Spotlight on construction
It's a great time to train in construction, with a huge variety of opportunities and some tasty salaries once you're qualified. Construction workers are highly sought after due to skills shortages in key areas. It scores highly on job satisfaction too – you really get to see the fruits of your labour and your building work will be admired for years to come. You may also have opportunities to work overseas and set up your own business.
You'll get a buzz out of improving your environment and you could be working on cutting-edge buildings that shape the landscape of tomorrow. Britain has a global reputation for design, inspirational architecture and the highest quality building work.
Recent major building projects include the futuristic Eden Project, the universally admired Millennium Stadium in Cardiff and the redevelopment of Birmingham's Bullring shopping centre into one of the most impressive shopping centres in Europe. Ongoing and upcoming major projects include the new Wembley Stadium and the Olympic Park, which is part of London's bid for the 2012 Olympics.
And if you're someone who gets the shivers at the idea of a desk job, construction offers you the chance to work creatively both with your hands and your head. Construction jobs are some of the most varied around – it's not all bricks and mortar. Here's a selection of the jobs you could train for via an apprenticeship: painter and decorator, scaffolder, dry liner, mastic asphalter, plasterer, roof slater and tiler, stonemason, bricklayer, wall and floor tiler, site carpenter, surveying assistant, buying assistant, site technical assistant, town planning support technician.
Entry requirements
There is a huge variety of training programmes in the construction industry. But whatever you choose to do first is not necessarily what you'll do for the rest of your life. Because there's such a variety of jobs, training and qualifications, there will always be many different opportunities. So once you've got your job, you can start developing your career.There are three levels for construction apprentices: craft, technical and graduate.
Craft apprentices
Train for jobs such as roof slating and tiling, painting and decorating, or stonemasonry. If you go down this route you'll be concentrating on developing skills with your hands, using specialist equipment, whilst learning about construction materials and production methods.
But you needn't stop there. You can take further qualifications that can take you into technical, supervisory or management positions. You might even get the opportunity to start your own business. To be a craft apprentice you usually need a good basic education – maths and English GCSEs are especially useful.
Technical apprentices
Train for jobs such as civil engineering surveying assistant, construction estimating assistant and site technical assistant. If you go down this route you've got two main options: the standard apprenticeship format of working and attending college part-time, or go to college full-time to get qualifications before entering the industry.
You also have the opportunity to study for further qualifications that can take you into supervisory or management positions. If you want to go down the technical route you usually need four good GCSEs (grades A–C).
Graduates
Go to university first and to study for a degree or foundation degree in subjects such as civil engineering and construction management. You may also be able to enter the industry with a degree in a subject other than construction. If you go down this route you will be aiming for specialised or management positions and will have the opportunity to get further professional qualifications, possibly leading to chartered status. To get onto a degree course you usually need at least five GCSEs (grades A–C) and two A levels. Maths and science are relevant subjects to study.
Different occupations may ask for other specific qualifications from their apprentices. Also, the schemes and entry requirements are slightly different in other countries such as Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. If you're unsure which route to go for or would like more info, see our What next? section.
