Building A Future - Career Descriptions For Jobs In Construction
There's no doubt that construction is one of the most embracing of today's business sectors. It is far bigger than many people think, and includes careers for architects, designers, engineers, project managers and even health & safety officials within its remit. There are so many different ways to become a professional worker in construction.
In the construction industry there are three levels to consider. "Unskilled" and "Semi-Skilled" workers have little or no formal credentials, but generally make up the bulk of the on-site workforce. Following this are the skilled workers, who've trained and built up their abilities. Many take on lower management positions.
At the top of the scale we have the careers relating to more senior management and technical staff. These are the people with the greatest educational qualifications (usually graduate degrees), trained to design, plan and manage the overall construction process.
Bookmarking this page (a keyboard shortcut is Ctrl D) would help if you wanted to check out the links and adverts to a few training companies in this area.
Training in Construction in the UK
Further Education credentials (often involving vocational elements) are essential for skilled positions. 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. As of last year, there were over 600,000 people employed throughout the construction industry with 18,000 students being trained.
In the industry there are three standard construction sectors. One is in the domestic market, and the other two are in the commercial sector.
The first sector to look at is Building Construction. This is mainly concerned with extending existing property. On the whole they tend to be small in scale and take a few weeks at most.
Next come those construction companies that get involved in heavy (civil) commercial building projects. Industrial Construction is a relatively small part of the entire construction industry, but it is a key part of it. The owners of these large-scale projects are usually vast for-profit, industrial corporations.
The scale of building work undertaken from Building to Industrial Construction is very extensive. Without a doubt the costs of ventures increase from a few hundred pounds for small projects through to many millions of pounds for large industrial schemes. Below you'll find a list of professional construction related careers and training requirements.
Civil Engineer
Not only do civil engineers need degrees but they also generally need them in quite specific subjects. A respected accreditation is that of the Chartered Engineer status as offered through the Institute of Civil Engineers. New University Graduates however require a masters degree to acquire Chartered status. Bachelor of Engineering degrees are generally a prerequisite to reaching the Incorporated Engineer level.
Building Services Engineering
Another engineering discipline needed in construction is Building Services Engineering. Typically these people have Mechanical Engineering degrees or Electrical Engineering degrees. The Chartered Institute of Building Services Engineers welcomes members, and offers memberships from Affiliate through to Fellow depending on status.
Project Manager
These professionals are generally holders of a two or three year higher education certificate or degree. They may also have experience in Civil Engineering.
Quantity Surveyor
The first stage to becoming a quantity surveyor is to graduate with an approved degree or masters degree. 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
Anyone working as a structural engineer on major projects will have their say about the environment we live in. SE's often work alongside architects and designers on the construction of structures. The ISE (Institute of Structural Engineers) is the professional body that works to maintain professional standards in the industry.
Architect
Anyone who wishes to become an architect should allow for seven or more years of study and work experience to become fully qualified. Architects work closely with other construction professionals, such as engineers, quantity surveyors and the other specialists referred to above.
