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Options For A Career In Construction...

There's no doubt that construction is one of the most embracing of today's business sectors. It can range from Building Skills, to Architecture and on to Design and even Health and Safety issues at work. There are so many different ways to become a professional worker in construction.

Choices for careers within Construction fundamentally span 3 skill levels. The 'Unskilled' and 'Semi Skilled' workforce are generally the on-site labour with little or no formal construction qualifications. Skilled workers come next - they're often foremen or works managers who have a reasonable amount of experience and knowledge of their business. And then there are those listed as Technicians and Managers. Usually the most technically qualified to work in this industry, these are generally the people who manage, plan and design the entire process.

When you want to consider your options you may want to refer to some of the training companies and links featured here, so make sure that you book-mark this page (Ctrl-D).

The Basis for Training in the Construction Sector

In the United Kingdom, further education certifications are deemed a must-have for those in a skilled occupation. There are a number of ways for people to get their qualifications, whether this is by work-related training or through an FE college. Within the UK over eight thousand apprenticeships in construction started in two thousand and seven alone. Two years on and that training number has increased to eighteen thousand.

Within construction itself, there are three types of processes: Building Construction, Heavy/Civil Construction and Industrial Construction. Each has a fairly unique team to plan, design, construct and maintain the relative project.

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. 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. Often the people behind these industrial construction projects are huge profit based companies.

A greater range of skills and professions are needed to complete the civil and industrial construction projects. Financiers looking to fund the biggest industrial concerns sometimes have to raise tens of millions or more in investment money before they can get started. So let's now go through a number of technical construction career paths:

Civil Engineer

A Civil Engineer usually holds a degree in a relative subject. A respected accreditation is that of the Chartered Engineer status as offered through the Institute of Civil Engineers. To become a Chartered Engineer, university graduates are likely to have a Masters Degree. However, anyone graduating with a Bachelors Degree can go on to become an Incorporated Engineer at that stage.

Building Engineers

This is another way of saying Mechanical or Electrical Engineers. These candidates usually hold degrees in Mechanical or Electrical Engineering. The Chartered Institute of Building Services Engineers welcomes members, and offers memberships from Affiliate through to Fellow depending on status.

Project Management

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

Training for work as a Quantity Surveyor starts with an appropriate three or four year degree course. More professional training (along with time spent in industry) can be gained from RICS, the industry body for standards and certifications.

Structural Engineering

This type of work covers such areas as structural analysis, structural mechanics, foundation and structural design and material properties. The work is very exacting, as obviously high levels of safety and efficiency are prerequisites for structural engineers.

Architect

Twelve months practical experience follows the first degree, then a further two years on a second degree or diploma, with more practical experience and exams following that. The architect is actively involved throughout a whole project, from choosing the site to structure and landscaping completion.