All You Need to Know About a Career in Construction

If you enjoy working on projects whether that’s behind the scenes or getting involved with the physical work, you can choose from the best of both worlds when you work in construction. From new homes to office blocks, the construction and building sector is an innovative environment where you can learn a range of amazing skills.

Starting your Construction career

There are a number of options that you can take to begin your construction career whether you’re coming straight from school or you’re considering a career change. With an ever-growing demand for construction workers in the UK, starting your career now could provide you with many more opportunities.

Here are some of the first steps you can take:

● Start a building or construction apprenticeship

● Study for qualifications in bricklaying, joinery, carpentry or something similar

● Gain a degree in engineering, architecture or a similar discipline

● Find a graduate role or scheme

Which pathways can you take?

Do you want to be involved in the planning and designing of construction builds or would you rather be hands-on? Working in construction is not just about being on a building site, although that’s a great option for many, the industry is constantly evolving which means you can play a vital role in all kinds of projects big and small.

Common pathways in construction include:

● Site manager

● General labourer

● Health and safety

● Cost estimator

● Architect

● Surveyors

People are often surprised by how many different kinds of jobs there are in the construction industry but there is something to suit every skill set and interest.

Why work in Construction?

Businesses are always looking for construction workers to get involved with the constant flow of infrastructure projects, new homes and maintenance. Some of the top reasons for working in construction include:

● Construction is a thriving industry - new projects are constantly being planned which means a demand for construction workers - you will not be short of exciting opportunities.

● You can feel proud of your work - imagine looking at a building and think ‘I helped build that!’ If you’re looking for job satisfaction, construction could be a good route for you.

● You have a chance to learn valuable trade skills - whether you train in bricklaying or another area of construction, the skills you learn will be with you for life so meaning you will always have a trade.

Construction salary expectations

Whether you’re a skilled worker or involved in the planning of construction projects, this line of work offers many opportunities to upskill and increase your salary.

Here are the average salaries for some of the most common roles in construction:

● General labourer - £21,000 +

● Architect - £37,000 +

● Site manager - £45,000

If construction is a career path that’s got you interested, there’s no time like the present to get started. Join the UK Careers Fair and find out more about your options by meeting with some of the industry’s construction experts.

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