Construction is one of the most important skills sectors in the UK, employing 3.1 million people, which accounts for more than 9% of the UK workforce. There is high demand for people to work in the construction sector.
The UK will require more than 251,500 additional construction workers over the next five years to meet the skills challenge of delivering a wide range of new projects.
According to the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB), construction in the South West will continue to grow with demand for skills across a number of trades and roles, including:
- Non-construction professional, technical and IT staff – 1,110
- Senior, executive, and business process managers – 450
- Other construction process managers – 390
- Wood trades and interior fit-out staff – 330
- Surveyors – 260
Construction enables you to make your mark on the world – it creates where we live, where we play and where we work. From historic and cultural buildings to shops, connecting our cities, enabling our travel, entertainment, protecting listed buildings and providing energy. An industry full of opportunity!
Many local training providers offer a wide range of training and qualifications to support you in gaining the job you want – everything from Architect to Bricklayer, to Building Controls and Carpenter, through to Surveyor and Site Manager. Visit our Explore Training where you can access more information on specific providers.
You can enter the sector in a number of ways, including:
- Full-time / part-time college courses
- Apprenticeships
- Higher National Certificates (HNC)
- Higher National Diplomas (HND)
- Foundation Degree
- Bachelors Degree
There are many different occupations / careers available within the sector; some of these include:
Design and management – architect, building surveyor, civil engineer, facilities manager, landscape architect, project manager, quantity surveyor, structural engineer, town planner, building services design engineering
Technicians – architectural technician, buyer, plumber, electrician, CAD operator, estimator, site engineer
Craft roles – carpenter and joiner, bricklayer, demolition operative, floor layer, painter and decorator, dry liner, plant mechanic, plasterer, roofer, scaffolder, shop fitter, stonemason.
You can see lots more job roles and their profiles by visiting the National Careers Service site.
Useful Links
- CITB
- Examples of Apprenticeship standards – Construction
- Heart of the South West LEP
- Building Plymouth
- Hinkley Point Careers and Jobs
- Sherford Skills Training
- Building Cornwall
- Building Great Exeter
Case Study
Are you looking to to get into the industry? Click above to watch Bethany Welsh from Balfour Beatty talk about how her apprenticeship is setting her up for a long and fulfilling career in construction.
