Five reasons to start a career in the Built Environment

Posted on: 2015-09-03

The Construction industry has been helping to restore the UK economy for a while but its continuous growth is being threatened by a major skills shortage… however, this is a massive opportunity for those looking to start their careers or make a career change. We look at just some of the reasons why today’s workforce should consider a future in the Built Environment.

1. Growth and development

The wider Construction industry is one of the largest sectors in the UK, making up 10 per cent of jobs in the country (Total Professions) – and Raconteur, has reported that Construction contributes £92 billion a year to UK economic output, and will grow by 70 per cent over the next decade. There may not be such a thing as a ‘job for life’ anymore but the Built Environment is a pretty safe bet  with such booming business, and Construction and Property professionals in constant demand.

2. Income and security

In 2015, the Trade and Construction sector has been the third biggest improver in average salary, reports UK Construction Online; with Construction workers averaging a 10.4 per cent increase from last year and the  average annual salary for Trade and Construction workers totalling £38,704. That’s £12,204 more than the average UK salary.

But it’s not just financial security that the Built Environment provides; in January the Considerate Constructors Scheme introduced mental health assessment into its checklist. Chairman Mike Petter said, “Many projects and companies provide general health and welfare information…On the very best  sites we see the workforce offered literacy and numeracy support and guidance .” Proof that Construction doesn’t just pay, it also cares.

3. Diversity and choice

Not only are there plenty of jobs available in the Built Environment – Total Professions claims there are around 300,000 Businesses in the UK Construction industry, covering some 2.93 million jobs – but there’s a plethora of job types open to today’s workforce, from Chartered Surveyors, Town Planners and Architects to Construction Site Managers, Civil Engineers and Real Estate Professionals.

4. Innovation in a new era

The adoption of government-backed digital technologies has signalled a new era for the Construction industry, promising greater efficiencies and cost-savings, states Raconteur. This progression forms part of a broader trend of digital working, including building information modelling, which heralds a wider shift in skill-sets and promotes Construction workers as professional problem-solvers.

Martin Perks, Divisional Director at Mott MacDonald, said, “Collaboration, alliancing, interface engineering and information management will therefore become core skills. We thus see a gradual pivot of our traditional core, more towards analysis, interpretation, interpersonal and ‘soft’ skills.” This technical innovation not only suits today’s learning culture but it opens up the industry to global market opportunities and the exporting of skills.

5. Building a better future

Increasingly, Construction is being measured on things like health, happiness, and, most importantly, carbon footprint – not just aesthetics and financials.By following a career in the Built Environment you’re performing a critical role in making our daily environment happen, and ensuring it’s sustainable for the years to come. Green building is forecast to grow on average 22.8 per cent pa between 2012 and 2017. Sustainability in Construction is no longer a niche market, today it’s big business that’s becoming the future of the Built Environment.

So why wait, join this rewarding and booming industry that’s shaping today’s world.