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The construction industry, including the building services sector, is complex and offers a multitude of opportunities for entry at many levels. There are apprentices and work placements for those wanting to enter through the skills route, and openings for those looking for professional careers, whether with a consultant, contractor or client organisation.
The traditional route for skills training is either an apprenticeship with a contractor or in-house team, or through courses at a further education college, possibly leading to an apprenticeship. There are not enough apprenticeships to meet the demand, so the majority of potential building services engineers go to a further education college and learn their skills before seeking employment.
Opportunities for professionals are more complex, with numerous career pathways in engineering, design, surveying and project management, on all sides of the industry including contractors, consultants, project managers and the client team. There are traditionally two routes with the usual one being to obtain a first degree, join as a graduate and gain professional qualifications. The second is to join a company and then work towards a first degree through part-time or distance learning, and then move on to professional qualifications.
The former will probably become less popular as tuition fees for most universities are due to rise to £9,000 per annum. As most students study away from home, rent and living expenses are in addition to the fees, which mean that students will be building up a significant debt before they start work. Choosing the work and distance learning route usually entails students living at home and earning while they are learning, so when they graduate, the debt is significantly less.
Whichever way entry to the industry is achieved, the ultimate aim of most is to gain relevant professional qualifications, and then perhaps to go on to do higher qualifications, such as MBAs and Masters, to further enhance career opportunities.
Distance learning
Most professional qualifications have to be achieved while in work, usually through distance learning courses where students learn in their own time. Being in a work environment enables students to see how what they are learning is applied, and to be party to that application. Distance learning courses are often internet-based, but some have an element of support which can be face-to-face, online or telephone.
The College of Estate Management (CEM) is the leading provider of supported distance learning for construction and property professionals. Established over 90 years ago, it has at any one time over 4,000 students from more than 80 countries.
Many well-known personalities in the industry are college alumni including Paul Morell, the Government’s Chief Construction Adviser, Mike Slade, Chief Executive of Helical Bar, Professor Peter Hibberd, Chairman of the Joint Contracts Tribunal (JCT) and Francis Salway, Chief Executive of Land Securities, the UK’s largest land owner, to name a few. Many of the college’s courses are accredited by one or more of the industry’s professional bodies, and are taught by tutors with extensive industry experience.
Professional bodies
There are several professional bodies in the construction, property and building services sectors, some of which provide training or accredit external courses. The Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) cover mainstream building activities across the entire sector, with the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) mainly client side estate management teams. The British Institute of Facilities Management (BIFM) and Chartered Institute of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE) cover facilities and building services respectively. There are
also several specialist bodies and organisations, such as the British Council for Shopping Centres (BCSC), the UK Green Building Council and the British Property Federation.
The RICS has several graduate entry paths, all requiring a first degree from a recognised university. Membership depends upon qualifications and previous experience, but a structured programme of training, lasting at least 23 months, leading to an assessment of professional competence (APC) is required.
The CIOB has broader membership paths, not just for graduates but also students with vocational qualifications wanting to build their careers. Through an education framework consisting of three levels, members can build their professional qualifications, again through a number of entry routes. These range from associate membership for HNC and NVQ level three, through incorporate membership for HND, foundation degree and NVQ level four, full membership for NVQ level five, cognate, non-cognate and accredited degrees, to fellowships for experienced members or through a direct fellowship examination.
Similarly, BIFM has a range of paths for membership and extending professional qualifications. It is structured across seven levels, with the level seven post graduate qualifications, level five foundation degree, and level three for apprenticeships. BIFM offers qualifications for levels four, five and six, with three sizes in each: award, certificate and diploma, all completed through distance learning.
Full membership of the institute requires relevant experience and generally a level four qualification, a certified member requires more experience and minimum level six qualification, and a fellow requires significant experience as well as a minimum level six qualification. CEM offers two level seven qualifications through distance learning: an MSc and a postgraduate diploma in facilities management.
CIBSE also provides a number of routes to membership, depending upon qualifications and experience. Licentiate grade membership has HND/C or NVQ level three requirements, whereas an associate member has HND or foundation degree with further study requirements. A full member needs an ECUK listed honours degree plus further study or an accredited MEng degree. To become a fellow depends upon experience and seniority.
Through the Engineering Council, there are a number of accredited courses at colleges and universities across the UK which are recognised by CIBSE.
Meet the challenge
A big challenge for the industry will be the Green Deal, scheduled to start next year. This will focus upon retrofitting the existing housing and commercial stock (some 26 million homes and two million commercial properties) to make them more energy efficient over the next 40 years to meet the Government’s carbon reduction commitment.
To achieve this mammoth target will involve the creation of an entirely new industry sector, with tens of thousands of new jobs. Many in the industry have already highlighted the inevitable skills gap that exists, although a number of establishments have plans in hand to address this. The Building Research Establishment, which itself is managing the research project, funded by Government, to find out how the industry is going to deliver the Green Deal, is in the process of establishing a training centre near Stoke to develop and deliver the skills needed by the industry.
A key element of the Government’s education policy is the creation of some 40 university technical colleges across the country to focus upon delivering vocational education to those young people not suited to the traditional academic approach to education. One bid, from Harlow College, will specialise in environmental engineering specifically aimed at providing skills for the Green Deal. Undoubtedly, other educational establishments have plans to provide courses of various types which will serve this new industry sector.
There are many routes into the industry, and many sectors and areas of specialisation within it. Although many young people would not consider distance learning as an option when deciding on their first degree, it is an approach that will become more popular as tuition fee increases take effect. It should be an option that school leavers should carefully think about, as when they do eventually enter the industry, students will find they will be studying for their professional qualifications by distance learning anyway.
