Building Technology and Management
'Living a life is like constructing a building: if you start wrong, you'll end wrong'. (Maya Angelou American poet)
The construction industry in the UK is expected to employ around 38,630 technical staff by 2011.
Working in this sector, you could have the satisfaction of knowing that you helped to build something that will last for generations to come.
There are lots of jobs, mostly involving work on building sites, but also some working in completed buildings.
Construction managers organise and supervise work on a building site. Building technicians act as a link between management and the workforce. Clerks of works make sure contractors work to the agreed standards and do it on time.
Building control surveyors check that construction work meets with planning and building regulations – they visit sites to make checks as the work progresses.
Building services engineers design and oversee the installation of the many services such as heating, ventilation and plumbing which go into a building. Facilities managers make sure these services are well maintained. Take a look at the Good Day website at www.goodday.org.uk for information on jobs in the building services engineering sector.
To do any of these jobs, you need to be practical and able to get work done to deadlines. You must be willing to take responsibility, as whatever your job is, you will contribute to the safety of a structure which lots of people will use. You must be able to work as part of a team, to supervise a team and to deal with suppliers and clients. So you also need good communication skills.
For some jobs in this career sector you might be able to move up the career ladder from a craft job. For others you might be able to start direct from school with Standard grades and Highers. But very often you need a Higher National Certificate (HNC), Higher National Diploma (HND) or a degree.
In the past few years there has been an increase in house building all over the country. Although the recent problems in the financial sector have led to a downturn in construction projects, other factors may help recovery. For example in October 2008 the Scottish Government announced plans to develop hundreds of new social housing units in the future. The preparations for the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow will also lead to various new building projects: not just newly designed structures like the National Indoor Sports Arena and Athletes' Village in the East End, but refurbished and upgraded facilities like the Kelvinhall International Sports Arena and the National Swimming Centre.