If you care about how cities are developed and want to be involved in shaping their future, a career in the Built Environment might be right for you.

Careers in this sector span a wide variety of different fields including architecture, civil engineering, surveying and construction management.

The main routes in are through a degree at University, followed by post graduate professional qualifications, so making the right ‘A’ level choices is important to set you on the path to success.

In this feature Oona looks at the opportunities, talks to Uni’s and employers and works out some of the degrees which can lead you to a successful professional career in the Built Environment:

Engineering

Engineers play a key role in building everything from roads and bridges to homes and offices. Studying engineering at university is one of the most straightforward ways to becoming an engineer working in the Built Environment.

One of the universities with the largest engineering faculties in the UK is the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow. Strathclyde offers over 50 undergraduate courses in Engineering. Courses relating to the Built Environment include Architectural Engineering, Architectural Studies, Civil Engineering and Civil Engineering with Environmental Management

The University has strong links with industry which helps with recruitment opportunities.

Elaine Malcolmson education liaison advisor for science and engineering at the University says: ‘Engineering is a very attractive career option.
Graduate engineers are in demand with starting salaries of £20,000 plus.
Chartered engineers are becoming better paid than doctors and lawyers.

About 90 per cent of our UK engineering graduates are in full-time jobs or further study within six months of graduating.’

London’s famous Guerkin Landmark

Qualifications needed for a degree course

Ms Malcolmson says: ‘Most engineering degree courses require an A level in Maths and prefer you to have Physics as well. Qualifications in art, design or technical drawing can be helpful for some courses including architectural studies.’

Civil engineers work with other professionals in the Built environment such as architects, project managers and surveyors to construct our buildings and transports systems.

Architects

Architects have a unique role to play in the built environment. Their skills are in demand in all areas of property, construction and design.

They have to use creative skills while having extensive knowledge of how a building is constructed.

A spokeswoman for the Royal Institute for Architecture says: ‘Being an architect isn’t a straightforward creative or scientific job. Architects have to combine both scientific skills with creative design.’

Training as an architect in the UK takes about seven years. You need at least two A levels and some Schools of Architecture insist on Maths or a science A level. You also need five GCSEs which include English Language and Maths. Although it isn’t necessary to study art you should at least enjoy drawing.

‘The shortage of Chartered Quantity Surveyors means that there are plenty of opportunities for graduates to enter the profession. Once in the profession salary surveys have shown that, on average, Chartered Surveyors earn 15% more than their non chartered equivalents, with average starting salaries as much as £24,000 rising to £35,000 in five years.”

Other routes to being a surveyor

There are also alternative routes to entry other than doing a degree in quantity surveying. Graduates with any other degree can take an RICS accredited conversion course to become a chartered quantity surveyor.

There is also an apprentice route to full professional status for school leavers who do not have sufficient ‘A’ level points to enrol on an RICS accredited course.

Working Placements

Doing a working placement while you are still studying for your degree is a great way to find out if your chosen career is right for you.

From placements you gain practical hands on experience of working in the career you intend to pursue after graduating.

Many placements in industry are open to undergraduates studying courses which can lead to careers in the Built Environment.

Balfour Beatty one of the UK’s largest construction companies every year offers placements to about 150 undergraduates studying civil engineering, construction management, quantity surveying or commercial management.

The company offers two types of placement scheme which can be undertaken as part of a degree course: short summer placements of between eight to 12 weeks or year-long placements which are usually part of undergraduate degree courses that include a compulsory year working in industry. These are usually for third year undergraduates.

Rachel Blake, Graduate Recruitment Advisor, at Balfour Beatty says:

‘Placements can also lead to sponsorship and a place on one of our graduate schemes after university as we recruit about 200 graduates for careers in the Built Environment every year.’

The company also offers school or college leavers schemes called ‘earn while you learn.’ They offer opportunities to become trainee quantity surveyors and trainee civil engineers. You need grade C or above in GCSEs Maths and English to apply.

Many companies offer industrial placements around the country including Willmott Dixon, Wates Group and United Utilities.

Heathrow’s Terminal 5

Non-degree opportunities

From this September onwards you can also start to study for an Advanced Diploma in Construction and the Built Environment or the existing BTEC National Diploma in this subject. Most colleges will require 4 GCSE / S Grade passes, although this is not always a necessity.

Whichever route you choose there are many opportunities to become qualified and with an ongoing shortfall of professional skilled employees the Built Environment sector looks like a very rewarding career path to choose.

For more information about careers in the Built Environment check out these websites:

How did they do it? Read our case studies of recent graduates on why and how they chose the Built Environment for their career success:

Case Study 1
Case Study 2

Five Top Jobs in the Built Environment: Architects Civil Engineers Quantity Surveyors Project Managers Planners