Opportunities With Construction Training Courses

Currently construction is one of the leading industries in today's world. It can range from Building Skills, to Architecture and on to Design and even Health and Safety issues at work. Many qualifications are globally recognised, but if you plan to work overseas, check before you spend time studying.

In the construction industry there are three levels to consider. The least certified members of the workforce will be employed on building sites and are generally known as Unskilled and/or Semi Skilled. 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.

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Training in Construction in the UK

Skilled jobs demand some form of further education study - predominantly in subjects connected to the vocation itself. 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. Two years on and that training number has increased to eighteen thousand.

In the industry there are three standard construction sectors. The two commercial areas require similar trade and professional skill-sets, though each is unique in some ways.

Initially we have the building construction section. Essentially this is where extensions are built onto existing houses. A large number of these projects are comparatively small and are completed in under a month. Heavy/Civil Construction is essentially the domain of the medium-sized 'build-for-profit' companies. Then there's Industrial Construction, which is a specialised but smaller division of the industry. Without a doubt profit is often behind the large scale ownership of these projects.

A greater range of skills and professions are needed to complete the civil and industrial construction projects. The range of plans also raises the costs, with large industrial projects sometimes costing up to a billion pounds or more. Professional careers in the construction industry include the following:

Building Engineers

Another engineering discipline needed in construction is Building Services Engineering. These candidates usually hold degrees in Mechanical or Electrical Engineering. Building Services Engineers can join the CIBSE in the UK. There are eight grades of membership, depending on experience and qualifications.

Civil Engineer

Civil engineers generally hold particular three or four year engineering degrees. In the UK, the Institute of Civil Engineers offers the Chartered Engineer accreditation programme as well. To achieve chartered status engineering graduates need to hold the four year MEng. Bachelor of Engineering degrees are generally a prerequisite to reaching the Incorporated Engineer level.

Project Manager

Individuals typically hold a 2 year or greater higher education qualification, but are also qualified in another field such as 'Quantity Surveying' or 'Civil Engineering'.

Structural Engineers

Senior structural engineers generally hold a Bachelors or Masters Degree in structural engineering. Structures have to look pleasing, but structural engineers also have to calculate loads and stresses, and be confident the foundations and frameworks are sufficiently strong to be safe and effective.

Quantity Surveying

The first stage to becoming a quantity surveyor is to graduate with an approved degree or masters degree. With 2 years practical experience in a related field, you can complete the Assessment of Professional Competence (APC) and become a member of RICS - the profession's Royal Institute.

Architecture

Entry in architecture is unlikely without a degree, and indeed practical supervised experience along with university studies will take approximately 7 years. An architect is responsible for designing new buildings and the surrounding spaces. They have to work closely with their clients, fellow professionals, officials and users to ensure their work complies with everyone's needs.