Technical Construction Careers & Architecture Training
In the current global economy, construction remains one of the stalwarts of the market. Modern construction utilises Planning, Architecture, Health and Safety and Green Engineering in its workflow as well as actual Building skill-sets. With so much choice within the industry, the right qualifications are now very important.
Work covers three broad skill ranks, which each have a number of roles. First there are unskilled and semi skilled workers who have very little certification and represent the bulk of the on-site workforce.
Skilled workers come next - they're often foremen or works managers who have a reasonable amount of experience and knowledge of their business. Then there remain those jobs relating to technical and management work. These people have trained to design and/or manage the overall process and as such are the most qualified within their field. You can return to this section later and refer to the various sites and links to training companies by bookmarking this page.
The Basis for Training in the Construction Sector
Within the UK, the skilled occupations require Further Education qualifications - often in a vocational subject. Students can go through a college or by on-the-job training to get their required qualifications. Between 2006 and 2007 over 9,000 apprenticeships in construction were allocated in the United Kingdom. Today, as well as the eighteen thousand or so people being trained in construction, there are well over six hundred thousand people working in the industry.
There are three different sectors in the construction industry as a whole. Each has a fairly unique team to plan, design, construct and maintain the relative project.
The first sector to look at is Building Construction. This is mainly concerned with extending existing property. This can involve relatively minor projects such as restoration work and redecoration. 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. The owners of these large-scale projects are usually vast for-profit, industrial corporations.
As you go through the list from Building Construction to Industrial Construction, the size of the job increases massively. The scope of the projects range from a few hundred pounds for small building work through to a few million or even billion pounds to complete two year industrial projects. We can take a look at some of the professions that work in construction -
Civil Engineering
A Civil Engineer usually holds a degree in a relative subject. In the UK, the Institute of Civil Engineers offers the Chartered Engineer accreditation programme as well. Typically graduates must hold qualifications such as the MEng in order to reach the chartered rank. With a three year BEng under your belt you could consider becoming an Incorporated Engineer.
Building Services Engineers
Building Services Engineers can equally be listed as 'M&E' Engineers. Typically these people have Mechanical Engineering degrees or Electrical Engineering degrees. Those looking for accredited status as a competent and professional building services engineer should consider membership of the CIBSE.
Project Manager
PM's are normally also certified in other disciplines first, such as Quantity Surveying. There are a number of Project Management training courses offered by various institutions.
Quantity Surveyors
Training for work as a Quantity Surveyor starts with an appropriate three or four year degree course. Chartered status is gained from the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors.
Structural Engineering
This type of work covers such areas as structural analysis, structural mechanics, foundation and structural design and material properties. There are various membership levels should you wish to join the Institute of Structural Engineers, which reflect the diversity of recognised academic qualifications around the world.
Architect
Anyone who wishes to become an architect should allow for seven or more years of study and work experience to become fully qualified. On any construction project, an architect will remain a key player as their designs, ideas and plans are converted into physical structures and spaces.
