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Construction Careers for the Future

There's no doubt that construction is one of the most embracing of today's business sectors. The industry encompasses disciplines such as design, architecture, engineering, management and building skills. Naturally such diversity means there are various training paths leading to all the different roles.

Choices for careers within Construction fundamentally span 3 skill levels. First there are unskilled and semi skilled workers who have very little certification and represent the bulk of the on-site workforce.

Next are the managers and foremen who work on-site. They hold a good level of technical knowledge and are often referred to as "skilled" labour. Lastly, there are the more senior technical structures and management roles. The people who work in these professions are responsible for planning and executing complete projects.

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An Overview to Construction Training

Within the UK, the skilled occupations require Further Education qualifications - often in a vocational subject. Once compulsory education in schools has been completed, students can either further their knowledge through training at work or by attending one of the prescribed colleges. In the United Kingdom during 2007, there were over 8,000 training positions started in construction alone. In late 2009, approximately 613,000 people were employed within the construction industry as a whole, with some 18,000 people going through training programmes.

Overall work ranges from building construction, through heavy or civil construction to industrial construction. Each has a fairly unique team to plan, design, construct and maintain the relative project.

Let's begin with Building Construction. Basically this is when structure is used to develop an older property. This can involve relatively minor projects such as restoration work and redecoration. Next come those construction companies that get involved in heavy (civil) commercial building projects. Finally we have a smaller sector at the top of the scale that deals with industrial construction. Very large businesses and corporations are often behind plans such as these.

Going up the chain from building through to industrial construction, an ever wider variety of skill-sets are needed to complete each project. Householders sometimes spend several thousand on an extension, but conglomerates can spend hundreds of millions on a really major project. So let's now go through a number of technical construction career paths:

Civil Engineer

Civil engineers generally hold particular three or four year engineering degrees. The Chartered Engineer qualification is issued by the Institution of Civil Engineers. To qualify as a Chartered Engineer, a graduate must hold a Masters in Engineering. Those with Bachelor's Degrees may, as a result, become Incorporated Engineers.

Building Services Engineer

This is another way of saying Mechanical or Electrical Engineers. A Mechanical or Electrical Engineering degree is normally held by most applicants to this post. Building Services Engineers can join the CIBSE in the UK. There are eight grades of membership, depending on experience and qualifications.

Project Management

Project Managers have often worked in construction in various roles before specialising and training in specific PM disciplines (such as PMBOK). Engineers and surveyors often make good project managers.

Quantity Surveyors

Quantity Surveyors can enter the industry at graduate level. 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".

Structural Engineer

Undergraduates looking to apply to university to take a structural engineering degree should have A levels in maths, physics and/or other sciences. Structures have to look pleasing, but structural engineers also have to calculate loads and stresses, and be confident the foundations and frameworks are sufficiently strong to be safe and effective.

Architects

The standard entry route into the architectural profession takes at least seven years, and is a blend of academic and practical study and work. The architect is actively involved throughout a whole project, from choosing the site to structure and landscaping completion.