projects such as renovations. Larger scale projects are mostly the domain of civil construction, which comes mid-way between building and industrial. The third sector of construction is industrial - by far the largest projects fall into this category, though they're much fewer and far between than the others. Without a doubt profit is often behind the large scale ownership of these projects.

The scale of building work undertaken from Building to Industrial Construction is very extensive. The scope of the projects range from a few hundred pounds for small building work through to a few million or even billion pounds to complete two year industrial projects. Professional careers in the construction industry include the following:

Structural Engineers

Undergraduates looking to apply to university to take a structural engineering degree should have A levels in maths, physics and/or other sciences. As structures have to remain safe and serviceable for many years, the designs, materials and calculations all have to be expertly worked through.

Architect

The standard entry route into the architectural profession takes at least seven years, and is a blend of academic and practical study and work. An architect is responsible for designing new buildings and the surrounding spaces. They have to work closely with their clients, fellow professionals, officials and users to ensure their work complies with everyone's needs.

Civil Engineer

Not only do civil engineers need degrees but they also generally need them in quite specific subjects. In addition the Chartered Engineer certification can be obtained through the Institution of Civil Engineers. To achieve chartered status engineering graduates need to hold the four year MEng. To reach Incorporated Engineer level you should have attained a Bachelor's Degree (BEng) first.

Building Engineers

These can also be referred to as 'M&E Engineers'. You normally need to have a mechanical or electrical engineering degree to be considered for such a position. Building Services Engineers can join the CIBSE in the UK. There are eight grades of membership, depending on experience and qualifications.

Project Managers

PM's are normally also certified in other disciplines first, such as Quantity Surveying. There are a number of Project Management training courses offered by various institutions.

Quantity Surveyor

Training for work as a Quantity Surveyor starts with an appropriate three or four year degree course. Further training and accreditations can be accessed from the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors, "the pre-eminent organisation for professionals working in the land, property and construction sectors in the UK and around the world".