Construction, Engineering & Property

2016

Inspiring possibilitiesfor school leavers

In partnership with

Construction, Engineering & Property

IN CONSTRUCTION THE SKYLINE IS THE LIMIT

Construction lets you play a part in creating iconic projects and infrastructure of the future. You could leave a legacy that doesn’t just change the skyline, it could change the world.Construction is a career like no other.

Industry led, funded by the CITB levy

goconstruct.org

Build the perfect career

W elcome to the newest edition of TARGETcareersConstruction, Engineering & Property – a guideto help students leaving school or college decidewhether they should go to university or pursue

an apprenticeship or training programme route.Go Construct, a new industry-led campaign, is proud to

support this publication, and its companion websitetargetcareers.co.uk, because it showcases the variety ofconstruction, engineering and property careers available.

If you decide to pursue a construction career, there willdefinitely be a role for you. You can be hands on and trainin a skilled craft; focus on technical designs; oversee theactual construction; or step into management. You can evenstart your own company. Construction indeed is a careerfor everyone, and Go Construct aims to challenge itsoutdated image and inspire people to make constructiontheir career of choice. The Go Construct website

goconstruct.org acts as a window for the manyopportunities available in construction – and it’s got lots ofcareer resources for school leavers and teachers, too.

Whether you are interested in construction, engineeringor property, rest assured that there are a number of ways inwhich you can start your career. You can follow anacademic route or there are many ways to work while youlearn. This publication will help you find out more.

Kind regards,

Lorraine GregorySector strategy manager – careers, CITB (Construction Industry Training Board)

Photograph supplied by The Lowry (@The Lowry)

Welcome

Welcome to your futureYour choice of careers .............................. 4

Your choice of career routes .................... 6

Which route?Quiz: which route is best for you? ............9

Apprenticeships deconstructed ............10

University deconstructed ...................... 12

Training programmes deconstructed .... 14

Which job role?How to make the right career choice...... 16

How the construction industry works.... 18

Contents

2 | careers Construction, Engineering & Property 2016

The different constructionjob roles explained .............................. 21

The engineering industries explained.... 26

Need to know info for all would-be engineers .............................. 29

The different engineeringjob roles explained .............................. 30

The property industry defined .............. 34

The different property job roles explained .............................................. 35

Get professionally qualified .................. 38

What to do once you’ve seen a career you like .................................. 40

TAKING YOUR NEXT STEP

Join theworkforce, go to uni or both?

Choosinga job role

Makingapplications

Image supplied by CITBImage supplied by CITB

Career stories from students,apprentices and traineesMy quantity surveying apprenticeship.. 41

My civil engineering apprenticeship...... 42

My structural engineering degree ........ 42

My site management training programme .......................................... 43

My property apprenticeship .................. 43

My civil engineering degree .................. 44

My mechanical engineering apprenticeship .................................... 44

My site management apprenticeship .... 45

My electrical engineering training programme ............................ 45

Job applications andinterviewsApplications start with your skills ........ 46

Get covered with a covering letter ........ 47

How to write a cracking CV...................... 48

Easy tips for applications ...................... 50

Preparing for the perfect interview........ 52

A–Z of employers and a quick guide to their opportunities and recruitment methods .......................... 54

Index of contributors and employers......72

careers Construction, Engineering & Property 2016 | 3


Welcome to your future

Construction is...Saying ‘I helped build that!’ Designingand building the ‘built’ environmentaround us: the tallest skyscrapers, thestate-of-the-art football stadiums, themost beautiful bridges and so on.See page 18 for more about construction careers.

Engineering is...Problem solving. Designing, creatingand fixing many of the items thatmake our lives easier – fromsmartphones and satellites to carsand medicines.See page 26 for more about engineering careers.

YOUR CHOICE

Property is...Increasing the value of land and realestate. From houses and offices tofarmland and wind farms, propertyprofessionals work to ensure thatland and property make money.See page 34 for more about property careers.



of careers



Finish Key Stage 4

Your options at

16

ApprenticeshipYou can complete an intermediate or advancedapprenticeship. You work four days a week and study for oneday. All your training is paid for and you get paid too.

Intermediate apprenticeshipsEntry requirements vary – from no GCSEs to five GCSEs.The end qualification you receive is equivalent to fiveGCSEs or an NVQ level 2. For jobs such as electricians, bricklayers, mechanics andplumbers.Last one to four years.

Advanced apprenticeshipsEntry requirements vary – typically five GCSEs A*–D.The end qualification you receive is equivalent to two A levels or an NVQ level 3.For jobs such as bricklayers and maintenance engineers,civil engineers, aerospace modellers and instrumentfitters.Last one to four years.

Stay in educationYou can go to a sixth form or furthereducation college and study:

A levels. Vocational qualifications, eg NVQ in engineering.

This can lead to...You finding an entry-level job, eg building surveying technician.University – HNC/HND/BEng/MEng/BSc qualification.

This can lead to...A job (either with the same employer or a different one).Another, higher level apprenticeship or qualification (if an employer supports you).

YOUR CHOICE



Finish Key Stage 5

ApprenticeshipThe traditional apprenticeship option is the higherapprenticeship, in which you’ll work four days aweek and study for one. However, a few employersare now offering degree (or professional)apprenticeships. With an apprenticeship, yourtraining is paid for and you get a salary too.

Higher apprenticeships

Entry requirements vary – usually two A levels and five GCSEs.The end qualification is equivalent to an NVQlevel 4 or a foundation degree/HNC/HND.For jobs such as designers, constructionmanagers and engineers – but you’ll have lessresponsibility than if you’d got a degree.

Degree/professional apprenticeships

Recently introduced: only currently availablethrough a few employers in certain areas,including surveying and engineering.

Complete a degree and a relevant professionalqualification.Last six years.

UniversityYou can study a degreequalification full or parttime.

Entry requirements vary –all ask for a number ofUCAS points, some requirespecific subjects andsome won’t acceptgeneral studies or criticalthinking A levels.Fees cost up to £9,000 ayear. Can be funded by astudent loan, bursariesor through an employer. Courses typically lastthree or four years + anoptional work experienceyear.

Your options at

18

This can lead to...A job (with your employer or a different one).University (for higher apprentices).

of career routes

This can lead to...A job.

Alternativeschool leaverprogramme

Some employers offeralternatives toapprenticeships for A levelstudents who don’t want tostudy full time atuniversity. These aresimilar to the new degreeapprenticeships, but arecustomised to the employerrather than having to followapprenticeshipframeworks. Theseemployer training schemesusually involve youstudying for a degree whileworking for the employer;the employer pays all (ormost) of your fees.

This can lead to... A graduate scheme orgraduate-level job, whichoften includesmanagementresponsibility.Further study.


Which route?

A

I enjoy thelearning

environmentand am lookingforward tostudent life.

B

I am keen toenter theworkplacestraightaway.

1A

I enjoy learningin the

classroom.

B

I enjoy learningthrough doing.

2A

I don’t want towork full timeand have to dostudy on top.

B

I feel able tocombine

full-time workwith part-time

study.

3

A

I want higher earningpotential in thelong term, even

if I havestudent debt inthe short term.

B

I want to earnsome moneystraightawayand I don’t wantany studentdebt.

4A

I want to be in aposition to beoffered

managementopportunitiesvirtually

straightaway.

B

I don’t mindworking my way up tomanagement

level.

5

Mostly As?

You might want to explore...

University courses and full-time study.

See page 12.

Mostly Bs?

You might want to explore...

Apprenticeships or training programmes.

See pages 10and 14.

What would suit you best: university, apprenticeship or training programme?Our quiz can help you work it out. Tick the statement you most agree with.

Which route is best for


A pprenticeships offer you thechance to work towardsqualifications while earningmoney in a real job. They are

a tried and trusted way to start yourcareer, but you need to know what youare signing up to.

What’s involved?Apprenticeships allow you to work inan entry-level job while getting trainedup. This training usually involvesworking with experienced colleaguesfor four days a week and studying at afurther education college or designatedtraining centre on the fifth day. Yougain vocational and technicalqualifications and improve yourfunctional skills (for example, in mathsand English). Some employers provideadditional training, too. ‘We offeremployability courses to helpapprentices acquire the insights todevelop their careers,’ says TonyEllender, emerging talent manager atBalfour Beatty UK. ‘We also enableour apprentices to complete a Duke ofEdinburgh’s Award.’

Apprenticeships can be found in ahuge number of different areas – fromcrafts such as stonemasonry to aspectsof project management. Apprenticesshould be decided on the job they’dlike. As Tony says, ‘An apprenticeshipis a long process and trains you in aparticular role. A university student

needn’t worry if they don’t enjoy theirdegree course – the qualification willmake them eligible for a number ofdifferent careers. This isn’t necessarilythe case for apprentices.’

Change is comingThe types of apprenticeship availableare being reviewed and likely to bereplaced over the next few years. As ofOctober 2015, there are intermediate,advanced and higher apprenticeships,although a few employers run ‘degree’apprenticeships (see page 7). If youstart on a type of apprenticeship you’llfinish it; you won’t be swapped part-way through.

Cashing inThe minimum wage is £3.30 forapprentices aged 16–18 or those aged19 or over who are in their first year.After that first year, apprentices aged19 or over are due the minimum wagefor their age – either £5.30 or £6.70.1

However, many employers pay morethan the minimum wage: see the A–Zof employers from page 54.

Professional qualificationsMost professionals in construction,engineering and property take a‘professional qualification’ with a

professional body while on the job.These tell clients and employers thatyou are trained to ‘industrystandard’. You may start workingtowards these on your apprenticeshipor you may take them afterwards.

A graduate may be able to worktowards a higher qualification thanan apprentice would, and as such cangain greater responsibility and,usually, higher pay.

After an apprenticeshipOnce you have completed anapprenticeship, most employers keepyou on in a job, but some might beunable to. If that is the case, you havea recognised qualification and up tofour years of work experience to helpyou find a job with another employer. After your apprenticeship, you couldprogress to a higher level ofapprenticeship, a school-leavertraining programme or a universitycourse. But you’ll need an employer’scooperation to do so: they may wantyou to perform the job you’ve beentrained in. If you have managerialaspirations, the quickest way to fulfilthem is to go to university and then

Which route?

deconstructedApprenticeships


join a graduate scheme or find atraining programme that sponsors youthrough a degree.

Apprenticeship applicationsYou can apply for apprenticeships inthree ways. You can:• apply directly to an employer

offering apprenticeships (see the A–Z of employers from page 54)

• apply via a further education college • apply to an apprenticeship training

provider who will then place youwith an employer. Trainingproviders can be private businesses,charities or, like the CITB,professional bodies.The application processes usually

involve filling in a form or sending in aCV – see pages 46–53 for advice.Deadlines vary: for example, someopen for applications in October andothers in January.

1 Figures correct as of October 2015.

Choosing the right apprenticeshipTony Ellender, Balfour Beatty UK’s emerging talent manager, suggestsasking yourself:

Can the employer give me the range of work I need in order tocomplete my apprenticeship? Can the employer offer me anything in addition to theapprenticeship? Any extra training or networking?Is the employer likely to be in business for the duration of myapprenticeship?What are the career prospects with the employer after theapprenticeship?

The pros and consYou can earn, learn and work at the same time. You won’thave any student debt, but you’ll probably start on a lowersalary than a graduate with the company.

Most employers will move you into a job on completion ofyour apprenticeship, but that isn’t guaranteed.

You can go on to take higher qualifications after yourapprenticeship, but usually only if an employer will supportyou to do so.

You might not have as much responsibility as a graduatewould; a newly arrived graduate could be senior to you.

Which route?


G oing to university is apopular choice and anestablished way foracademically minded people

to accelerate their careers. But, withtuition fees to consider, you need toknow how to make the most of it.

The qualifications explainedUniversities offer undergraduate andpostgraduate qualifications that can bestudied full time, part time or online.Most undergraduate degrees arebachelor degrees, usually taken after A levels. On graduating, constructionand property students typicallybecome bachelors of science (BSc).Engineering students can becomeeither bachelors of engineering (BEng)or masters in engineering (MEng) –this is technically an undergraduatequalification, but is equivalent to apostgraduate masters degree.Postgraduate qualifications aretypically taken after bachelorqualifications.

There are shorter undergraduatecourses that offer recognised, butlesser, qualifications: higher nationalcertificates (HNCs), higher nationaldiplomas (HNDs) and foundationdegrees. They are offered by furthereducation colleges as well asuniversities. You can progress to abachelor course from these courses;sometimes students take them if theyhave insufficient UCAS points for abachelor course.

The courses on offerThere are many undergraduatesubjects available – browse courses atwww.ucas.com. You can study eitherone subject in depth (single honours)or study two (joint or combinedhonours). The vast majority of coursesin construction, engineering andproperty include the opportunity to

take a ‘placement’ year (where youspend a year working for anemployer).

What to expectAround 25 per cent of your time willbe spent in lectures and tutorials, butthe rest of your time will be spentdoing independent study: check outunistats.direct.gov.uk for the ratios ofspecific courses. You’ll be assessedthrough exams, presentations,extended essays and/or researchprojects. You’ll also be encouraged toapply for work experience withemployers during the holidays and/or aplacement year.

Construction, engineering andproperty courses are more practicalthan other degrees, but they are stilltheory based. Engineering students, forexample, learn a lot of maths. If youprefer a more practical approach,

perhaps investigate apprenticeships ortraining programmes.

Choosing a course and universityConsider:• the reputation of the university for

the subject• whether the course is accredited by

relevant professional bodies• whether tutors/lecturers are involved

in cutting-edge research or haveworked in industry

• the range of modules and projects• the relationships the department and

careers service have with employers • facilities, including laboratories,

computer-aided design programs,access to journals and case studymaterials

• other general factors, such as thesocial life on offer, whether it’s acampus or city university and yourgut feeling!

The pros and consThe median salary of a graduate is £10,500 a year more thana non-graduate.1

It can be expensive and you may end up with student debt,but it can be paid for via sponsorship or bursaries.

A job isn’t guaranteed after university, but you’ll have adedicated careers team to help you find one.

Joining a graduate scheme can be a quicker way intomanagement than an apprenticeship.

It may enable you to study for a higher level professionalqualification while on the job, leading to higher status andsalaries. This isn’t always the case for apprentices.

A degree is a passport into many careers, not just the subjectyou are studying – great if you change your career plans.

Which route?

University deconstructed

Which route?

Bursaries and scholarshipsThere are a number of bursaries andscholarships available – which youdon’t need to pay back – but you’llneed to search for them. Look at thewebsites of individual universities andprofessional institutions (see page 38for institutions’ websites).

After your degreeUnless you’ve been sponsored by anemployer, university does notguarantee you a job. You’ll need toapply for graduate-level jobs (graduateschemes). If you graduate in July andwant to start work in October, youshould apply in the first term of yourfinal year.

1 According to the Department for BusinessInnovation & Skills reported in ‘GraduateLabour Market Statistics April–June Q22015’.

2 As of October 2015.

Qualification Typical length (full time)

HNC One year

HND Two years

Foundation Two yearsdegree

BSc, BEng Three years + optional one-year placement

MEng Four years + optional one-year placement

Don’t just rely on universityprospectuses and websites to find thesethings out: go along to open days andask course leaders and students.

Funding universityIf you are a UK national, you will paya maximum of £9,000 a year fortuition fees. You’ll also need to factorin living expenses. You can get a loanto cover the costs of tuition and living(maintenance) costs – the studentfinance calculator on www.gov.uk tellsyou how much you could get. You payback your loan in instalments aftergraduating and only when you earn£21,000 or more.2 But there are otherways to fund your studies. Check outthe following sources.

Employer sponsorshipMany employers will pay for yourstudies in return for you working forthem during holidays and aftergraduating. Some employers will offerthis before you start university; manymore will offer this to second-yearswho have completed a work placementwith them. See the A–Z of employersstarting from page 54 to see whooffers sponsorship.



Which route?

deconstructedTraining programmes

S ome employers devise theirown training programmes forschool leavers that aren’tbound by the requirements of

an apprenticeship. They usuallyinvolve studying for a degree-levelqualification while working for acompany. You’ll normally do a fewweeks at university followed by a fewweeks on the job. The employer givesyou a salary and pays for theuniversity fees. In return, you’ll fit inyour university coursework aroundyour job and need to achieve a goodresult. Employers aim to keep you onafterwards, but this isn’t alwaysguaranteed.

Keep an eye outThe content and length of the trainingprogrammes on offer vary, so researchwhat’s out there. The employeroverviews starting from page 54outline some of the opportunitiesavailable. The training programmesare called different things by differentemployers. For example, LaingO’Rourke offers a ‘cadet’ scheme,while National Grid runs trainingprogrammes. The programmes are

usually open to those with A levels (orequivalent). But different employershave different entry requirements.

Apply directlyTo apply for a training programme,you usually contact the companydirectly rather than go through anagency. Applications typically open inthe autumn and they tend to involve anumber of stages. For example:• An application form, which might

include questions asking when youused certain skills and might ask youto upload a CV

• Online tests (eg numeracy)• A telephone interview• An assessment centre including

group tasks• A final interview.

You can get advice on succeeding atall of these stages from page 46onwards and on targetcareers.co.uk.

Make the right choiceWhen comparing opportunities, find out:• What job or jobs will the degree

qualify me for?• What happens after the scheme?

The pros and consYou earn money and get adegree with no student debt.

You study the degree youremployer wants you to – youdon’t choose.

Balancing the demands of a jobwith university work can behard – and can have a negativeeffect on your social life.

• What have past trainees gone on todo?

• Which professional qualification willI be able to take after the scheme?

• What is included in the programme?Are all my expenses paid for?

• What exactly will I need to achievein return?

• Will I need to relocate?

Find out more and apply at wates.co.uk/earlycareers

BUILD YOUR CAREER AT WATES

Above all, it’s about people

w


Which job role?

The variety of job roles on offer will leave you feeling like a kid in a sweet shop – you can take your pick.

T here are a huge number of jobsopen to you in construction,engineering and property. Overthe next few pages, we provide

an overview of each industry andoutline the main roles within them.These are basic introductions toinspire you to find out more. But howdo you work out which career wouldsuit you best? Look at both the skillsyou have and what you enjoy doing.

Identify your skillsThere are some ‘general’ skills you’llneed whatever construction,engineering or property job you gointo. For example, you’ll need to beable to work in a team; communicatewith colleagues and probably clientstoo; and manage your time – that is,meet deadlines and be punctual. Somejobs require specific skills and

qualities. For example, architectsneed to be able to draw and

scaffolders can’t beafraid of heights.

You’ve probably already developedsome of the required skills throughschool or college work, extracurricularactivities or part-time jobs. If you needto develop your skills further, use therest of your time at school or collegeto do so: get involved with schemessuch as the Duke of Edinburgh’sAwards or Young Enterprise, offer tomentor younger students or take up anew interest outside of school.

Work out what you enjoyThink about what skills and activitiesyou’ve enjoyed at school andelsewhere – and what you didn’t enjoy.Did you prefer science to English? Ifyou have a part-time job in asupermarket, do you like talking tocustomers? Would you prefer to becooped up inside on a winter’s day orwould you want to venture out?Considering your likes and dislikeswill help you find a job that you love.

Make a matchMake a list of your school/collegesubjects and extracurricular activities.Write down the things you liked aboutthem, and the different skills youneeded to take part in them. For

example, if you played rugby,you may have enjoyed being

out of doors andgetting fit – and

you will haveturned up

on time for the match and for training(time management), been a teamplayer(teamwork) and talked through gameplans with your team (communication).You can create your list by drawing amind map on a huge piece of paper oryou can use an app. Then decide whichof the likes and skills on the list are themost important to you.

Be aware ofprofessionalqualificationsMany of the professionsfeatured over the next fewpages involve taking anadditional on-the-jobqualification. This qualificationis awarded by the institutionthat represents your chosenprofession and tells the worldthat you are qualified to a highstandard. You can startworking towards it on a schoolleaver training programme orgraduate scheme. See page 38for more information.

How to make the right

If you like

designing...Consider:Architecture ..........................page 21Engineering (design roles)......................................pages 29–33Landscape architecture ......page 22

If you like getting

the best deal...Consider:Manufacturing engineering ..page 32Property surveying ..............page 35Quantity surveying ..............page 23

If you like

interpretingrules...Consider:Architectural technology ....page 21Building surveying ..............page 21Manufacturing (process)engineering ..........................page 32Planning ................................page 35Property surveying ..............page 35

If you like

being in charge...All jobs can lead to management,but if you want to start off as amanager, consider:Civil/structural/geotechnicalengineering (on site) ..........page 22Property surveying ..............page 35Site management ................page 23

If you want to

work with your hands...Consider:Construction crafts and skilled trades ........................page 24Motor vehicle technician work....................page 30

If you want to be

out and about allday...Consider:Building surveying ..............page 21Civil/structural/geotechnicalengineering (on site) ..........page 22Engineering (depending on theindustry and employer)......................................pages 29–33Planning ................................page 35Property surveying ..............page 35 Quantity surveying (on site)................................................page 23Site management ................page 23

If you want a

‘green’ career...Roles where you’ll have a particularfocus on minimising ourenvironmental impact include:All construction jobs....pages 21–25Automotive engineering......page 30Chemical engineering ..........page 31Environmental engineering page 32Manufacturing engineering page 32Planning ................................page 35

career choice


Which job role?


Different organisations work together to build a project. Here’s how...

Which job role?

The traditional processThe diagram above shows the typicalprocess of how a construction projectgets built, but some larger firms offer a design-and-build service where theytake on the typical work of a consultantand a contractor. Large projects cantake years to get from the initial ideato being fully completed.

1

If you work at a consultancy, yourwork will be on the design phase.Civil engineers make sure that thetechnical details on plans will workand quantity surveyors price up howmuch the design would cost.• You work in an office...• ...sometimes you get to visit sites

and occasionally you could be‘seconded’ (sent) to work on asite, but this is an office job.

• You work office hours (typically 8.30 am – 6.00 pm) but may have to work longer hours close to adeadline.

• You usually work on a number ofprojects at the same time.

• As you work on a project in itsearly stages, it may be yearsbefore you see the finished project in operation.

Working for a consultancy2

The client then hires consultants2

...who will advise them on mattersrelating to the design, cost and anyregulations. The client could employseveral consultancies or oneconsultancy to advise on everything.Either way, one consultantorganisation will often oversee theproject on behalf of the client.Consultant organisations include:

• architecture practices• cost consultancy (quantitysurveying) employers

• civil, structural, mechanical andelectrical engineering employers.

Consultants, then, look after the designphase of the project – they design thestructure and work out how much thatdesign will cost to build. Once this hasbeen established, they decide whichconstruction contractor should do theconstruction work. Contractors have to‘bid’ for the work – put a case for whythey are the best company to carryout the work and state their price.

It starts with the client...who decides something should bebuilt. They might be a propertydevelopment company, a localauthority, a central governmentdepartment, a private business or an individual.The client decides what they want

to build, the timeframe in which itshould be built and how much itshould cost.

1

How the construction


industry worksWhich job role?

Contractors carry outthe construction work...Once the contractor has won thework, construction begins on site.They ensure the project is built tothe agreed quality, budget andtimeframe. They take instructionsabout the design from the designconsultancy and run any design-related problems past them.

3

Working for a contractorJob roles with contractors include sitemanagers, civil engineers, quantitysurveyors, and trades or craft people. • You work on site (or from a

temporary office on site) in allweathers.

• Depending on the project, you might need to work shifts orovernight.

• Working hours are longer out onsite (typically 7.30 am – 6.00 pm)and you may need to work longerhours if things get behind schedule.

• You typically work on one project at a time.

• You get to see things being builtbefore your very eyes.

3

...but may get subcontractors to helpIf there is work involved in the projectthat needs specialist skills orknowledge, the contractor might offer thework to specialist organisations thathave more expertise in specific areas.Typical tasks that might be given tosubcontractors include:

• the reinforced concrete works• structural steelwork• work on the foundations• plumbing and electrical work.Subcontractors tend to be smaller andlocal employers. They work in similarconditions to contractors.

What are construction projects?A project could be a ‘new build’, a renovation or a refurbishment. It can cover anything in the builtenvironment around us, for example:• houses, office blocks, warehouses,

factories and hospitals• train stations and airports• roads, railways, bridges and tunnels• piers, dams and coastal defences• nuclear power plants and other

generators of energy.

Relocation, relocation, relocation... or commuteDon’t be surprised if you have torelocate for the job or face a longcommute. This is more likely if youwork for a contractor, as you’ll beexpected to go to where the projectsare. If you work for a nationalemployer, the project can be anywhereacross the country but smalleremployers are more likely to work in aparticular region. Consultants are alsomore likely to stay in their local area,but may need to travel to visit sites.

If you work for an internationalemployer, you might get to workabroad – although you may need toget a few years’ experience under yourbelt first. If this is the case, thecompany usually pays for youraccommodation.

Know your marketsLarger construction companiesspecialise in particular ‘markets’ orsectors – for example, they might offercivil and structural engineering servicesfor healthcare projects. Some work in arange of sectors while other companiesprovide expertise in just one or twoareas. Many construction professionalsspecialise in a particular type of projectover time.

More advice and information aboutconstruction at targetcareers.co.uk

Work or uni?TARGETcareers is designed to help school leavers make choices and help them discover what they really want to do.

• search through over 33,000university courses

• find school leaver schemes, higherapprenticeships & more

• research career routes with the UK’s best advice

• test themselves with our School Leavers’ Challenge

Inspiring possibilities for school leavers

targetcareers.co.uk

School leavers can:


A good choice if...You are good at freehand drawing.You are creative.You can get your head around maths.You can get to grips with detailed information on building regulations.

Building surveyorsA perfect job for those who want towork in property and construction.

B uilding surveyors provide technical advice relating to construction and property. They typically:

• conduct building surveys (inspect properties on behalf ofwould-be buyers). They report on the building’scondition, for example if there is damp, and what anyrepairs would cost.

• record dilapidations (changes) to a building’s conditionsince its last inspection. They then need to arrange repairswith the owner’s agreement.

• oversee, design and decide what needs to be done onsimpler construction projects that don’t require anarchitect – often small extensions or an officerefurbishment.

• advise owners on ‘party walls’ (walls, floors or ceilingsshared between two properties). They help owners alteror repair these and decide which owner pays for what.Building surveyors usually work for property firms,

housing developers or specialist surveying firms. They splittheir time between an office and their clients’ properties.

What qualifications do you need?Employers usually want you to have an undergraduate orpostgraduate degree that has been approved by the RoyalInstitution of Chartered Surveyors or the CharteredInstitute of Building. Some courses ask for a physics A level(or equivalent). There are a few apprenticeships available.Alternatively, you could complete an HND and apply for abuilding surveying technician job.

“You’ll need to thinkboth technically andpractically.”

A good choice if...You want to get out and about, but return to a dry,warm office.You get bored doing the same thing all the time.You like to take charge.You are interested in the law and how it can be applied practically.

Architects andarchitectural technologists

Every building starts with the design. Enter the architect.

A rchitects design buildings that are safe, attractive andas environmentally friendly as possible. They stayinvolved throughout the construction process,

adapting their plans if the budget, environmental factors orthe client’s wishes change. They are assisted by architecturaltechnologists and technicians.

Architectural technologists ensure that the technicalaspects of a design work and comply with regulations.They work in a similar role to civil engineers in that way.Architectural technologists may also be hired to oversee aproject from start to finish. Technicians help preparedrawings, compile technical information such as surveys,and help put together proposals and contracts.

Most architects, technologists and technicians work inarchitectural practices; many experienced architects andtechnologists set up their own. There are a few vacancieswith large construction employers and in the public sector.

Do you need a degree?To become an architect, you need a degree approved bythe Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA): it takesseven years, including two years of work placements. Alevels in art/graphic design, maths and physics are useful,but not always required. Many universities want acombination of arts and sciences.

Most architectural technologists study a three-yeardegree approved by the Chartered Institute of ArchitecturalTechnologists. Technicians typically study an HND/HNCbefore applying for a job; there are a few apprenticeships.With further study, they can become technologists.

Money, money, moneyAccording to architectural recruitment agency Adrem’s‘Architectural Salary Guide 2015’, average salaries are:• Junior technician: £23,000• Senior technician: £37,000• Trainee architects on a first work placement: £20,000• Trainee architects on a second work placement: £25,000• Senior architect: £48,000• Director of an architectural practice: £85,000


Civil, structuraland geotechnical engineers

Creating the tallest buildings and the longest bridges.

C ivil and structural engineers design, build andmaintain the constructed world around us: bridges,tunnels, roads, railways, dams, pipelines, buildings,

power plants, offshore wind facilities and so on. Theyensure the technical detail in architects’ plans will work inpractice. They often specialise in a type of project, such ashighways. Structural engineers have particular responsibilityfor ensuring that the structure (inner-framework) of theproject holds up, even in bad weather.

Consultants v. contractorsIf you work for a construction or engineering consultant –who designs and plans projects – you will be working onthe technical aspects of designs, using computer-aideddesign packages. If you work for a construction orengineering contractor – who builds the project – you’llmake sure that the design is implemented properly. If youwork for a public sector organisation or utilities supplier,you’ll help to investigate the need for public services, suchas roads, and maintain them. See page 29 for moreinformation on engineering entry routes.

Building foundationsIf structural engineering takes your fancy, considergeotechnical engineering too. Geotechnical engineers areresponsible for structures’ foundations, assessing datafrom the field, finding ways to ensure foundations orslopes are stable, designing foundations, and overseeingwork on a construction site.

A good choice if...You can draw basic sketches – you don’t have to be an artist.You like knowing the technical details of how thingswork (for jobs with consultancies).You’d like to work out on site instead of in an office (for jobs with contractors).You want to be able to say ‘I helped build that!’

Landscape architectsCombining a flair for design andconcern for the environment.

L andscape architects aim to improve the quality of theenvironment by designing and managing the openspaces around us. They combine artistic skills with

knowledge of human activity and the natural environmentto design public areas in towns, cities and the countryside.They use computer-aided design packages to model andexperiment with designs; visit, survey and analyse sites thatcould be developed; draw up plans for how the space willbe developed in the longer term; help to protect andconserve the environment; deal with clients; and work alongother construction professionals.

Landscape architects tend to work for specialist landscapearchitectural practices, environmental consultancies,transport planners and large engineering consultancies. Thereare also a few vacancies in the public sector.

Do you need a degree?To become a landscape architect, you need to study a degreeapproved by the Landscape Institute. This is usually a four-year landscape architecture undergraduate degree, but youcan study a one- or two-year postgraduate degree instead ifyour undergraduate degree is in a subject such as art anddesign, geography, the environmental sciences, engineering,biology or horticulture. Useful subjects to study at A level(or equivalent) include art, geography, biology andenvironmental science. You will need good maths andphysics GCSEs (or equivalent).

Money, money, moneyAccording to the Landscape Institute’s 2014 salary survey:• Most graduates start out on a salary of £20,000–£24,999.• Most landscape architects who have gained chartered

status (you usually become chartered three years aftergraduating) earn £30,000–£39,999, although a few earnover £100,000.

A good choice if...You are creative.You are good at art and biology.You like the outdoors.You want to help protect the environment.

“Mixing artistic skillwith knowledge ofhuman activity.”

Please see pages 42 and 44 for the career stories of civil and structural engineering apprentices and university students.


Site managersBeing in charge of making thingshappen on a construction site.

C onstruction site managers ensure things get done ona construction site. They make sure that thebuilding work is finished on time, in budget and to

a high standard. They organise schedules of work,manage workers and deal with issues such as health andsafety, logistics and the effects of the building work onmembers of the public. On larger and more complicatedprojects, an experienced site manager will have a numberof assistant managers, each looking after one part of theproject (or package), such as the foundations.

Working hoursSite managers typically work for construction contractorsand are based on site. As with any job role on site, youmay have to work night and weekend shifts, and hourscan be long: a 40-hour week is normal and you willprobably have to work overtime as deadlines approach.

Routes inYou can start out as an assistant manager if you havestudied a construction or project management degreeapproved by the Chartered Institute of Building, oranother closely related subject such as civil engineering. A very few employers might hire you with a differentdegree and sponsor you through a postgraduate course.

The quickest way to get into management via anapprenticeship route is to complete a higher apprenticeship,for which you’ll either need A levels (or equivalent), anadvanced apprenticeship in something like constructionsupervision or experience in the industry.

Quantity surveyorsBeing the money men and women of the construction industry.

Q uantity surveyors (QSs) can also be known as costconsultants, commercial managers, cost managersor cost engineers. But whatever you’re called, your

role is to help a construction project to make a profit.You’ll keep a close eye on how much everything costs (thematerials, the time taken and the workers’ salaries) andmake payments.

If you work for a construction or QS consultancy –which looks after the ‘design’ stage of the project – you’llbe based in an office. You’ll spend most of your timeworking out how much different designs cost. If you workfor a contractor – which builds the project – you’ll bebased in an office on a construction site. You might helpto choose which materials to buy, be out on site checkingcompleted work, track the materials used or paysubcontractors for their work.

Do you need a degree?Employers will want you to gain an undergraduate orpostgraduate degree that has been approved by the RoyalInstitution of Chartered Surveyors or the CharteredInstitute of Building. But some will hire you onto anapprenticeship or trainee scheme with GCSEs and/or A levels (or equivalents). They’ll then pay for you to studyan HND or bachelor qualification while working for them.

Routes in• Enter with GCSEs or equivalent?

A few apprenticeships/training programmes• Enter with A levels or equivalents?

Some apprentices/training programmes• Enter with a degree in quantity surveying or similar?

Many graduate programmes• Enter with a degree in another subject? A few

employers will hire you and sponsor you throughpostgraduate study.

A good choice if...You’re good at maths.You’re good at figuring out the best buy or deal.You like keeping track of systems and pay attention to detail.You like people.

A good choice if...You like to take charge.You can make decisions quickly.You like solving problems.You are organised.You don’t want to work in an office – and you don’tmind being out in all weathers.

“Helping a projectmake a profit.”

See page 41 to read the career story ofa quantity surveying apprentice.

See pages 43 and 45 to read the career storiesof a site management apprentice and trainee.


For those who prefer working with their hands to book learning.

I f you choose a career in one of thetraditional construction crafts orskilled trades, you can go straightfrom sitting your GCSEs to

working on site. You can complete anintermediate or advancedapprenticeship. Alternatively, you cantake a vocational qualification atcollege and then find an entry-leveljob. You could find work with largeconstruction employers, smallerspecialist employers or within thepublic sector. Many experienced tradesand crafts people work for themselves.Below we outline some of the maincrafts or trades open to you.

BrickworkBrickwork isprobably themost well known and popularconstruction craft. It includesbricklaying as well as stonemasonry,and you can choose to specialise in oneor both of these areas. As a bricklayer,you’ll work as part of a ‘brickworkgang’ to trim and shape bricks, laybricks, apply mortar and check thecourses are straight. There could beseveral gangs on site, depending on thesize of the project.

Stonemasonry is a traditional yetincreasingly uncommon skill, but it’sessential to our heritage and great ifyou like history. Stonemasons – whocreate and restore stonework onbuildings and other structures – tendto look after older buildings.

Electrical workElectricians (sometimes known aselectrical technicians) install and repairthe electrical systems around us: forexample, in all sorts of buildings andon our streets. You might find yourselfspecialising in installation ormaintenance – or in a particular areasuch as highways maintenance andstreet lighting or solar panels. You maywork in a team or on your own. You’llneed to be a logical thinker andproblem solver. A head for heights andbeing happy working in all weatherswill probably be useful, too. Be awarethat you may need to take extra on-the-job qualifications to ensure you areable to carry out tasks such as PATtesting (portable appliance testing).

DemolitionYou’ll usually start off as a demolitionoperative and there’ll be lots of powertools to use and crane-based work todo. As such, it’s essential you have ahead for heights and an awareness ofhealth and safety. You’ll spend yourdays blowing up or pulling downdisused or unattractive buildings, aswell as preparing sites for newprojects. If you wish, you canspecialise in a particular method ofdemolition, such as explosives.

A good choice if...You are physically fit.You wouldn’t mindinteracting with customers ifrequired.You are practical and likeworking with your hands.You don’t want to work in anoffice – and don’t mind beingout in all weathers.Keeping up to date withbuilding and health andsafety regulations wouldn’tbother you.

Carpentry and joinery Carpenters and joiners work togetherto prepare and install the wooden partsof buildings, from floorboards androof trusses to windows and doors.Typically, a joiner uses drawings toprepare the materials and a carpenterinstalls them and does any structuralwork – but the two roles overlap andsometimes one person will do both.Joinery can be split into two areas: site(floors, doors and roofs) and bench(counters, kitchens and staircases).Carpenters and joiners must be able tocope with dusty conditions.

Which job role?

The crafts and trades


PlumbingPlumbers do more than you mightthink. They do fix sanitation systemsand leaky pipes, work on heating andair-conditioning systems, fit bathroomsand install dishwashers and such like.But they might also work on aconstruction site, planning where pipesneed to go. Plumbers can sometimeswork unsociable hours if asked to dealwith an emergency.

Scaffolding and steeplejacking As a scaffolder, you will literally putup and take down scaffolding using aseries of metal tubes (standards),horizontal poles (ledgers) and woodenworking platforms (battens). You’llneed a head for heights, goodhand–eye coordination and to beresilient to extreme weather.

Steeplejacks use a variety of systems– scaffolding, harnesses, belay ropefall-arrest systems, bosun’s chairs andabseil equipment – to carry out generalmaintenance work and repairs at greatheights. As a steeplejack, you willwork across the main areas ofconstruction, doing tasks such asrepairing masonry and fitting aircraftwarning lights on tall structures.

Wall and floor covering There are four main careers withinthis craft: plastering, dry lining,tiling and floor fitting/laying.Accuracy and the ability to workfrom drawings that someone elsehas done are core skills. You couldbe doing anything from pebbledashing (as a plasterer) or applyinggrout (as a tiler) to improvingacoustics (as a dry liner) or re-hanging doors (as a carpet fitter).

Becoming a card carrierMany construction employers want their site workers to gain aConstruction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) card, whichproves that you are qualified to do your job properly. You’ll need todemonstrate that you have obtained the appropriatequalification for your job and pass an appropriate ConstructionIndustry Training Board Health, Safety and Environment test.

Painting and decoratingYou will paint and decorate in a rangeof environments, from redecoratingthe homes of the rich and famous toapplying finishing paint touches tostructures such as bridges. You couldchoose to specialise in a particulartechnique such as restoration. Beprepared to wear a protective mask or climb a ladder in order to carry outa job.

Which job role?


AerospaceWHAT IT IS: flying things... helicopters, fighter jets,unmanned vehicles, commercial planes, satellites, spacestations, rockets etc.

FACTORS AFFECTING THEINDUSTRY:world events andconflicts, environmentalconcerns, searches for newfuels.

ENGINEERS TYPICALLYNEEDED: aerospace/aeronautical, automotive,electrical, electronics,manufacturing, mechanical,software.*

AutomotiveWHAT IT IS: cars and other motor vehicles. The UK hasseven Formula 1 manufacturers, seven mainstream andmajor premium/sports car manufacturers, nine bus andcoach manufacturers, and 100+ other companies involvedin putting vehicles together.**

FACTORS AFFECTING THE INDUSTRY: the increasingreliance on electronics and software, the need to reduce

carbon emissions.

ENGINEERSTYPICALLY NEEDED:aerospace, automotive,chemical, electrical,electronics,environmental,manufacturing,

mechanical,software.*

ChemicalsWHAT IT IS: the backbone of industry... oil companies,manufacturers, pharmaceuticals and water treatmentcompanies and more – those who use and producechemicals that create products, and make factories andother industrial sites work.

FACTORS AFFECTING THE INDUSTRY: the price of oil,world events and conflicts, environmental concerns.

ENGINEERS TYPICALLY NEEDED: chemical,civil/structural, electrical, environmental, manufacturing,mechanical.*

DefenceWHAT IT IS: equipment,support and services for thearmed forces and national

security, whether that is the latestweaponry or military vehicles. Engineers often work at thecutting edge of technology.

FACTORS AFFECTING THE INDUSTRY: the needs ofmilitary personnel, military strategy, costs, the need todeliver products/projects quickly.

ENGINEERS TYPICALLY NEEDED: aerospace, automotive,chemical, civil/structural, electrical, electronics,environmental, manufacturing, mechanical, software.*

Engineers specialise in different industries. Find out more about them and consider which interests you the most.

Chemicalengineers are veryimportant tothe economy.

Defenceengineering’sat the cuttingedge.

Which job role?

The engineering industriesexplained


ElectronicsWHAT IT IS: smartphones, medical scanners, TVs, gameconsoles, washing machines, radios, unmanned vehicles…the creation of anything thatincludes electronic systems. It crosses over with otherengineering industries.

FACTORS AFFECTING THEINDUSTRY: the emphasis onsafety, trends in technology (eg ‘Google Glass’), thechanging behaviour/expectations of consumers.

ENGINEERS TYPICALLYNEEDED: aerospace,automotive, chemical,electrical, electronics,manufacturing,mechanical, software.*

Energy and powerWHAT IT IS: finding energy sources and generating power…oil, gas, tidal, wind, solar, nuclear etc. The industry isdivided into generating, transmitting/distributing, meteringand sales. Oil and gas generation is divided into ‘upstream’(exploring and producing) and ‘downstream’ (refining readyfor use).

FACTORS AFFECTING THE INDUSTRY: accessing dwindlingsupplies and harnessing newer sources, environmentalconcerns, world events and conflicts.

ENGINEERSTYPICALLY NEEDED:aerospace, automotive,chemical,civil/structural,electrical, electronics,

environmental, manufacturing,mechanical, software.*

Fast moving consumer goods(FMCG)WHAT IT IS: the manufacturing of goods that fly off theproduction line only to fly off shop shelves just as quickly.These tend to be everyday products: food, cleaningproducts, cosmetics etc. Thousands of goods can beproduced every minute.

FACTORS AFFECTING THE INDUSTRY: the need tominimise cost and wastage, needing to keep productionmoving, environmental concerns.

ENGINEERS TYPICALLY NEEDED: chemical, civil/structural,electrical, electronics, manufacturing, mechanical.*

MarineWHAT IT IS: ships and other sea-faring vessels or equipment – egequipment aimed at off-shoreand sub-sea exploration.

FACTORS AFFECTING THE INDUSTRY: designing for a wet,windy, salty and unstable environment, demands for globalshipping and energy, the need to improve efficiency.

ENGINEERS TYPICALLY NEEDED: chemical,civil/structural, electrical, electronics, environmental,manufacturing, mechanical, software.*

Producinggoods that fly off theshelves.

Marineengineersface extrachallenges.

Which job role?


Pharmaceuticals

WHAT IT IS: researching, developing and manufacturingmedications and related products in tablet, liquid orvaccination form. Engineers work alongside chemists andpharmacists.

FACTORS AFFECTING THEINDUSTRY: getting a productready to sell in a short amountof time, counterfeit products,developments in world health.

ENGINEERS TYPICALLYNEEDED: chemical, electrical,electronics, environmental,manufacturing, mechanical,software.*

Rail

WHAT IT IS: anything to do with the railway… tracks,bridges, drainage, power systems, train control systems etc.

FACTORS AFFECTING THE INDUSTRY: designing andconstructing a railway to meet future needs, costs,environmental concerns, moving from a ‘find and fix’approach to ‘predict and prevent’.

ENGINEERSTYPICALLY NEEDED:civil/structural,electrical, electronics,environmental,mechanical.*

TelecomsWHAT IT IS: allowing people to communicate,whether through conversation or sendingdata from clouds. There are vendors andcarriers (vendors, eg Ericsson, sell thehardware and software; carriers, eg BT, usethem in their network).

FACTORS AFFECTING THE INDUSTRY: the need to keep upwith technological and consumer trends, the need to delivera reliable service.

ENGINEERS TYPICALLY NEEDED: electronics, software.*

UtilitiesWHAT IT IS: deliveringenergy/power, water, sewagetreatment and telecoms to thepublic.

FACTORS AFFECTING THE INDUSTRY: environmentalconcerns, the expectations of consumers, the need toupgrade existing systems, networks and industrial sites, the decisions of regulatory bodies.

ENGINEERS TYPICALLY NEEDED: chemical,civil/structural, electrical, electronics, environmental,mechanical, software.*

* Always check individual employers’requirements.

** According to The Society of MotorManufacturers and Traders: Motor Industry Facts 2015.

And not forgetting...The construction industry employs civil, structural, mechanical and electricalengineers among others. See pages 18–25 for more on the construction industry.There are also some engineering jobs in working with raw materials and metals, eg developing coated steel.

Busy lives call for instantcommunications.

Railwayengineers haveto ‘predict andprevent’ issues.

Which job role?


Which route?

E ngineers are essentiallyproblem solvers: designing,building and fixing many ofthe items we use every day.

Their day-to-day work, however, canbe completely different, depending onthe discipline and industry they workin. Some roles get you out and aboutmore than others and some rolesinvolve more technical report writingthan others, for example. Over thenext few pages, we introduce you tothe main engineering disciplines tohelp you find the best role for you.

Levels of expertiseAcross the engineering profession theamount of responsibility you getdepends on your levels of educationand experience. You can get intoengineering through anapprenticeship, school leaverprogramme or an engineering degree(usually either a three-year BEng or afour-year MEng course). TheEngineering Council regulates the

to do so: you either need to gain anappropriate level of in-the-workplaceexperience or get your employer to payfor you to study the appropriateacademic qualification while you workfor them.

Depending on its level and content,an apprenticeship can lead to eithertechnician or incorporated status – andfrom there you can work towardschartership. But the quickest way tobecome chartered is to do a degree first.

What subjects do you need?If you want to get on a degree course,you’ll need to take maths and, usually,physics at A level (or equivalent).Other useful subjects at GCSE and Alevel include further maths,computing, chemistry, and DT.

A good choice if...You are good at maths,physics and IT.You like solving problems and puzzles.You always want to know how something works.You like working in a team.

profession and has identified threelevels of professional engineering:• engineering technician• incorporated engineer• chartered engineer.

Chartership is the most senior level,at which engineers are recognised asable to take the lead on projects anddeveloping solutions. They tend toreceive the highest salaries. Even as anexperienced technician, you could findthat a less experienced, just-charteredgraduate will outrank you.

Getting qualifiedYou only qualify for each of theselevels after you have undergone atraining programme, usually anapprenticeship or graduate trainingprogramme. When you are startingout, you are eligible to train towards:• technician level if you have GCSEs,

A levels, an HNC/HND orBTEC/NVQ level 3 (or equivalents)

• incorporated level if you arequalified to a BEng degree level

• chartered level if you have an MEng degree or a BEng-plus-a-postgraduate-masters-degree. You can start out as a technician

and work your way up to incorporatedand chartered status. But you will needyour employer’s approval and support

explainedEngineering job roles

Which job role?

More advice and information aboutengineering at targetcareers.co.uk

30 | careers Construction, Engineering & Property 201530 | careers Construction, Engineering & Property 2016

Aerospace engineersWorking on helicopters, planes,satellites and spacecraft.

A erospace engineers design, build and repair any typeof aircraft: from satellites to weapon systems. Thework is often focused around improving flight safety,

fuel efficiency, speed and weight, as well as reducing systemcosts. Engineers have to take into account environmentalimpacts and client needs.

Depending on your level of experience, you might:• build engines and components• create designs• work out why something isn’t working• put together engines and other equipment • repair aircraft• measure and improve the performance of an aircraft

and its components• investigate accidents• consult technical or regulatory requirements.

Most jobs can be found in large internationalcompanies, which tend to either build aircraft or enginesbut not both. There are also some jobs with specialistcontractors who focus on building particular componentsor within the military or public sector. You might workfrom offices or from aircraft workshops, productionhangars or aeronautical laboratories.

Routes inApprentices typically end up working as machinists,fitters, modellers or engineering technicians. Graduatesmight work as incorporated or chartered engineers in aparticular area, such as maintenance, mechanical,electrical, or systems design. There are aerospaceengineering degree courses, but employers sometimesaccept other engineering disciplines, such as mechanical or electrical.

“Working on satellites.”

A good choice if...You think it’s cool to make things fly.You are happy to work on military equipment. Much of the UK’s aerospace work is found in thedefence industry.You are fascinated by space!

Automotive engineersand motor vehicle technicians

Working on any kind of vehicle, from mopeds to MotoGP bikes.

A utomotive engineers design, assemble and improve theperformance of motor vehicles, from family estatecars or MPVs to Formula 1 cars or MotoGP bikes.

Motor vehicle technicians repair and service them.Automotive engineering is closely related to mechanical,electronic and electrical engineering.

Automotive engineers tend to specialise in a particularstage of the process. Broadly speaking, there are three stages:• designing new vehicles, components or processes and

improving existing ones• research and product development (finding new ways to

overcome problems or limitations)• manufacturing or production (planning manufacturing

processes and ensuring that the vehicles are producedaccording to the design).You might use computer-aided design software; test

whether engines would work in different conditions, such ashigh temperatures; find and negotiate the cost of parts;agree budgets for creating the vehicle; or evaluatemanufacturing processes. You’ll work alongside otherprofessionals, including environmental and manufacturingengineers, and members of the finance department.

Automotive engineers tend to work for large carmanufacturers or for automotive suppliers (those whomanufacture parts) – as such there are fewer automotivevacancies than in some disciplines. Motor vehicletechnicians tend to find work with car manufacturers andgarages.

Your optionsVehicle technician apprenticeships are available, usually atintermediate or advanced level, and you can specialise inlight or heavy vehicles. Large automotive companies alsorun some advanced and higher apprenticeships inautomotive engineering.

There are automotive engineering degree courses –sometimes with a particular focus on the environment ormotorsports – but you can become an automotive engineerwith a mechanical or electronic engineering degree, amongothers.

A good choice if...Meccano and Scalextric sets were your favourite toys.You are a detail person.You are creative.


Chemical andprocess engineersUsing a detailed knowledge ofchemistry outside of the lab.

C hemical engineers help to transform raw materialsinto any type of product by applying their knowledgeof chemistry. Some chemical engineers are employed

in research and product development roles, but most areemployed as process engineers. Process engineers can workacross many industries: from helping to decommission(dismantle) a nuclear power plant to designing a process forsolid/liquid separation in food production. Their role is toensure that processes relating to chemicals are the best thatthey can be – designing them, implementing them orcontrolling them.

Biochemical engineering is an offshoot of chemicalengineering and these engineers focus on applying lifesciences to products or processes. You might help to createnew medicines and vaccines, as well as greenertechnologies such as biofuels.

Chemical and biochemical engineers typically work for:• consumer goods, synthetics, plastics, paints and

polymer manufacturers• pharmaceutical companies• the water treatment industry• food manufacturers• oil refining/petrochemical companies.

Routes inMost apprenticeships appear to be in process engineeringor an aspect of manufacturing engineering – they arehardly ever called chemical engineering apprenticeships.At degree level, you can study chemical or biochemicalengineering and there are various joint honours availablecombining the two. You might be able to get a graduatechemical or process engineering job with a chemistrydegree, but it is more likely that you’d have to complete apostgraduate degree in chemical engineering first.Mechanical engineering graduates can also be hired asprocess engineers.

To get on to a chemical engineering degree, you willneed A levels (or equivalent) in chemistry and maths. Biology,physics or computer science would also be useful choices.

A good choice if...You like chemistry (and biology if you are thinkingof biochemistry).You like following something through step by step.You get a kick out of improving things.

Electrical andelectronic engineersMaking the modern world work.

E lectrical engineers design, test and supervise themanufacture, installation or repair of electrical systems,equipment or products. Electronic engineers do the same

work on electronic systems. Both types of engineers getinvolved with products/projects such as:• aircrafts and spacecrafts• cars and other vehicles• construction sites and in construction design offices,

designing or overseeing the installation of electricalsystems in buildings (this job role is sometimes called‘building services engineer’)

• defence projects, including new weapons• products for electronics and consumer goods manufacturers• projects for the power generation companies.

Spot the difference1. The difference between electric and electronic circuits is

that electronic circuits make decisions as well as powerthings, for example, while an electric circuit might powera toaster, an electronic circuit will tell a microwave tobleep when the timer runs out.

2. Electrical components tend to be larger than electroniccomponents, which sometimes can fit on one of yourfingertips.BUT... Many devices use both electrical and electronic

circuits – and in some sectors you can apply for the samejobs, whether you have a background in electricalengineering or electronics.

Electrical engineers v. electriciansElectrical engineering technicians install and repair electricalsystems and equipment. As such, they carry out similar workto electricians. However, not all electricians take theEngineering Council’s ‘technician’ qualification so cannot callthemselves an ‘engineering technician’. See page 24 for moreabout an electrician’s job role.

“Working on the latest technologies.”

A good choice if...You enjoyed the circuitry work during your sciencelessons and any electronics work you did during DT.You want to work on the latest technologies (if youwork for a top-of-the-range electronics manufacturer).

See page 45 to read the career story of an electrical engineering trainee.


EnvironmentalengineersA role for those who want to reduce the impact of our human footprint.

E nvironmental engineers assess the impact that aproject will have on the environment or, in fact,whether the environment will have an impact on the

project. They then work out ways to lessen that impact andfind solutions to any problems.

Environmental engineers can work in a number ofdifferent areas, such as:• on all sorts of construction projects• on water projects, from the construction of pipelines to

water treatment• in the automotive industry, specialising in reducing

carbon emissions, for example• with companies using chemicals• on defence projects, for example discovering the effects

that different environmental factors might have onmissiles and missile systems

• on projects involved with generating and providingpower, energy, water and telecommunications

• controlling land erosion• shipbuilding.

Opportunities availableAt present, there are few specialist environmentalengineering apprenticeships but some apprenticeships inthe industries listed above cover environmental topicsalongside more general engineering principles. There aremore graduate jobs available than apprenticeships,although not as many as in some other engineering areas.

Universities tend to offer environmental engineeringcourses either as a single honours or in combination withanother discipline such as civil or chemical. It may also beworth investigating courses in environmental science orenvironmental management. Geography, biology orchemistry would be good A level (or equivalent) choices,alongside maths and physics.

A good choice if...You care about the environment.You like the outdoors.You want to become an expert in a specialist area.

“Lessening ourenvironmental impact.”

ManufacturingengineersA role for those who want to improvethe process of making things.

M anufacturing engineers basically make the processof making stuff better, whether that stuff is thelatest must-have Christmas toy or a

superconducting magnet for an MRI scanner. They aim toincrease productivity, reduce the costs involved inmanufacturing and ensure that products are made to a goodquality in the timeframe needed. This might involve:• evaluating processes• designing a new piece of equipment• putting new processes, procedures or equipment in

place• keeping an eye on costs• buying and/or installing equipment• responding to breakdowns• diagnosing faults and solving technical problems• repairing equipment or arranging for it to be repaired• managing or giving direction to staff• communicating with suppliers, customers, and research

and development staff• keeping accurate records• writing up recommendations.

You might be based in an office, on a factory floor, in a laboratory or all three. If you are on a factory floor, youmight need to react quickly to problems and make speedydecisions. Shift and ‘on-call’ work may be required.

Your optionsThere are apprenticeships available – job titles includecontrol technician or mechanical technical operative. At degree level, you can do a single honours course inmanufacturing engineering or a joint honours course thatcombines manufacturing engineering with subjects such asproduct design or production engineering. There are alsosome courses that focus on an aspect of manufacturing,such as operations and maintenance. But you can becomea graduate manufacturing engineer with a degree inphysics or mechanical, electrical or electronic engineering, among other subjects.

A good choice if...You like making something better or finding newways of doing things, but...You are also good at following a process.You can think on your feet.You don’t mind writing reports.


Mechanical engineersA role for those who like taking things apart to see how they work.

M echanical engineers design, build/assemble and testthe quality of any kind of machine or mechanicalcomponent. They also investigate whether a

mechanical device might solve a problem on a project.Therefore, as a mechanical engineer, you could work acrossa whole range of engineering industries, includingaerospace, automotive, defence, construction,manufacturing, medicine, pharmaceuticals and utilities. Youmight find yourself designing a component of the Boeing787 Dreamliner engine, installing heating systems in afootball stadium, testing a robotic arm for amputees orworking out how to make a factory’s manufacturing processmore efficient.

Mechanical engineering is closely related to electricaland electronic disciplines, as well as automotive andaerospace. You might work in a laboratory, out on aconstruction site, in an office or in a factory; it depends onwhich sector you choose to work in.

Look beyond the job titleBecause they can work across a wide range of industries,mechanical engineers are in demand with employers. Butthe job title might not have the words ‘mechanicalengineer’ in it, as it can be specific to the sector. Forexample, you might work in a mechanical engineering rolebut your job title might be aircraft technician (if you workfor the military), process engineer (if you work inchemicals) or manufacturing engineer (if you work inmanufacturing). Read job and apprenticeship descriptionscarefully to make sure you don’t overlook someopportunities.

A good choice if...Your favourite toy was a Meccano set.You like taking things apart and putting them backtogether again just to see if you can.You don’t mind fiddly work.

“Working on aconstruction site, in alab or in a factory.”

Software engineersA role for those who want to work in engineering and IT.

N owadays software engineering is an IT job. Somehave argued that software engineers aren’t, in fact,engineers at all as the job has changed so much over

the years. However, software engineers can becomechartered engineers, according to the Engineering Council,and they can be seen as using engineering principles whendesigning, developing, testing and evaluating software. Thesoftware could be for computers but also other electronicdevices, such as cars or smartphones.

Software engineers design and programme system-levelsoftware: operating systems, database systems, embeddedsystems and so on. They understand how both softwareand hardware function. The work can involve talking toclients and colleagues to work out what solution or systemis needed, as well as full-on technical work. Softwareengineers can also be known as application programmers,software architects or system programmers/engineers.

Apprenticeships and universitySoftware engineers tend to work for IT companies butthey can also work for the engineering companies in theautomotive and defence industries, among others. Lots ofapprenticeships are available. At degree level, there are anumber of specialist software engineering degreesavailable, alongside computer science degrees that containelements of software engineering. Useful GCSEs and/or A level subjects include computer science/IT, maths,further maths and physics.

A good choice if...You like IT.You enjoy programming.You are good at explaining technical things to non-technical people.

See page 44 to read the career story of amechanical engineering apprenticeship.


Property is all about making money out of land and real estate – that canmean farmland, a wind farm, a skyrise tower block or luxury apartments.

Making moneyThe property industry is not solely made up ofestate agencies. There are many firms that provideall sorts of services to clients. Some of the ways aproperty firm makes money for its clients are:• selling, buying, letting or renting real estate• negotiating the terms of contracts for landlords

and/or tenants • valuing land or property and setting the price for

it to be sold or let at• finding ways to increase a property’s value or

rental income• conducting building surveys• overseeing matters relating to planning and land

development, eg getting planning permission• assessing a property’s impact on the environment.

The employersMost property professionals work for property orsurveying firms, but other organisations that dealwith large amounts of real estate may also hireproperty professionals: these include retail chains, aswell as infrastructure companies such as NetworkRail. There are vacancies in the public sector, too,especially in valuation and planning.

Types of propertyProperty is divided into three types and propertyprofessionals usually specialise in one of these:1. residential2. commercial (any property with a business use,

ranging from shops and offices to warehouses)3. rural.

Property and constructionProperty firms usually don’t build constructionprojects themselves; they leave that to theconstruction professionals. But they are often theclients of the construction professionals because theydecide whether a project should go ahead.

Which job role?

Property defined

More advice and information aboutproperty at targetcareers.co.uk


PlannersDecide how things fit together.

P lanners make decisions about how we use the spacearound us. They decide how many houses,hospitals, schools and shops we need, for example,

and where they go. They balance the needs of thepopulation with the need to protect the environment andhistorical buildings. They frequently communicate withpoliticians and members of the public.

The role of a planner varies depending on youremployer. If you work in the public sector, you will decidewhether construction can go ahead (looking at thingssuch as the size of the planned project, the impact it willhave on the environment, whether it will fit in with thesurrounding area or whether there are enough transportlinks to it). If you work for a property or constructioncompany, your job is to try to get planning permission forthe project.

Do you need a degree?To become a fully fledged planner, you need either anundergraduate or postgraduate degree approved by theRoyal Town Planning Institute (RTPI). If you choose tostudy a planning undergraduate degree, useful A level (orequivalent) subjects include business studies, economics,geography, politics, history and art. If you choose tostudy a planning degree at postgraduate level instead,good undergraduate subjects include law, geography,politics, engineering or environmental sciences. You canbecome a planning technician with a vocationalqualification such as an HND and some employers maysupport you in working towards an RTPI degree coursewhile working.

A good choice if...You get on with all types of people.You are comfortable making difficult decisionsthat not everyone will agree with.You can interpret and apply rules and regulations.You are organised.

Property surveyorsNot stuck behind a desk all day.

A property surveyor (sometimes known as a generalpractice surveyor) does a different role to quantityor building surveyors. Their role is to make the

most money possible out of a piece of land or property.Clients include the land or property’s owners; people orcompanies looking to rent or buy land or property; orwealthy individuals or investment management groupswho want to invest in a property.

Property surveyors are based in an office but spendmost of their time out visiting sites. They might:• value a piece of land or real estate• sell or let property, marketing it to possible buyers and

negotiating to get the highest price possible • find properties for clients to rent or buy, negotiating to

get the lowest price possible• work out how clients can pay the lowest business rates

(taxes) allowed by the law• manage properties on behalf of clients, overseeing

everything from collecting rents to ensuring that theproperty is kept in a good condition

• help to turn a piece of land from an empty space into ahousing estate or office block, for example

• advise clients on where best to invest their money inproperty.

Do you need a degree?There are a few apprenticeships, during or after whichyou’ll usually work towards a degree while working, butmost opportunities are for graduates. Your degree needsto be approved by the Royal Institution of CharteredSurveyors: most university students study property orland management, but some complete a postgraduatecourse after studying an undergraduate degree ingeography or economics, for example.

A good choice if...You don’t want to be stuck behind a desk all day.You are good at getting the best deal or your way.You like strategising and planning.You are good with people.

See page 43 to read the career story of a surveying apprentice.

CONSTRUCTIONIS A CAREER LIKE NO OTHERExcitement is building The construction industry employs 2.5 million people, over 8%

of the UK workforce and by 2019 over 220,000 new jobs

will be created in construction – one of these could be yours!

There are some big construction projects planned over the next

few years. These include a new nuclear power site at Hinkley Point,

innovative high speed railways such as HS2 and big changes for

towns and cities across the whole of the UK including new roads,

tunnels, housing and leisure.

Whether you are a school leaver, a graduate or just want a change

of career, you have the chance to be part of something big and

make your mark on the world.

Construction’s got talentConstruction created the built environment around you and

everywhere you look, you can see the results of the talented

people who work in the industry.

It needs thinkers, designers and managers at the start, the makers,

builders and project managers in the middle, and the assessors

and approvers at the end, not forgetting important supporting roles

such as IT, accountancy and human resources.

Everyone has the opportunity to excel in the construction industry. There

are hundreds of different and varied careers, both indoors and outdoors!

Practical roles

Management

Technical

And many more!

Construction is a career that can take you anywhere.

goconstruct.org

c

“My favourite aspect is learning different construction methods, on a daily basis, while interacting with a wide variety of people.”Tom Arkley, Site Manager – management trainee, Wilmott Dixon Interiors

S

o

w

t

o

m

p

E

“It’s a great feeling to know you’re a valued member of the team, and that your input is aiding the construction of a building that will be there for years”Matthew Williams, Design Manager, ISG

“

Start building your future There are many different ways to get into construction:

If you want to go to university, you could complete a construction

related degree such as construction management and work in a

You can use your transferable skills from any degree or work

experience to excel in a number of design and management roles.

You can enrol on an Apprenticeship as soon as you leave school,

giving you the opportunity to earn as you learn. If you wish to

progress onto University your employer might also sponsor this too!

Go Constructgoconstruct.org is a brand new construction and

built environment website hosting a range of exciting

information about careers in the industry.

one of the UK’s most innovative and dynamic industries.

GoConstructUK


These qualifications are, in theory,optional but they are, in practice,compulsory if you want to progressyour career. Because they’re recognisedby the industry, they help you to proveyour skills to employers and to gainpromotions. You usually receive a payrise after completing them and theymay make it easier for you to workinternationally, too.

What’s involved?The qualification process varies acrossinstitutions, but usually it involves:• a period of training in the workplace • writing reports on work-based

projects you’ve completed

• an interview with assessors (oftenknown as a professional review).Apprenticeship and training

programme interviewers will expectyou to know about the relevantprofessional qualification for the job,so do your research.

How professional bodies can help you nowIf you are at school or sixth formcollege:Professional institutions can help youto find out more about the careers intheir fields. Some institutions evenoffer help in finding work experience,or arrange open days where students

Chartered Institute of Architectural Technologists(CIAT) www.ciat.org.ukChartered Institute of Building (CIOB) www.ciob.orgChartered Institute of Plumbing and HeatingEngineering (CIPHE) www.ciphe.org.ukChartered Institution of Building Services Engineers(CIBSE) www.cibse.orgChartered Institution of Highways and Transportation(CIHT) www.ciht.org.ukChartered Institution of Water and EnvironmentalManagement (CIWEM) www.ciwem.orgConstruction Industry Trade Board (CITB)www.citb.co.ukEnergy Institute (EI) www.energyinst.orgEngineering Council www.engc.org.ukInstitute of Carpenterswww.instituteofcarpenters.comInstitute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)www.ieee.orgInstitute of Marine Engineering, Science andTechnology (IMarEST) www.imarest.org

Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) www.ice.org.ukInstitution of Chemical Engineers (IChemE)www.icheme.orgInstitution of Engineering and Technology (IET)www.theiet.orgInstitution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE)www.imeche.orgInstitution of Structural Engineers www.istructe.orgLandscape Institute (LI)www.landscapeinstitute.co.ukRoyal Aeronautical Society (RAeS) aerosociety.comRoyal Institute of British Architects (RIBA)www.architecture.comRoyal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS)www.rics.orgRoyal Town Planning Institute (RTPI)www.rtpi.org.ukSociety of Environmental Engineers (SEE)www.environmental.org.uk

Professional bodies’ directoryBelow is just a sample of construction, engineering and property professional bodies. It’s worth contacting theEngineering Council or Construction Industry Trade Board to see if there are others in your chosen profession.

P rofessional qualifications arequalifications that can begained while working to provethat you know your stuff.

These qualifications are set andawarded by professional institutions(also known as professional bodies).Every profession within construction,engineering and property has aninstitution that acts as its voice, looksafter its needs, gives careersinformation to students, shares thelatest industry data or technologicaladvances, and makes sure thatstandards are kept high. Have a lookbelow for the website addresses ofselected institutions.

Which job role?

Get professionallyqualified

For example...To become a chartered site manager with the Chartered Institute ofBuilding (CIOB):

Bachelor degree three years’

professional training professional review

Five years’ management experience a one-year CIOB training course

professional review

Are the qualifications open to apprenticesand graduates?It depends on the institution. For some, you need to be a graduate (or have spent asignificant amount of time in the workplace). For others, apprentices can initiallygain a lower qualification and then work up to a higher qualification afterwards if theywish. You should check with the relevant institution. If you are going to university,you need to make sure that the degree is accredited (approved) by the relevantinstitution.

can visit employers and see whatthey’re like. If you are thinking aboutgoing to university, they may havedetails of bursaries and other fundingsources that will help you pay for it.

If you go to university: Most professional institutions havesome form of membership for collegeand university students. This can allowyou to meet professionals working inthe industry, make contacts for thefuture and gain an insight into thefuture career paths open to you. Youalso get access to resources that couldhelp you with your studies. Bodiesmay also run competitions and otherinitiatives for students that willimpress future recruiters.

OR

Which job role?


There are practical things you can do to see if a career is right for you.

1. Find out more onlineVisit targetcareers.co.ukand the websites of relevantprofessional bodies to readintroductions to theprofession.

Check outtargetcareers.co.uk,www.ucas.com anduniversity websites if you’reconsidering uni.

Search for any careers fairsnear you – or ask your teachers– so that you can go along andspeak to employers in theindustry.

2. Get chattingFind out whether someoneyou know is working in theindustry or studying thesubject at university. Thiscould be a relative, a familyfriend or a contactrecommended by yourteacher.

Draw up a list of questionsto ask them. Aim to find outwhat they do day to day, theskills they use, the best andworst bits of the career, anddifferent ways to get into it.

Contact them to see whetherthey would be interested inanswering some questionsby email.

3. Try it out: get work experienceIf you have workexperience orplacement weekscoming up atschool or college,talk to yourteachers, tutors orcareers officerabout arrangingone with anemployer in therelevant careerarea.

Seek out employersthat offer workexperience duringthe holidays. Seethe employeroverviews frompage 54 onwards tofind opportunities.Your school orcollege will alsohave a list of localemployers.

Prepare your CV incase you need it toapply. Someemployers ask youto send in a CV andcovering letter;others ask you tofill in an applicationform. See pages46–53 forapplicationsadvice.

If you get workexperience, keep anote of what youdid during yourtime there andwhat you enjoyedor didn’t enjoy. Thiswill help you withcareer planninglater on.

Which job role?

Seen a career you like?

I’d planned to study veterinary medicine but didn’t get intouniversity; I was told places were over-subscribed. After college,I started as an admin assistant with an energy consultancy.

I was promoted to auditing and technical monitoring coordinator, whichinvolved going out to our subcontractors’ sites and looking at the systems inplace. I then accepted a similar position elsewhere, but was left unemployedwhen they closed. I waitressed while working out what to do next. I’d enjoyedmy time on sites (and the office work related to it) so I thought a career as aquantity surveyor would suit. I chose an apprenticeship because I knew I wanted a career that would lead to a recognised qualification; I’d worked infairly high roles for the past two years, but had nothing to show for it onpaper. I’d also grown accustomed to the lifestyle that money provides, andI’ve always worked. I’ve worked alongside studying since I was 13 and aged15 I took on additional work placements, ranging from a dentist’s to lambing.I think this impressed my apprenticeship interviewers.

Application timeThe recruitment process took around seven months and involved anapplication form, assessment day and several interviews. I researched thecompany’s history and projects, and related its values to mine. I alsoresearched the skills quantity surveyors (QSs) need. I wore a skirt suit andheels on my assessment day, but if you are going to a day on site this mightnot be appropriate. I’d suggest checking with the employer beforehand.

An apprentice’s lifeI started my apprenticeship six weeks ago and work 8.00 am – 5.00 pm.Currently, I assist QSs on £80 million projects to reinforce sea defences andreduce flooding. I work closely with two QSs: one has just achieved theirprofessional qualification and one has many years of experience, and I enjoylearning from their different approaches. I assist with whatever is needed –filing or collecting documentation, for example. I’ve also started to work withsmall subcontractors, checking and paying their invoices. I didn’t expect tobe in charge of payments this early on.

My apprenticeship involves two years at college and then a five-year,part-time BSc. With my previous experience and qualifications, I’ve been ableto ‘skip’ college and go straight to university. I attend one day a week from9.00 am – 6.00 pm. There is one hour of practical work in the lab and thenlectures and tutorials. There’s about 10–12 hours a week of study outsidethis. I plan my time to ensure that I’m not sat down studying for long periods;I prefer studying little and often, and make sure that I’ve time for my hobbies– I volunteer with a dog charity and I’m schooling a pony. An apprenticeshipwas definitely the right choice for me. I want recognised qualifications, butI enjoy working too much to be in full-time education and it’s comfortingknowing that I’ll have money for a house deposit when I’m ready.

ROUTE IN Degreeapprenticeship

Entry-leveljob

GCSEs + A levels

My quantity surveying apprenticeship

NAME

JOB AND EMPLOYER

QUALIFICATIONS

Grace Cook

Commercial (quantity surveying)apprentice, Balfour BeattyConstruction Services UK

11 GCSES, 1 AS level, 3 A levels

“I assist on £80m projects.”

CareerstoriesNine apprentices,trainees anduniversity studentstell you about theirexperiences... andwhether they’rehappy with theirchoices.



ROUTE IN

I’ve always been interested in how things are constructed. Mygranddad worked at a construction company and, growing up, I’doften visit him around the world, seeing some of the structures he

worked on. Watching the construction of super structures in China,America and the UK awed me. After my GCSEs, I started a college coursein civil engineering, but heard through the college that AECOM wasaccepting applications for trainee technicians in my area. Thetemptation of gaining valuable experience that education alone can’tprovide was too much to resist. I applied, was offered the job and wastransferred onto a part-time equivalent of my course.

How I appliedI sent in my CV via an online application form. I then received a phonecall to inform me of an interview date. I was walking the dog at the timeand panicked a bit, as I thought they were asking me to come inimmediately. They weren’t. The interview was quite relaxed. I think I wasoffered the job mostly because I was enthusiastic about the job andindustry. Looking back, I should have brushed up on my mathsbeforehand. They asked me a maths question and I was stumped for ananswer; luckily, my personality must have overshadowed that!

What I doI work within our transportation business line, within the bridges sector,working on road and railway bridges among others. I’m based in adesign office, but there are plentiful opportunities to visit sites. You’dexpect the jobs I do to be pretty menial, but I’ve been surprised by whatI’ve been entrusted with. I double check that CAD drawings arecompleted to a high standard, which involves communicating with theengineers. With the help of experienced colleagues, I’ve designed part ofa bridge’s retaining wall. The main highlight of the role is seeing howdesign models turn out in the real world. I worked on the A1 and drivingpast is really humbling – and I also get to bore my family with detailsabout the project on every journey!

I receive formal training on health and safety, and software, frommy company and go to college once a week. I prefer to stay later in myoffice to complete college assignments. On my apprenticeship I’ll gain aBTEC level 3 in construction and the built environment, and an HNC incivil engineering. Hopefully I will go on to gain a masters. For me, anapprenticeship isn’t about earning while you learn; it’s about gainingexperiences. It is important to enjoy your work; there’s no point indreading Monday morning. If you get your head down, an apprenticeshipcan be the start of a successful career.

I’ve always enjoyed maths and science. I researched STEM careersand found that civil engineering would allow me to be involved increating the infrastructure that is integral to everyday life. The

structures really interested me. I also did an ‘engineering awareness’week at structural engineering consultancy Arup and this sparkedeven more enthusiasm for the career: we took part in a design projecton ‘if the Olympics came to Leeds’.

I decided to do a degree because it was the quickest way ofgetting chartered. To choose a university, I looked at universityrankings, browsed university websites, and attended open days anda careers day organised by my school. I was already familiar withNewcastle University because I’d attended a three-day residentialthere as part of an engineering education scheme. I liked it that theirdegrees included a significant amount of structures. It was also aconvenient distance from home (1½ hours).

Study...In the first two years, I had 25 hours per week of lectures, tutorialsand lab time. The third year had a bigger emphasis on individualstudy. Now in my final year, I attend ‘block modules’ where we do justone module over an intense two or three weeks, have a break andthen do another module. There are around ten modules per year; it’sfull on, but I feel as if I’m getting value for money. We’re also givenlectures on skills such as teamwork.

In my first year, I was assessed mostly by exam; in my final yearI’m assessed through my dissertation. My dissertation focuses on thematerials that change shape under humidity to power themselves.Throughout my degree, I’ve also taken part in group researchprojects, such as designing a new crossing for the Tyne.

During my second and third years, I completed summerinternships at Arup in London. I found work experience really useful. Iorganised my internships myself, but there was support in theengineering department and careers service if I needed it.

Life...In my first year, I got involved in the society Engineers WithoutBorders, later becoming president. I’ve joined a student orchestra andam now president. I’ve also recently taken on managing social mediafor our Women in Engineering network. The most difficult thing isfinding a balance between studying and extracurriculars – if you findout how to do this, let me know!

At university, I’ve had the opportunity to explore a lot of differentcivils specialisms and the time to develop the non-technical skills I’llneed in the workplace. I know that I want to be a structural engineer,but I don’t know whether I’ll eventually specialise in management orresearch and development. I feel that university has given me theoption to do both.

My civil engineeringapprenticeship

NAME

JOB AND EMPLOYER

QUALIFICATIONS

Joseph Boak

Trainee technician, AECOM

8 GCSEs

NAME

DEGREE ANDUNIVERSITY

QUALIFICATIONS

Chandan Parmar

MEng civil and structuralengineering, Newcastle University

11 GCSEs, 1 AS level, 4 A levels

Advanced apprenticeship

GCSEs ROUTE IN UniversityAS level +A levels

GCSEs

“I love seeing how designsturn out in the real world.”

My structural engineering degree


A fter college I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do, but I didn’tlike the idea of going to university. I didn’t want to be awayfrom home and I was keen to get out and work. I looked for

general business opportunities and got onto a one-year businessadministration apprenticeship with Wates. At the end of it, I had ameeting with my manager about what I wanted to do next and hesuggested that I apply for a production management traineeprogramme run by my employer. I’d enjoyed visiting sites as part ofmy apprenticeship, so this seemed like the ideal opportunity. It wasone hundred per cent the right decision for me: I’m not the kind ofperson who is happy sitting down all day, life on site is fantastic andsociable, and I’ve learned so much.

Being on siteI’ve been on my production trainee programme for a year and Ispecialise in new house building, which I love. I started out on a projectin Aylesbury, I’m now on a project in Luton and I might be working inBarnet next. I ‘shadow’ managers on site, learning about how aconstruction project is built. I spend a lot of time talking to teams onsite to find out what they are doing and whether there are anyproblems. I spend about half an hour with each team a day. I alsocomplete admin and paperwork.

When I started I was hesitant about talking to site teams I hadn’tmet before, but I quickly gained confidence. I’ve learned that you can’thold back or be shy on site: never be afraid to ask a question. Peopleare always approachable. There are more men than there are womenin construction, but I feel that this is changing. I’ve always been madeto feel like one of the team.

I’ve received a lot of training from my company – topics haveranged from environmental awareness to developing my professionalskills. I also go to university one day a week to study for an HNC. Afterthis, I will start my degree and gain a professional qualification withthe Chartered Institute of Building. It can be hard to split your timebetween the job and university but, to achieve the qualification youwant, you must be willing to sacrifice things in the short term: to notgo out every weekend and to work a few evenings.

Application tipsTo gain a place on the production management trainee programme, Ifilled in an application form, had a phone interview and attended anassessment day. This included a group task, a presentation andanother interview. My main tip is to focus on selling yourself. Beforeyou start your application, ask friends, teachers and family what yourbest qualities are. Do your research on the company, too.

My site managementtraining programme

NAME

JOB AND EMPLOYER

QUALIFICATIONS

Lauren Squires

Production (site management)trainee, Wates

13 GCSEs, 1 BTEC, 1 A level

ROUTE INManagement

traineeprogramme

Intermediateapprenticeship

BTEC + A level

“Working on site is fantastic.”

Ifell into property. I’d received offers to study travel and tourism atuniversity and my sixth form tutors were encouraging me to go,but I couldn’t see the benefit. I’ve always preferred learning on the

job to exams and I knew that an apprenticeship had a similar learningstructure to BTECs. I had no friends or family in property, but Iresearched the industry. I saw that property offered me a career withpotential to progress and that it was possible to enter the industrythrough an apprenticeship.

I applied through the Chartered Surveyors Training Trust (CSTT).After this I had an interview with the HR team and a representativefrom the CSTT, and an assessment day, which included a group task.We also had the opportunity to meet with CBRE’s UK managingdirector, Ciaran Bird. It’s important in interviews to demonstrate howmotivated you’d be to stay throughout the apprenticeship. I explainedwhere I wanted to be at the end of the apprenticeship and discussedhow I’d previously juggled academic work with a part-time job. I’dadvise dressing smartly for all of your interviews and assessmentdays. Not being used to a corporate environment, I didn’t wear a tie tomy first interview, looked around and saw what others were wearingand thought, ‘oh no!’.

A rotational apprenticeshipI am on a six-year apprenticeship, which includes two years oftraining from the CSTT, a three-year part-time degree and then a yearcompleting a professional qualification. My employer places me in adifferent department each year. This is great because it helps me tomeet people in the industry and build a ‘network’ of contacts.

I currently work within our investment advisory team. We adviseclients about how best to invest their money in property, in bothdomestic and international markets: for example, whether theyshould invest in retail, office or industrial properties. Our clients mayhave £100 million to invest. I visit sites once a week on average tomeasure or inspect them. I also do quite a bit of ‘financial modelling’,enabling me to forecast the level of risk attached to an investment.It’s funny because I never thought I was good at maths at school, butI’ve picked up financial modelling and calculations quickly. I aminvolved in writing ‘investment outlooks’ reports too. Industry jargonwas tricky to understand at first, but I use it myself now!

Award winnerI was surprised but pleased to win the CSTT General PracticeSurveying Apprentice of the Year Award. It was due to my academicwork to date and recommendations from my managers. It’s confirmedthat I chose the correct route into property for me: I’m pleased that I’llhave no debt, that I’m gaining practical experience and that mynetwork is increasing every day.

NAME

JOB AND EMPLOYER

QUALIFICATIONS

Nick Jones

Apprentice surveyor, CBRE Ltd

11 GCSEs, 4 BTECs

ROUTE INDegree

apprenticeshipBTECsGCSEs

My property apprenticeship


Iwanted to be a pharmacist and applied for related courses,but the day before results day I realised that I didn’t want to dochemistry for the rest of my life. I re-examined what I was good at:

my A levels were in maths, chemistry and DT. I knew I didn’t want to doan applied maths degree because I love being practical. This thoughtled me to construction. I applied to my university because the coursehad a huge practical element, which I knew would fit my learning style,and I thought it was inspiring that the course leader was female, andso were 50 per cent of the course lecturers.

Practical studyI’m in my third year of a four-year course, which is part of the Facultyof Engineering and Technology. We do five modules a year and areassessed via exams, field trips and lab reports. For example, we wentto Aintree Race Course and we were all assessed on how we set upinstruments and performed the mathematical calculations; we’ve alsorecently been assessed via a 6,000-word report on tests on concrete.We have 20 hours of contact time a week. In first year, most of ourtime was spent in the lab, but now our time is spent more in exploringhow we would deal with real-life situations. I tend to spend an extra 15hours studying a week. I prefer to spend a whole chunk of timestudying rather than doing an hour here and there, and I also makesure that I have time for rugby practice.

Last year, I took a year out between my second and third years tocomplete a year in industry – essentially a year of work experience. I worked for a construction contractor, Jackson Civil Engineering, onsite. I heard of the opportunity through an email sent out by ourcareers service. The university gives other help with careers – forexample, careers fairs and CV clinics.

Changing my trajectoryThis year I took part in the Telegraph STEM competition, and developeda proposal on making construction sites person-less. I actually won.As part of the process, I got to present to and meet the CEOs of topcompanies – and now I am working with my university to patent myinvention. I’ve also received three job offers. My advice to prospectivestudents is to take up any opportunities at university: since winningthe competition, my life has taken a trajectory that I couldn’t haveimagined previously. I am on chatting terms with CEOs and I receiveemails from the president of the Women in Engineering Society.

I am happy I chose to go to university. The process of moving awayto university has been character building, and I don’t think I wouldhave learned so much about myself if I’d have stayed doing anapprenticeship at home.

My civil engineeringdegree

NAME

DEGREE AND UNIVERSITY

QUALIFICATIONS

Abbie Romano

MEng civil engineering, LiverpoolJohn Moores University

12 GCSEs, 5 AS levels, 3 A levels,1 EPQ (extended projectqualification)

ROUTE IN UniversityA levels GCSEs

“I’ve had three job offers.”

Iwork as a student mechanical engineer in the constructionindustry. My original plan was to follow my hobby – motorsport– and I did a year of motor technology at college, but the course

wasn’t for me. I took my interest in engineering and looked intowhether I could apply it in a different field. I settled on mechanicalengineering, and I found an apprenticeship at my current employerthat looked interesting. I’m glad I did: every building you work on isdifferent – a job is never identical to one that you’ve done before.

An application challengeI applied via my company’s website and was asked to come to aninterview. There were nine of us and we were put into groups toundertake a challenge: constructing a bridge out of stationary, whichwould hold the weight of a model car without collapsing. After this, wehad individual interviews that focused on our backgrounds andreasons for applying.

College and workI am in the second year of my six-year apprenticeship. I’m currentlyworking towards a level 3 in building services engineering(mechanical and electrical engineering for buildings). After this, I canwork towards level 4 and then I’d like to go on to complete an HND. I goto college one day a week and there are about three to five hours’study a week on top of this.

During my apprenticeship, I’ve been placed in differentdepartments and roles to gain exposure to the whole business. For myfirst six months, I was assigned to the technical engineering andcompliance in construction team. Each project has an on-site team butour team supports them by researching answers to technicalquestions or calculations. I completed pressure calculations forductworks, making sure that we had the correct size of ductwork. Iworked on a number of commercial and government projects at thesame time. Next, I was placed on site for six months, working on anoffice project. My role was mechanical package manager: I oversawconstruction on ten packages (parts of a project), including theoverhead heaters and leak protection. Now I’m working at our headoffice in our estimating department, essentially being a quantitysurveyor: pricing the mechanical side of projects. I hope to exploremore rotations, including our ‘green’ (sustainability) department. Withso many rotations, I have had to commute from home to differentlocations. My current commute is the longest: a two-hour train journeyeach way. The good thing is that I can do college work on the train! Anapprenticeship was a good decision for me. I wasn’t interested inuniversity because I didn’t want to just learn the principles ofengineering. Plus, I’m earning while I learn – what could be better?

My mechanical engineeringapprenticeship

NAME

JOB AND EMPLOYER

QUALIFICATIONS

Daniel Mayes

Student mechanical engineer,Skanska UK plc

3 GCSEs, 4 BTECs

ROUTE IN Apprenticeship BTECs GCSEs

“Every project is different.”


My family worked within the construction industry so Ihave always been around it and took an interest in theindustry from a young age. An apprenticeship was the right

thing for me to do – I knew what I wanted to do after GCSEs and I havelearned far more about construction than I would have done throughstudying A levels. I applied for the apprenticeship through BAM’sonline application page. I was invited to an interview at head office,which involved taking examples of my school coursework and a copyof my CV listing my predicted exam grades. I answered questionsabout myself and how I would handle certain situations. My companyinvited me back for a second interview, which followed a similarstructure but with more detailed and specific questions. I believe thatpreparing well and having a rough idea how I would answer sometypical interview questions (such as ‘what are your strengths andweaknesses?’) will help anyone and give them confidence.

Working on siteI work as a site manager. At first this involved shadowing the sitemanagers on the University of Surrey Veterinary School of Medicineproject for a few months to help me to understand the daily operationscarried out on site. I was given more responsibility gradually, such asmarking up progress on drawings and liaising with subcontractors tosort out any issues they may have.

I was able to manage small packages (a part of a project) myselfeventually, with help and advice from the team. I set targets forsubcontractors to ensure that the correct ‘works’ were carried out inthe right time period. I enjoyed this role – all of the work that I haddone before that had enabled me to learn and build my confidence.

Working on construction projects and being able to see themdevelop is satisfying, especially when you are able to see the endproduct. The biggest challenge is when you first get on site; you havelimited knowledge of the industry and it takes time to get used to howa site works. Once you overcome this, you start to build yourconfidence and from then on everything is easier.

Work and studyWhile on the apprenticeship programme I studied for a level 3 BTEC inconstruction and the built environment on day release, as well as alevel 3 NVQ diploma in construction contracting operations, allowingme to gain a construction qualification while learning how to work onsite. I tend to do my college work at home in the evenings or at work if Ihave any time available. My employer has allowed me to use time atwork to complete college work when I have large amounts of work tocomplete to a tight deadline.

My site managementapprenticeship

NAME

JOB AND EMPLOYER

QUALIFICATIONS

Joe Steer

Trainee construction manager,BAM Construction

11 GCSEs

“Helping to manage projects.”

ROUTE INAdvanced

apprenticeshipGCSEs

I’m currently on a training programme that accepts applicationsfrom people with a variety of qualifications, ranging from A levelsand BTECs to bachelor degrees. I found it after widening my job

search to include alternative routes into engineering; I’d previouslycompleted a degree in engineering and business studies, but hadstruggled to find a graduate position. I saw that the training programmehad a lot to offer in terms of career progression. I also thought that thechance to get further qualifications (including a foundation degree inelectrical power engineering from Aston University) while actuallydoing the job would be a great way of learning. I don’t have regretsabout going to university as I had a great experience, but in terms of mycareer I think this training programme has offered me far more.

My day jobMy employer connects homes and businesses to energy supplies. I work in part of the operations planning team, which has the job ofplanning the maintenance and construction of our electricity network.The team’s work involves collaborating with various areas of thebusiness and external customers, with the aim of ensuring that repairsand other projects happen on time and within budget. I particularlyenjoy going out to sites for review meetings and witnessing the ongoingwork. I gain valuable knowledge about the sites and the people whowork on them. The three most important skills I need are timemanagement, communication and teamwork.

I attend university for two weeks every couple of months toundertake the academic learning part of the job. In the first year of thescheme I also spent a lot of time in my employer’s own academyundertaking training courses; these ranged from technical courses tocourses designed to encourage our non-technical skills, such as timemanagement, negotiation skills and presentation skills. The companyoffers additional training and support if needed, too, including tutoringto one-to-one coaching. Balancing the university workload with on-the-job work can be a challenge and I’ve found that managing my timestrictly is key to getting the balance right. I think that it is best to spendtwo or three hours in the evenings as soon as a project is given, as thisway I get the bulk of the work done within a week or two.

Application adviceThe application process involved an online application form, an onlineability test, a telephone interview and a two-day assessment centre. I think the main reasons I got the role were my confidence, my researchon the company, and my willingness to be involved in assessmentcentre exercises. Make sure that you have questions for yourinterviewers. It shows interest in the role and helps turn the interviewfrom a question-and-answer session into a conversation. Interviews areabout selling your personality and character, and it is easier to do thatvia conversation.

My electrical engineeringtraining programme

NAME

JOB AND EMPLOYER

QUALIFICATIONS

Carl Williams

Engineer trainee, National Grid

10 GCSEs , 3 A levels, BSc engineering and businessstudies

ROUTE INTraining

programmeDegreeA levels

46 | careers Construction, Engineering & Property 201546 | careers Construction, Engineering & Property 2016

Applications and interviews

Can you choose the right form of communication for the situation in hand (eg face to face,phone call, email)? Can you adapt your communication style depending on who you are talkingto (eg a friend, a customer, your boss)? Can you adapt your communication style according towhat you need to achieve (eg to inspire teammates before a game)? Are you able to talkconfidently in front of a group? Can you write a report?

Have you worked successfully in groups? Do you help your teammates out if they are strugglingor encourage quiet members to speak up? Do you consider how your actions affect others? Canyou create a positive atmosphere?

Do you think ahead and set out action plans? Do you make a ‘plan B’ in case ‘plan A’ doesn’t workout? Can you prioritise and juggle tasks to meet deadlines? Can you give examples from outsideyour academic work?

Do you understand how the company you are applying to makes money? Do you know how yourjob would contribute to that?

Are you able to motivate yourself to do something? Have you set yourself a personal target and then achieved it?

Have you found ways around obstacles? Do you suggest solutions and figure out new ways ofdoing things? Can you judge when to ask for help?

Have you had experience of working with clients or customers? Do you know how tocommunicate professionally? Have you successfully handled angry or troublesome customers?

Communication

Teamwork

Planning andorganisation

Commercial awareness

Self-motivation

Problem-solving

Customer service

T he recruitment process isdesigned to test whether youhave the ‘general’, non-technical skills that all

construction, engineering and propertyprofessionals need. Below we’ve listedthe main skills employers seek andwhat they involve – one or more ofthese skills will be tested at each stageof the processes. For instance, youmight be asked to give details of a timewhen you used certain skills in yourapplication and at interview, or youmight be asked to perform a task thatrequires those skills.

Recruiters want to discover whether you havethe skills to make a good employee.

with your skillsApplications start

More advice on skills, applications,interviews and assessments attargetcareers.co.uk


A covering letter is a letter oremail that you send in withyour CV to explain why youare the right person for the

vacancy and why you want to workfor that employer in particular. If youare sending your CV via email or (rarenowadays) through the post, you mustalso send in a covering letter. If you areapplying for an apprenticeship via anonline application form, you might begiven the option of uploading acovering letter – if so, do so. It’s anopportunity to show them how muchyou want the role.

There are two ways to send yourcovering letter via email and bothways are equally fine unless theemployer has specifically asked for oneway:1. Attach both the CV and the

covering letter as MS Worddocuments or PDFs to your email.Make the email a brief messagesaying that your application for thevacancy (give the relevant details) isattached.

2.Write the whole of the coveringletter directly into the email. Attachyour CV.

Get the formatting rightIf you can, address it to a specificperson responsible for hiring, eg ‘DearMr Smith’. If you aren’t given a name,address it to ‘Dear Sir/Madam’. Signoff the letter with ‘Yours sincerely’ if itis to a named person and ‘Yoursfaithfully’ if to Sir/Madam. Includeyour home address and the date on theletter if the covering letter is in aseparate document. If your coveringletter is in an email window, includeyour contact details at the end. Yourletter shouldn’t be longer than onepage of A4.

Tailor it to the roleThe secret to a covering letter is tomake it very specific to the companyand the vacancy you are applying to. If you can send in the same coveringletter to a different company purely by

changing the name of the company itis addressed to, your letter isn’t specificenough. The example above shouldhelp you to ‘tailor’ your letter to therole and make recruiters want tointerview you.

If you are applying with a CV, you usually have to send in a covering letter too.

John Thorpe17a Christmas WayAbingdonOxonOX99 2PQ

J Smith & CoConstruction20 Construction Rd,OxfordOxonOX99 1AB

19 October 2015

Dear Mr Smith,

First paragraph: State the vacancy you are applying for and where you saw it. For example:‘I am writing to apply for your construction management trainee scheme, which I sawadvertised on targetcareers.co.uk.’ If you are not applying for an advertised vacancy, statewhat you are looking for. For example: ‘I am writing to see whether you would be able tooffer me a week’s work experience.’

Second and third paragraphs:Write about how you have the skills, qualities, attitude andexperience (if you have any) to succeed in the role. Refer to the skills and qualities askedfor in the job description. If there isn’t one, use the skills on page XX as a starting point. Youshould back up your claims with examples of when you demonstrated those skills,expanding on details from your CV. For example: ‘I believe that I have the right skills andqualities to excel on your trainee scheme. I have developed the leadership potentialyou’ve asked for through my involvement with Explorers. I was part of the Young LeadersScheme and helped to run scout meetings. For example, I led a session on...’

Fourth paragraph: Give reasons for wanting to work at that employer and in this role inparticular. You could mention projects that the company has worked on, the training offeredby the company, the qualifications you would gain, the company’s values or somethingelse that attracts you. Link your reasons to your career ambitions. For example: ‘I amapplying to J Smith & Company because I really want to work and learn in a company thattakes on innovative projects, such as the 2 George Street project. I was impressed by howyou retained the Grade II listed exterior while making the interior more environmentallyfriendly...’

Final paragraph: Finish by thanking them for considering your application and statingwhen you’d be able to start if hired and when you’d be available for interview.

Yours sincerely,John Thorpe


Get covered with a covering letter

W hether you’re thinking ofapplying for workexperience, an entry-leveljob or a school leaver

training programme, chances are you’llneed to put together a CV. This is astandard part of the applicationprocess and helps to give employers aclear idea of whether your writtencommunication skills are up toscratch. Your CV needs to be easy toread and understand; it should coverall the necessary information andshouldn’t include any howlers, such asspelling mistakes, that will put therecruiter off.

There is no one right way to puttogether a CV. There are somestandard headings that you will finduseful and there are some commonerrors you need to avoid. However,you can adapt the format to suit youand reflect your strengths. A CV is apersonal document and everybody’sCV is different.

You should also update your CVfor each job application and adapt itto show you have the qualities andqualifications the employer isspecifically looking for.

What should you include? Our example CV will give you ideasand help you get started. It has noteson the level of detail you need toinclude, how your CV might evolveover time, and some optional extras. This is the basic information you needto cover: • Personal details and contactinformation – this is essential.

• Education – again, essential. OurCV uses ‘Education andqualifications’ as a heading. If youhave done a relevant training courseyou could highlight this by using‘Training’ as a separate heading.

• Employment history and workexperience – another must-have.You could present this as twoseparate sections.

• Voluntary work. You could give thisits own separate heading, create a‘Work experience and voluntarywork’ section, or give details of yourvoluntary work in your ‘Interests’section.

• Skills. When you are describing yourwork experience and voluntaryactivities, look for ways to highlightskills such as communication andteamworking. If you have specificrelevant skills you can drawattention to them by putting them ina section of their own.

• Strengths and achievements. Youcould give these a section of their own,or cover them in the other sections.

And a few don’ts...• Most importantly of all, don’t lie.

If you’re found out you could loseyour job and, even worse, in somecases you might be liable forcriminal prosecution.

• Don’t waffle. Your CV should be nolonger than two pages and at thisstage it’s more likely to be one page,as in our example. You can usebullet points and you don’t have touse full sentences.

• Don’t be too fancy or too informal.Describe what you can do in adirect, confident way. Use aprofessional-looking font such asTimes New Roman, Arial, Verdanaor Cambria.

• Don’t leave in typos. Check yourspelling and grammar and getsomebody you trust to read your CVand check it again. Employers spend30 seconds on average scanning aCV, so make sure you don’t givethem any reasons to reject you.

Our easy guide will help you put together a CV thatshows you in the best possible light.

Include contact details: phone numbers,an address and an email address (makesure this is sensible and soundsprofessional). You don’t need to includeyour date of birth or age.

If you’ve attended more than onesecondary school, list the most recentfirst. You don’t need to include yourprimary school.


How to write acracking CV


You don’t need to say ‘Curriculum Vitae’ atthe start of your CV. Begin with your name.

If the work experience or job you areapplying for specifies that you needspecific exam grades, show that you havethem. If you haven’t achieved much in theway of qualifications and have shown youmeet the requirements, you could list thesubjects you studied without includingyour grades and concentrate onhighlighting your strengths in other areas.

Employers will be keen to find out aboutyour skills, for example, IT skills, teamworking, customer service andcommunication skills. If it’s relevant to therole, mention that you have a full cleandriving licence (if you have).

Putting any voluntary work you have doneon your CV helps to create the impressionthat you are committed and motivated.Include any fundraising, involvement inteams, positions of responsibility andawards.

Employers won’t expect you to have lots ofrelevant work experience, but they will beinterested in any that you do have. Givesome details about what you learned andcontributed.

You don’t have to include a section on yourinterests, but this can be a good way totell employers about your strengths andgive them a sense of what you might belike to work with.

You don’t have to include this. Employerswill assume you have references and willfollow them up if you get through to thenext stage. You definitely don’t need toinclude contact details for them.

You can provide a brief description of anyfull-time or part-time jobs you have had,explaining your responsibilities andachievements.

JOHN THORPE17a Christmas Way, Abingdon, Oxon OX99 2PQ

Email: [email protected]: 01449 123456 Mobile: 07759 234567

Education and qualifications2009–present Abingdon Secondary School

A levels (predicted): Maths (B), Physics (C), Chemistry (C)BTEC Level 2 Diploma in Engineering (Merit)GSCEs: Maths (A), Physics (A), Chemistry (B), Biology (C), EnglishLiterature (C), English Language (B), Geography (C), IT (B)

Employment and work experience2015 (2-week placement, August) Civil Engineers & Building Design,High Street, AbingdonShadowed design team and attended design meetings. Used technicalcomputer programs, including AutoCAD 2014. Helped to compile reportsfor clients. Performed necessary administrative tasks and gained anunderstanding of all departments.

2015 (July) South Oxfordshire Holiday Park, WallingfordHelped caretaker with repairs and maintenance, including cleaning andgardening.

2012–present Customer service assistant, Tesco, Abingdon (part time)

Working on the checkout and at the customer service desk. Has helpeddevelop my commercial awareness and communication skills.

IT skillsGood working knowledge of AutoCAD 2014, Excel and Word.

InterestsI am a keen footballer and have played in the school team for the last fiveyears. In the year I was captain (2013) we came second in the countyleague. I have volunteered as a football coach at local primary schools’after-school clubs and have tried and enjoyed many other outdooractivities, including kayaking and climbing.

References available upon request

If you aren’t writing a covering letter, youcan include a personal statement at thebeginning of your CV that describes yourstrengths and why you are interested inthe career. If you do this, keep it brief –ideally two to three lines and not morethan 60 words. We’ve started this CV witheducation and qualifications instead.Employers will expect to see educationand qualifications covered near the top ofyour CV.




T here’s no taking a one-size-fits-all approach when it comes toapplying for school leaverprogrammes, as the process

isn’t centralised in the way thatapplications to uni are. Big companieswill usually ask you to submit anonline form and you are often requiredto upload a CV as part of this (seepages 48–49 for advice on CVwriting.) Here are our top tips on howto succeed in your writtenapplications.

A little research goes a long way

Employers usually provide plenty ofinformation on their websites to guideyou on what to include on yourapplication form, so take the time tofind it. You will probably also findinformation about school leavers whoare already working there, which willhelp you to understand what will beexpected of you. You’ll be in a muchbetter position to tackle the applicationform if you’ve got a clear idea of whatthe recruiter is looking for.

Make sense of your choicesEmployers want to be sure

that you’re committed. They don’twant to invest in training you only foryou to drop out. When they assessyour application, they’ll want to findout:• Why have you chosen a career in

construction, engineering orproperty? Think about your workexperience, volunteering andactivities, both in school andoutside, to help you explain yourcareer choice. What do you enjoydoing? What are you good at, andhow does this match up with your

decision to seek work in thatindustry?

• Why this employer? Explain whythe work, training and careeropportunities on offer appeal toyou. To answer this convincingly,you need to have got to grips withwhat the organisation does and howyou could be part of that.

• Why this particular programme?Some employers offer manydifferent options for school leavers.For example, Transport for Londonoffers numerous apprenticeships,and asks you to give clear reasonsfor your choice, referring back tothe job description to help you.

Show you’re a good match

Balfour Beatty says, ‘Your applicationis the first opportunity you have to tellus more about you and why you areinterested in working with us. Thinkabout the experiences you have had in

education and other parts of your lifethat show your skills and strengths,and how these relate to your chosenrole.’

There are several useful tips here.The employer wants to get a sense ofwhat you’d be like to work with andhow you’d fit in, and this is aboutmore than your school work andacademic results. They want you tomatch your skills and strengths to theposition you’re applying for: showthem you’ve got the qualities theywant. Refer to your experience of lifeoutside of school to help you.

Back up your claims

You can’t just say you’re motivatedand a fast learner – you need to giveexamples, such as your role inorganising a big event, doing Duke ofEdinburgh or charity work. The samegoes for showing employers thatyou’re a strong team player. Can you

Applying to universityAre you considering a construction, engineering or propertydegree? Make sure you research your options carefully andcheck the A level requirements. For example, many buildingdegree courses require you to have A levels or equivalent inmaths and physics, or both. Deadlines for most courses are in January but some are in

October or March. You’ll find plenty of advice on how to completeyour application form on ucas.com. You apply for tuition feeloans, maintenance loans and maintenance grants separately. Some employers offer sponsored

degree programmes. You’ll need to findout about these initiatives directly fromemployers and check the guidancethey provide on how to apply.

Make sure your application form stands out for the right reasons.


Easy tips for applications


think of times when you’ve beeninvolved in the work of a group? Youcould draw examples from school,your family, sports teams, work,voluntary organisations such as the Guides, Scouts or Cadets, orreligious or community activities.

If the scheme you’re applying for islikely to include early morning starts,working outdoors in all weathers ortravel, think of times when you’veshown you can deal with thechallenges involved.

Don’t let the team take all thecredit!

Laing O’Rourke says that your CVshould ‘highlight your individualachievements – not just those whereyou have excelled as part of a team’. It’s good to include examples of yourinvolvement in teams, but explain how you made a difference to theteam. Did you help solve disagreementsin the team, take responsibility forhelping to organise anything to dowith a group activity, or have a specific role such as team captain? Use ‘I’ rather than ‘we’ to explain your contribution.

Keep copiesAt an interview, the employer is likelyto ask you about the informationyou’ve provided in your applicationform. If you’ve completely forgottenwhat you’ve told them, you’re introuble. If you’re applying to anumber of schemes with differentemployers, each application should beslightly different and you’ll need tokeep copies of all of them so you canrefer back to the relevant applicationwhen the time comes.

It’s worth giving some thought tohow you’re going to organise this. For example, you could run off hardcopies and keep them in a folder.Remember to look through yourapplication before you attend anassessment centre or interview.

Watch the wordcount

There is usually a set word limit foreach answer on an application form,and you should take care not to exceedit. At the same time, you shouldn’tsubmit very short responses that don’tgive the employer enough to go on.

Proofread like a pro

Even when you’re applying online, it’sstill worth printing off a hard copy ofyour application in order to check itthrough. Sometimes you can spoterrors on a printed page that are easyto miss on screen. If the applicationsystem isn’t set up so that it’sstraightforward to save and print yourcompleted form, make sure you cutand paste your answers into a separatedocument and print that out instead.


that impress


I f recruiters like what they see inyour applications, you may beinterviewed on the telephone andface to face by a member of

human resources and/or seniormanagement. In both cases, they willask you why you want to work for thecompany and what makes yousuitable.

If you are applying for a technicalrole or have already undertaken somerelevant study (eg as part of avocational course), the recruiters mayquestion you on some specialist areasof knowledge.

Possible interview questions (and howto answer them)Why do you want to work for us?This question is testing how much youknow about the company and yourmotivation. Use what you have read onthe website (don’t just parrot) and linkit with your own future career goals.

What makes you suitable for the job? If you’ve done well in your studies,mention it, but also break down anysoft skills that you have and useexamples from your past experiencesto back them up. For example, if yousay you’re determined, you need togive evidence. One good examplemight be fighting your way throughmartial arts tournaments out ofschool. Go back over your ownexperiences and find one to impressthe employer.

Give an example of a difficult situation youhave faced and how you dealt with it.This doesn’t need to be a nuclearstandoff that you resolved. Perhaps

you’ve had to deal with infirmrelatives or a friend who got intotrouble. Break down the situationusing the STAR (situation, task,action, result) method and explain tothe recruiter all the steps you took.

The open-ended questionYou may be asked to speak a littleabout yourself, about one specificevent listed on your CV or even aboutyour last holiday. While the recruiterdoes want to know more about you,this is more of a test of yourcommunication skills. Speak clearly,confidently and concisely and be readyto provide more details if necessary.

Technical questionsThese are rare, but if you have done arelated qualification you may be givenan example problem related to thework that the company does. Forexample, if you were going for a tradeapprenticeship, you might be shown ablueprint of a particular piece ofequipment and asked to explain how itworks.

An assessment centre – a longer interviewThink of an assessment centre as afull working day (9.00 am – 5.00 pm)of interviews, tests and otherexercises to test your suitability for acompany. As a general rule, it is thelarger engineering and constructionschool leaver schemes that useassessment centres, such as Ford orBalfour Beatty. Assessment centresbring groups of candidates togetherand can include some or all of thefollowing:

Aptitude testsA short exam set to a tight time limit.These are often multiple choice and are designed to test your naturalability with numbers, logic, verbalreasoning or other aptitudes.

Behavioural exercisesThese aim to discover how you’ll work as part of a team and thebusiness. Common tests includepresentations, group exercises, andtests of your reaction to certain

Get more interviewand assessmentadvice onlineGo to targetcareers.co.uk for additionalinterview advice, tips on makingpresentations, online ability tests and more.

Preparing for theperfect interview

An interview or assessment centre is normally the key stage when applying for a job. Find out what an interview involves and what you can do to impress recruiters.


careers Construction, Engineering & Property 2015 | 53careers Construction, Engineering & Property 2015 | 53careers Construction, Engineering & Property 2015 | 53careers Construction, Engineering & Property 2016 | 53

Which route?

scenarios. For example, in scenariosituations, an employer may ask youwhat your reaction would be to amock client email or what you woulddo to organise a list of pressing issues.

Social time Sometimes structured, sometimes not,there is normally an opportunity totalk (although not too informally!)with recruiters, managers and currentapprentices at the company.

Be a professional – what you need to knowDress for success. Forinterviews, you should alwaysbe dressed smartly. You maybe invited out to a rural officeor a construction site, butyou’ll still need a smarttrouser/skirt suit. Give yourself time. Nothingmakes a bad impression liketurning up late. Practise thejourney beforehand if you can.Bring your papers, please.Your initial application,

personal statement (if youhave one) and any relatedcoursework could come inhandy if you can’t rememberexact details in the interview. Eat, drink and be merry. Havebreakfast and make sureyou’re hydrated before you go.You don’t want to pass out dueto interview nerves. Think about the little things.Does your mobile phone havean offensive ringtone or

voicemail? A voicemail shouldjust contain your name and apolite message requesting aname and number for thecaller. Keep your phone off oron silent during an interview.Body language. When you’reinteracting directly with peoplewho work at the company orfirm, make eye contact. Shakehands where appropriate anddon’t slouch or stuff yourhands in your pockets.


A–Z of employers who

EmployersAECOM .............................................. 56

Balfour Beatty .................................. 58

CBRE Ltd............................................ 59

Changing the Face of Property ........ 61

Jaguar Land Rover............................ 62

Laing O’Rourke.................................. 63

National Grid .................................... 64

Redrow Homes.................................. 65

Skanska UK plc ................................ 66

Thames Water .................................. 67

Transport for London........................ 68

UK Power Networks .......................... 69

Wates ................................................ 70

Find out more about the organisations who want to hear from you.

Employers


Presentations

Case studies

Aptitude tests

Group exercises

Assessment day

Second

interview

First interview

– telephone or video

First interview

– face-to

-face

CV and

coverin

g lette

r via email

Applica

tion form

including a CV

Applica

tion form

Graduate program

mes

Undergraduate placem

ents/in

ternships

Technicia

n/foun

dation tra

ining programmes

Higher apprenticeships

Advanced apprenticeships

Interm

ediate apprenticeships

opportunities

want to hear from you

At a glance

recruitment methodsAt a glance

Turn over to find out moreabout the employers

56 AECOM • •

56 AECOM • • • • • •

59 CBRE Ltd • •

59 CBRE Ltd • • •

61 Changing the Face of Property See details on each CTFOP firm’s website

61 Changing the Face of Property • • • • •

62 Jaguar Land Rover • • • • •

62 Jaguar Land Rover • • •

63 Laing O’Rourke • • • • • •64 National Grid • • •

64 National Grid • • • •

65 Redrow Homes • • •

65 Redrow Homes • • • • • •

66 Skanska UK plc • • • • • • • • • •

66 Skanska UK plc • • • • • •

68 Transport for London • • • • •

68 Transport for London • • •

69 UK Power Networks • • • •

69 UK Power Networks •

70 Wates • • •

70 Wates • • • • • •

67 Thames Water • • •

67 Thames Water •

63 Laing O’Rourke • • • • • •

58 Balfour Beatty • • • • •

58 Balfour Beatty • • • • • •

Employers


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Contact detailsAdam Phillipswww.aecom.com/careers

Job roles• building surveyor • civil engineer • electrical engineer • environmentalengineer/consultant • mechanical engineer• quantity surveyor • structural engineer

SalaryCompetitive

Opportunities on offer• intermediate apprenticeships • advancedapprenticeship • higher apprenticeships • technician/foundation training programme• undergraduate placements/ internships •graduate programme

Sponsorship throughout university• throughout

Work experience offered to• school students • further educationcollege/sixth form students • universitystudents

Application deadlineOngoing recruitment

With nearly 100,000 employees worldwide —including engineers, designers, planners,scientists, surveyors, architects, andmanagement and construction servicesprofessionals — serving clients in more than150 countries, AECOM is a premier, fullyintegrated infrastructure and supportservices firm.

AECOM is ranked as the #1 engineering designfirm by revenue in Engineering News-Recordmagazine’s annual industry rankings. We area leader in all of the key markets that weserve, including transportation, facilities,environmental, energy, oil and gas, water,high-rise buildings and government. AECOMprovides a blend of global reach, localknowledge, innovation and technicalexcellence in delivering solutions that create,enhance and sustain the world's built, naturaland social environments. We bring togethercreative, technical and managementspecialists to work on projects at every scale.We engineer energy-efficient buildings andbuild new links between cities. We design newcommunities and regenerate existing ones.We are the first whole environments business,going beyond buildings and infrastructure. AFortune 500 company, AECOM companies,including URS, had revenue of $19.2 billionduring the 12 months ended June 30, 2014.

AECOM invests heavily in the quality of ourapprentice programme and the opportunitiesit provides. Of course we do — it is designed toequip our future leaders and technicalexperts. AECOM currently has more than 200apprentices & trainees across the UK &Ireland, learning from some of the mosttalented and renowned experts in their field,bringing fresh approaches and furtherdiversifying our workforce.

Our Structured Training ExcellenceProgramme (STEP) is designed to recruitschool-leavers who show commitment,aptitude and enthusiasm, into science,engineering and technology careers with us.You will combine work-based on-the-jobtraining and learning with further studies andmust be willing to progress your career. Afteran initial probationary period you must bewilling to undertake a day release course at aFurther Education College to study a BTECLevel 3 or HND in a relevant discipline whichwould be funded by AECOM. Your NVQ Level 3will be achieved during this time through yourwork experience.

Driven by the successful completion of BTECLevel 3 or a HND the successful applicant maywant to continue their studies at a higherlevel. AECOM fully expects this and is keen todevelop and nurture its talent. For thosewishing to progress their education AECOMmay continue to support individuals throughan appropriate part-time BSc/BEng degreecourse to support you towards IncorporatedEngineer status.

As a company AECOM are responding fast tothe fact that since we live in aninterconnected and challenging world, newthinking is called for. The global population isgrowing, yet resources are finite and carbonemissions are already way too high. AECOMgets the bigger picture, uniting cleveringenuity with global experience. Our focus isto realise our clients’ boldest ambitions. So,where do you see yourself?

AECOM

Locations Regions with

opportunities

‘help shape the world around us’

Employers

AECOM apprentice Ryan Cobbs on the

Humber Bridge

THIS IS AFUN RIDE

As an apprentice with AECOM, you could find yourself working in some exceptional places

In the UK and Ireland, we are recruiting around 200 apprentices into Engineering, Surveying, Planning, Environment and more, to work on some of the most exciting projects at home and around the world. Interested?

Visit aecom.com/careers and search for ‘apprentice’.


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Contact detailsEmerging Talent5 Churchill Place, Canary Wharf, London, E14 5HU

www.balfourbeatty.com/careers

@balfourgraduate@balfourbeatty

Job roles• civil engineer • electrical engineer • mechanical engineer • quantity surveyor • construction manager

Salarycompetitive

Opportunities on offer• intermediate apprenticeships • advancedapprenticeship • higher apprenticeships • trainee roles • undergraduate placementsand internships • graduate programme • work experience

Sponsorship throughout university• throughout university


Application deadlineDecember 2016

Who we areYou are part of the next generation ofinfrastructure experts.

As the UK’s largest construction andinfrastructure business, we are looking for thebest school leavers to join our team. Togetherwe can work on iconic projects that changethe world around us.

For more than 100 years we have created andcared for the infrastructure that underpins allour lives and drives progress – we finance,design, build and maintain transport links,health facilities, schools and universities,power generation, public spaces and muchmore.

Apprentice opportunitiesYour career starts early at Balfour Beatty. Weoffer exciting apprenticeships in all aspects ofour business, including engineering,construction management, designing,planning, environment, project and facilitiesmanagement. You can also train in businessroles such as procurement, IT and Health andSafety.

Our package and programmeYou’ll receive a competitive salary, package,industry qualifications and a learningprogramme that is second to none. From dayone, you’ll have real responsibility andaccountability, working on projects that makea difference.

We will harness and develop your skills tomake sure we succeed together. Yourdevelopment is at the heart of our businessand we offer a range of opportunities forpromotion and development.

Our iconic projects rely on a diverse workforceto succeed. We’re the first ConstructionCompany in the UK to have partnered withStonewall on their Diversity Champion’sProgramme, a core member of both Race ForOpportunity and Opportunity Now.

Got your attention? We are waiting to hear from you. To find outmore, visit: www.balfourbeatty.com/careers

Balfour Beatty


opportunities

Balfour Beatty love to get the most out of theiremployees; on my very first day I worked on thenotoriously busy M25. With experiences like this, I feel that an apprenticeship is more meaningful,especially because Balfour Beatty offer real-lifeexperience that you just wouldn’t gain throughacademics.

Oliver Gregory, working towards an advanced levelapprenticeship in surveying.

Employers

Contact detailswww.cbre.co.uk/[email protected]

Job roles• building surveyor • commercial property surveyor • quantity surveyor

Salary£14,000 plus bonus

Opportunities on offer• advanced apprenticeship • higher apprenticeships • internships

Sponsorship throughout university• throughout

Work experience offered to• school students • further educationcollege/sixth form students

Application deadlineCBRE have a rolling deadline as we have acontinuous recruitment cycle.

CBRE is the world’s leading real estateservices company – a growing and visionaryorganisation, comprised of the best andbrightest professionals. The Company hasmore than 70,000 employees, and serves realestate owners, investors and occupiersthrough more than 400 offices worldwide.CBRE offers strategic advice and execution forproperty sales and leasing; corporateservices; property, facilities and projectmanagement; mortgage banking; appraisaland valuation; development services;investment management; and research andconsulting; this allows us to deliver localtalent with local expertise.

We believe that our people are the foundationupon which our success is built. Our peopleare encouraged to expand their skills andknowledge to drive their careers and reachtheir full potential.

The CBRE UK Apprenticeship Scheme waslaunched in September 2013, and hascontinued to grow each year. Now in its thirdyear, CBRE’s Apprenticeship Programme ishelping to bring fresh new talent into thecommercial real estate market. Thispioneering initiative offers young people aged16-24 an accredited route to becoming a fullyqualified Chartered Surveyor.

Ciaran Bird - UK Managing Director, the drivingforce behind the initiative, wanted to createthe CBRE Apprenticeship scheme as aninvestment in the next generation and as away of championing diversity within theproperty sector. Ciaran has a personal beliefin the apprenticeship scheme having startedin the property industry himself aged 16.

Apprentices are recruited for either a level 3Apprenticeship (5 GCSE’s A-C required) or level6 Degree Apprenticeship (A-Levels required).

The level 3 apprentices are on a six yearprogramme combining on-the-job learningand formal training. During their first twoyears apprentices will study the SurveyingTechnician Diploma before moving on to level6. The level 6 is then a four year BSc RealEstate, this will enable them to take theAssessment of Professional Competence andbecome fully qualified Chartered Surveyorsand a member of the Royal InstitutionChartered Surveyors (RICS), the world’sleading professional body for qualificationsand standards in land, property &construction.

CBRE Ltd


opportunities

“I have always been a practical learner, preferring to learn from experience moreso than theory and had an ambition to pursue a career in property following theregeneration of my hometown, Hackney. At CBRE I have been involved in groundbreaking portfolio disposals, been able to visit Heron Tower and even featured inProperty Week and Estates Gazette. all this has happened in my firstyear in the industry. I have also created The Apprentice Network, whichis aimed at connecting apprentices and encouraging the practice ofnetworking through regularly held events and social media.”

Wale Sanusi – 21

“I joined the CBRE Apprenticeship scheme in September 2013 at 17 years old. I will rotate into 5 different service lines over a five year period, and at the end ofthe programme, I would have gained qualifications, experience and be a fullyqualified Chartered Surveyor.Alongside the incredible amount of experience and knowledge I have gained fromworking at CBRE, I am also able to get involved in various extra activitiesto help further develop my career. I am currently a member of the CBREWomen’s Network Advisory Board and I am an activator and coach for theRFU All schools programme.”

Jessica Neale – 19


Employers

one

Contact detailsPam Duke, CTFOP Programme Manager 30 Warwick Street, London W1B 5NHContact tel: 020 3147 1145 Website: Propertyneedsyou.comSocial media: @CTFOProperty

Job roles• Building surveying apprentice • Propertysurveying apprentice – Commercial • Property surveying apprentice –Residential • Quantity surveying apprentice• Planning consultant apprentice • Marketing apprentice • HR apprentice • Finance apprentice • IT apprentice

SalaryCompetitive

Opportunities on offer• intermediate apprenticeships • advancedapprenticeship • higher apprenticeships • undergraduate placements/internships • graduate programme

Sponsorship throughout university• varies subject to employer


Application deadlineSee details on each CTFOP firm’s website

Changing the Face of Property (CTFOP) wasfounded in 2012 and is a joint initiative of 10major property employers working together toraise awareness of the diverse range of careeropportunities in the property professions. Oneof our main objectives is to engage withstudents from all backgrounds and cultureswith the aim of broadening the talent pipelinejoining the property industry at the beginningof their working career.

In addition to well-established graduateschemes, CTFOP members recognise theimportance of offering different entry levelsinto the property industry.

We offer work experience and work shadowingopportunities to Year 12 students, to give thema taste of what working in a major property firmis like and have developed apprentice schemesdesigned for school/college leavers at GCSE, ALevel and BTec levels.

Our apprentice schemes offer apprenticeshipsin commercial surveying, building surveying,residential; town planning, IT, Marketing & PR,Finance and Human Resources, all within aproperty environment. We want to make acareer in property available to all.

Currently our apprenticeships range frombetween 12 months and six years in durationand provide apprentices with an excellentgrounding in the real estate profession. Theschemes offer recognised qualifications from

Level 3 NVQ in Business Administrationthrough to a BTec in Surveying. With theintroduction of Degree Apprenticeships in 2015many firms are introducing these into theirApprentice Programmes.

Entry levels for applicants will depend on thescheme applied for and the requirements setby each employer. Opening dates for 2016Apprenticeships will vary, however details willbe available from each employer’s website.

Day to day, an apprentice could be workingalongside some of the top property experts inthe industry and may often spend time out ofthe office visiting buildings or develop their ITskills through working on databases orproducing reports for clients. Strongcommunication skills are essential and ourapprentice programmes will offer opportunitiesto develop these through structureddevelopment courses and on-the-job training.

To discover more about careers in property andthe apprenticeships available with CTFOPmember firms, please visitwww.propertyneedsyou.com. From here youcan link through to the website for each of the10 CTFOP members.

CTFOP members are: JLL; Knight Frank;Cushman and Wakefield; CBRE; Savills; BNPParibas Real Estate; Bilfinger GVA; ColliersInternational; Gerald Eve; Strutt and Parker.

Changing the Face of Property

Locations See details on eachCTFOP firm’s website

We are looking to recruit bright, enthusiastic,energetic individuals with a strong work ethic and aneagerness to learn about the property professions.


Employers


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Contact detailswww.jaguarlandrovercareers.com

Facebook: Jaguar Land RoverApprenticeships

Job roles• Automotive Engineer• Electrical Engineer• Electronic Engineer• Engineering Craft Machinist• Manufacturing Engineer• Mechanical Engineer• Accountancy Technician

SalaryAdvanced: Min £230 per weekDegree: Min £18,550 per annum

Opportunities on offer• Advanced Apprenticeship• Engineering Degree Apprenticeship• Commercial Degree Apprenticeship

Sponsorship throughout universityFully-funded for degree apprenticeships

Applications Open September 2016

Jaguar Land Rover is the UK’s largestpremium automotive manufacturingbusiness, built around two iconic British carbrands. We employ 32,000 people globallyand support around 210,000 more throughour dealerships, suppliers and localbusinesses.

Jaguar Land Rover – the UK’s largestautomotive apprenticeship provider and ratedTop Employer for School and College Leavers2014 – 2015 by ‘All About School Leavers’ –has seen 900 apprentices join the business inthe last five years, and is looking to recruitover 200 more.

The award-winning Jaguar Land Roverapprenticeship schemes provide studentswith a strong blend of real world experienceand academic learning. Applicants can choosefrom either the four-year AdvancedApprenticeship aimed at GCSE students or thesix-year Engineering or Commercial DegreeApprenticeship aimed at A-Level entrants. Inboth cases, recruits can look forward toworking in cutting-edge product developmentand manufacturing environments developingvehicles for two of the most iconic globalmotoring marques.

Advanced Apprenticeship

The four-year Advanced Apprenticeship isdesigned for school leavers with a minimumof five GCSEs (or an academic equivalent) atgrade C or above, including Maths, English anda Science / Technology / Engineering relatedsubject.

The scheme focuses on roles such asAutomotive, Maintenance, ManufacturingSupport and Tool Room/Model Factory, andyou can expect to gain the following

qualifications: NVQ Level 2 FoundationCompetencies; NVQ Level 3 (businessrequirement dependant); A technicalcertificate; BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma

Engineering Degree Apprenticeship

The six-year Engineering DegreeApprenticeship is designed for A-Levelstudents who have acquired or expect toacquire five GCSEs at grades A*- C, plus two A-Levels at grade C or above in Mathematicalsubjects. (See website for further details.)

The scheme focuses on roles in ProductDevelopment, Purchasing and Manufacturingand will see you gain a BEng in AppliedEngineering from The University of Warwick.

Commercial Degree Apprenticeship

The six-year Commercial DegreeApprenticeship is designed for those with 280UCAS points gained from 3 A-Levels, one ofwhich must be a grade B in a numerical orbusiness related subject. (See website forfurther details.)

You’ll combine institution-based learning withprofessional experience gained at our world-class facilities, and work towards becoming afully qualified CIMA Chartered Accountant.

Britain's 2015 Apprentice of the Year is AlexTomlinson, a fourth year Powertrain DegreeApprentice at Jaguar Land Rover's Whitleyengineering centre in Coventry. Commentingon the schemes, Alex said: "Not only is therethe opportunity to gain sought-afterqualifications, but I can apply what we arebeing taught in the real world. It’s a hugebonus to be surrounded by people with manyyears of workplace experience who are keento share their knowledge."

Jaguar Land Rover


opportunities

Employers

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Contact detailsEarly Talent TeamBridge Place, Anchor Boulevard, Crossways, DA2 6SNEmail: [email protected] Contact tel: 01322 730730Website: www.laingorourke.com/careers

Social mediaFacebook: facebook.com/earlytalentLOR Youtube: youtube.com/user/laingorourkeltdTwitter: twitter.com/Laing_ORourke

Job roles• Mechanical and Electrical Engineering • Building Services Engineering • Business Management • Civil Engineering• Construction Management • DesignEngineering • Digital Engineering • Environment/ Sustainability • Estimating • Manufacturing • Planning • Procurement • Quantity Surveyor

SalaryCompetitive

Opportunities on offer• School and College Leaver Programme

Sponsorship throughout university• Sponsorship throughout university

Application deadlineOngoing until all roles are filled

How you select• Application form including CV• Online tests• Telephone interview• Assessment day (group discussion, presentation, 1 to 1 interview)

We are Laing O’Rourke. We design and buildiconic buildings and complex infrastructureprojects used by millions of people every day -and we’re always looking to create structuresthat will help build a better future foreveryone. Our expertise allows us to work onsome of the largest and most complexprojects in existence. Join us as a School &College Leaver and you’ll have the opportunityto work on some amazing projects with someexceptional people.

Our five-year School & College Leaverprogramme combines studying for anaccredited degree with on-the-job experience.You’ll work alongside experiencedprofessionals on live projects, and attenduniversity at the same time. Throughout you’ll

learn innovative engineering and constructiontechniques, and get to know colleagues who’llcontinue to support you throughout yourcareer at LOR.

We have opportunities for School & CollegeLeavers in areas from Civil Engineering andDesign to Planning and Quantity Surveying.We’ll pay for all your university fees, andthere’s even an achievement award when youcomplete the relevant professionalqualification. If you’ve got or on track for 240UCAS points or more, please apply.

We also run a two-to-four year Apprentice Plusprogramme for people leaving school with atleast three GCSEs. There are opportunitiesaround the country.

Laing O’Rourke


opportunities

UK wide depending oncurrent projects

“I found LOR by doing a Google search of the top construction firms in the UK. They came out asone of the top three; so I looked on their website and found the School and College Leaverprogramme and applied straight away.“I love the fact that you can be involved on a number of projects of historical significance likeCrossrail, and you get to see the latest building technology in practice.“My biggest highlight so far has been the final pour on the Elephant Road project structure, I hadbeen working on this since the very first excavations. I got to see a complete project go from a holein the ground to a complete structure with one tower over 23 stories tall. “Whatever I’ve been doing, I have learnt lots from working here about my job role and theconstruction industry in general. The main thing that I have learnt is that you can never ‘know itall’; there is always something new to learn or something someone can show you or help you with.“So if you’re thinking of applying, think carefully about what you enjoy and what you’re good at andresearch the varied job roles in construction, as there are so many that can suit certain peoplebetter than others.”Anthony Sawyers, Trainee Quantity Surveyor.


Employers


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Contactcareers.nationalgrid.com

Job roles• Electrical Engineering • ElectronicEngineering • Mechanical Engineering • IT Project Management

Salary• Advanced Apprenticeship £15,490 perannum

• Engineer Training Programme £23,500

• Higher Apprenticeship £23,500

Opportunities on offer• advanced apprenticeship • higherapprenticeships • undergraduateplacements/internships • graduateprogramme

LocationsWarwick, Warwickshire, Wokingham ,Berkshire and Hinckley, East Midlands andvarious locations within London, the SouthEast, the South West, East Anglia, the NorthEast, the North West, West Midlands andBirmingham, the East Midlands, Scotlandand Wales.

Work experience offered to• school students

Application deadlinePlease see website for deadlines

National Grid is one of the largest investor-owned energy companies in the world andwas Responsible Business of the Year 2014 byBusiness in the Community. We own andmanage the grids that connect people to theenergy they need, from whatever the source.In Britain and the north-eastern states of theUS we run systems that deliver gas andelectricity to millions of people, businessesand communities.

At National Grid we’re passionate about our“grow our own strategy” and our suite of GCSEto degree level career path developmentprogrammes. It’s little wonder that they arerecognised for excellence and innovation –after all, we’ve been running some for wellover 23 years – so they are some of the bestyou’ll find anywhere.

The Advanced Apprenticeship has a Beaconaward recognised for excellence andinnovation in further education training and isgraded by Ofsted as outstanding in everycategory. We have eight differentprogrammes to offer. This is a permanent

position from day one provided yousuccessfully complete the whole training. Thestarting salary is £15,490 p.a.

The Engineer Training Programme wasestablished 8 years ago to grow our ownengineering talent and the programme wasdeveloped with Aston University to provide afoundation degree in Electrical PowerEngineering and Gas TransmissionEngineering and West Cheshire College toprovide an HNC in Mechanical Engineering. Apermanent position provided yousuccessfully complete the whole training. Thestarting salary is £23,500 p.a.

The Higher Apprenticeship was establishedlast year to grow our own IT and ProjectManagement talent and provides a Level 4qualification. The IT roles are within CyberSecurity or working as a Solutions Architect.The Project Management opportunities will beworking within our Capital Delivery part of thebusiness. A permanent position provided yousuccessfully complete the whole training. Thestarting salary is £23,500 p.a.

National Grid


opportunities

“Go for it, National Grid is a fantastic company towork for and there is so much room for developmentthat you don’t know where you could be in 10 yearstime.”

Samantha Webb, Advanced Apprenticeship, Overhead Lines

Employers

Contact detailsLearning & Development Team Redrow Homes Redrow House Kinsall GreenWilnecote Tamworth Staffs B77 5PX

Job roles• Apprentice Bricklayers • ApprenticeCarpenters / Joiners • Apprentice Plumbers• Apprentice Electricians • ApprenticeQuantity Surveyors • Apprentice Architects& Civil Engineers • Office Aprentices

SalaryCompetitive

Opportunities on offer• intermediate apprenticeships • advancedapprenticeship • higher apprenticeships • technician/foundation training programme• undergraduate placements/internships • graduate programme

Sponsorship throughout university• throughout • for your final year

Application deadline31/08/2016

Redrow is a housebuilder with an award-winning reputation. We pride ourselves oncreating beautiful homes that people love tolive in. And we apply the same level of careand attention to developing out apprenticestoo.

Provided you’re willing to apply yourself, it’san exceptional opportunity. Earning while youlearn, you’ll gain a nationally recognisedqualification and acquire invaluable workexperience. You’ll also be part of a friendly,supportive team that takes your futureseriously. We offer a wide range ofapprenticeships, too.

It doesn’t matter whether you want to learn amanual trade or work in an office: there couldbe an exciting future for you here.

Perform well and impress us, and you couldfind yourself building a successful long-termcareer with Redrow.

We currently employee over 1,800 staffacross England & Wales, including a largetrainee base.

• Divisional offices in Lancashire, NorthWales, South Wales, Yorkshire, Staffordshire,Northamptonshire, Devon, Kent, London,Essex, Hampshire.

• Redrow has a dedicated learning anddevelopment centre in Tamworth,Staffordshire offering tailored trainingcourses to all of our staff

• We were named in the 2015 CITBApprenticeship Awards: Great Britain LargeEmployer of the Year.

• We are a proud member of the prestigious5% Club. a campaign focused on creatingmomentum behind the recruitment ofapprentices and graduates into the UKworkforce. By joining the club, we havecommitted to the aim of ensuring that 5% ofour UK workforce are apprentices, graduatesor sponsored students on structuredprogrammes within the next five years.

Your career options don’t stop after youcomplete an apprenticeship with Redrow.Perform well and you could earn theopportunity to progress further within thecompany.

• Technical and commercial apprentices havethe opportunity to continue on from theircompleted apprenticeship to a fully fundeddegree and accreditation with leadingindustry bodies.

• Our trainee site assistant programme takesthe best and brightest and helps developthem into our site managers of the future,including many former trade apprentices.

Redrow Homes


opportunities “I’ve worked with people who have taken a realinterest in me as a person and in my progressionthrough the industry”

Benn Smith, Trainee Site Assistant and former apprenticecarpenter with Redrow.


Employers


Contact detailsEmerging Talent, Maple Cross House, Denham Way, Maple Cross, Hertfordshire, WD3 9SWTel: 01923 776666www.skanskaearlycareers.co.ukSocial medialinkedin.com/company/skanskatwitter.com/skanskaukplcyoutube.com/skanskaukfacebook.com/Skanska

Job roles• Civil engineer • Construction supervisor • Design engineer • Bid writer • Highwaysmaintenance operative • Planner • Estimator• Environmental manager • BIM technician • Buyer • Multi-skilled operative • Streetlighting technician • Piling operative • Fitter • Plate welder • Geotechnical engineer • Electrical engineer • Environmentalengineer/consultant • Mechanical engineer • Quantity surveyor • Site management

SalaryCompetitive

Opportunities on offer• intermediate apprenticeships • advancedapprenticeship • higher apprenticeships • technician/foundation training programme• undergraduate placements/ internships • graduate programme

Sponsorship throughout university• throughout • for your penultimate year • for your final year

Work experience offered to• school students • further education college/sixth form students • university students

Application deadlineVaries depending upon the role. Most schoolleaver roles are advertised betweenJanuary and May for a September start andwill be closed once filled.

Skanska is involved in some of the UK’s mostprestigious building and infrastructureprojects. Combining our skills and experiencewe’ve become a UK leader in deliveringschemes in healthcare, education, defence,transportation and municipal services thatbring together private and public investment.

We also deliver numerous smaller schemes,including public-realm improvement, hard andsoft landscaping and utilities projects, but, atSkanska, it’s not all about construction. It’sabout having a resolute commitment to amore sustainable world – creating greensolutions, setting high standards in greenconstruction, and helping project stakeholdersto make more sustainable choices.

Working together with public and privatesector clients, our partners and our supplychain, we make a positive difference to eachproject. We strive to be a leader in ethics,diversity, environmental performance and

health and safety, with sustainability at theforefront of everyone’s mind.

We make a positive difference to our peopleby providing ongoing training anddevelopment in a welcoming, supportiveenvironment.

Joining us in any one of a range of technicaland supporting roles, you’ll discover plenty ofopportunities to grow your experience acrossa breadth of projects, and make an impact onthe world around you. We’ll also support youto gain professional accreditation, anddevelop your skills. You’ll do more than realiseyour own potential.

You’ll realise the potential of what we can dotogether to help shape the future and build fora better society.

Just imagine what you could do when youbegin your career with Skanska.

Skanska UK plc


opportunities

“It’s a great feeling to be able to lay claim to some involvement in the structures within the built environment around you, some of which may become iconic and in the public eye for years to come.”

Graduate Quantity Surveyor

Employers

Thames Water is the largest water and waste-water services company in the UK. Weprovide the essential service at the heart ofdaily life, health and enjoyment to 15 millioncustomers across London and the ThamesValley and we are going through a period ofexciting change.

On a typical day we supply 2.6 billion litres oftop quality drinking water and our 350sewage treatment works treat more than4.2bn litres of waste-water. Our 85,000 milesof water mains and sewers would wrap aroundthe world three-and-a-half times.

We are focusing like never before ondelivering brilliant services and providing ourcustomers with a great experience. We are inthe process of transforming our business inorder to achieve this.

To help us succeed, we need a range of newskills and capabilities and will be recruiting forthese in the coming months.

We are on the lookout for talented peopleacross our entire region who are interested inhelping us to become the best water andwaste-water company in the UK.

What’s on OfferWe offer two disciplines of Apprenticeship atThame Water. These are Electrical ICA andMechanical and Electrical.

Mechanical and Electrical ApprenticeshipsStudying Mechanical and Electrical disciplinesyou will be working on our sites alongsidearound 2500 of our 5000 employees.. We arerecruiting our engineers for the future and areoffering a great opportunity for anybodylooking to start a career within the waterindustry. You will be learning about new andinnovative technologies that will improve theway we work at Thames Water for years tocome. You will have the opportunity to workalongside people that have completed thescheme and are now excelling at their roleswithin the business, who will be able to offeryou support and advice when you need it.

Electrical ICA Apprenticeships(Instrumentation, Controls and Automation)As an ICA Apprentice you’ll be helping tocontrol all the instruments and systems wehave on our sites. You’ll be working on thetechnology which monitors and controls allaspects of Thames Water’s water andwastewater processes, and how they’reperforming across the network. During the

Apprenticeship you’ll become qualified tocarry out planned preventative and generalmaintenance of equipment, modifying andrewiring, testing and inspecting, conditionbased monitoring and fault finding within oursystems. You will also be fully trained to useProgrammable Logic Controllers (PLC’s) andSCADA (Supervisory Control and DataAcquisition) systems, to write codes andmake modifications to our processes toensure that our sites perform at their verybest.

What will this role involve?The next 4 years are going to be really busylearning loads of new skills and gainingexperience in technologies and area's youdidn't even know existed. This is a blendedcourse where you will study both electricaland mechanical disciplines at college and outon our sites.

During your time on the apprenticeship it'sessential that you place the customer at theheart of everything you do; in addition tomaking sure you are safe every day bychampioning Health & Safety within the workplace for both you and your colleagues. Youmay be offered additional work relatedcompany training too, as well as developingfunctional skills in literacy, numeracy and IT.

What skills are we looking for?Apprentices are key to our success and wehave very high standards when selecting ourapprentices. Therefore you should have aminimum of five GCSE's at grade C and aboveincluding English, Science and Maths (B gradein Maths for ICA). Don’t worry if you don’t haveyour grades yet, if you are due to sit yourexams this year we still want to hear from youas long as your predicted grades meet ourrequirements.

It's not all about the academic qualifications,our mechanical and electrical apprenticesalso need to have a real passion formechanical or electrical engineering andfinding out how things work. Our ICAapprentices have a keen eye for detail andlogical process and will have a real passion fortechnology and finding out how things work.

You will be able to demonstrate theseattributes through your hobbies. You will bemotivated and committed; a dedicated teamplayer with a genuine desire to learn and a”Can Do” attitude. If you meet theserequirements then we want to hear from you.

Contact detailsContact tel: +44(0)207 061 3438Website: thameswater.co.uk/ApprenticesSocial media: facebook.com/Thames-Water-Apprenticeship-Recruitment-555043388005908/

Job roles• electrical engineer • mechanical engineer

Salary£14,500 starting salary plus benefits.

Each Apprentice will receive a laptop andsmart phone on joining.

Opportunities on offer• advanced apprenticeship

Sponsorship throughout university• none


Application deadlineOngoing

Thames Water


opportunities


Employers


Contact detailsTel: 020 3054 6888tfl.gov.uk/apprenticeships

Job rolesSchemesEngineering: Track, Fleet, Civil, Signals, Lifts & Escalators, Operational, Electrical & Mechanical engineering, HighwaysTechnician, Traffic Infrastructure, Crossrail,Trams

Non engineering schemes• Customer Services: Operations, London Transport Museum

• Business & Finance: Finance, Commercial Procurement, HR

• Technology: Information management,Software development, Web development

• Management and Planning: Projectmanagement, Project planning, Transportplanning

• Built Environment: Quantity surveying,Health Safety & Environment

SalaryVaries depending on scheme. Plus free travel

Opportunities on offer• Intermediate apprenticeships • Advancedapprenticeship • Higher apprenticeships

Application deadlinePlease check website. All of our schemesinclude an aptitude test, and some of theminclude a group exercise and presentation.

Who we areTransport for London (TfL) plays a huge partin making the Capital what it is. We’reresponsible for almost every mode oftransport in the city, from the Tube, trains andbuses to river services, licensed taxis andcycle lanes. As a publicly owned organisation,we have a responsibility to ensure we providevalue for money for our tax and fare payers.We also have a keen commercial focus andcontinually innovate and improve. We aim tolead the world in what we do and that meansthere’s a great deal apprentices could beinfluencing.

Building for the futureRight now, we are benefiting from one of thegreatest periods of investment in our history.Low-carbon taxis are being introduced. Busesare being redesigned. A cycling revolution isunder way. The Tube network is beingupgraded. New railways are being created.Crossrail is on its way.

Join us and you will have an impact on thefuture of the Capital. We certainly don’t shyaway from giving our apprenticesresponsibility from early on.

Engineering apprenticeshipsThere are many ways you can join us as anapprentice engineer. We have opportunities in:Civil, Crossrail, Electrical, Fleet, Lift &Escalators, Mechanical, Power, Signals, Track,Traffic Infrastructure and Trams engineering.

Our award-winning apprenticeships are aperfect way to kick-start a rewarding career inengineering. We offer intermediate (Level 2)apprenticeships, advanced (Levels 3 & 4)apprenticeships and higher (Level 4+)apprenticeships in a vast range of areas. All ofthem have been designed to give you amixture of on the job training at worklocations around the Underground network,hands-on training at our purpose-builttraining centre and also college where you willcomplete your Technical Certificate.

You will learn all the basic and core skills toenable you to work safely on the Tube networkand gain the skills and knowledge you need tobecome a qualified engineer.

Who we look forWe are looking for highly motivated peoplewith a keen interest and aptitude inengineering. You will be someone who has apassion and practical interest in the field andreally likes to get involved.

Transport for London


opportunities

During our first year at the training school we rotated aroundvarious sections including electrical and mechanicalmaintenance, electronics and bench fitting.

In my second year of college, for our assessed project, Idesigned and built an electronic circuit which would act as adoor monitoring system.

Sarah Burton (Apprentice, Electrical Fitter in Power Delivery)

Employers

Contact detailsEmma Barbour237 Southwark Bridge Road, London, SE1 6NP

[email protected]

www.ukpowernetworkscareers.co.uk

Social media @UKPNnews

Job roles• electrical engineer • Our job roles are best classified aselectrical distribution network craft persons.

SalaryCirca £14,000

Opportunities on offer• intermediate apprenticeships

Application deadlineSunday 15th May

Did you boil a kettle to make a coffee thismorning? Or charge your iPod? Or turn on thelights while you brushed your teeth? Haveyou jumped on the Tube recently or jetted offfrom one of the major airports in the SouthEast? All of these events could not haveoccurred without UK Power Networks.

UK Power Networks distributes more than aquarter of the UK’s electricity through itsnetworks of substations, underground cablesand overhead lines making sure the lightsstay on across London, the South East and theEast of England, regardless of who customerspay their energy bills to. A range of othercompanies deliver power to the rest of thecountry.

This is an exciting opportunity to become anapprentice in UK Power Networks withopportunities to progress within a highlyrespected company. UK Power Networks hasthe largest electricity distribution networkwith more than eight million customers towhom we distribute electricity.

The ProgrammeThe UK Power Networks’ apprenticeshipprogramme lasts 36 months and is endorsedby Energy and Utility Skills. It provides theopportunity for individuals to become fullytrained, qualified and competent “craft”people in the electrical distribution industry.

Apprentices will follow a TrailblazerApprenticeship Framework which will includea Certificate in Electrical Power Engineeringand a competency based qualification inElectrical Power Engineering whilst on theprogramme. Our apprentices specialise in oneof three different crafts: underground cables(jointers), overhead power lines (linesmen) orelectricity substations (fitters).

We were the first electricity distributor namedin the Sunday Times’ 25 Best Big Companiesto Work For, and also hold the title of Utility ofthe Year (2015 and 2012). We’re striving tobecome an employer of choice, a responsibleand respected corporate citizen andsustainably cost efficient. Achieving suchobjectives means we have embraced a culturebased on values of integrity, continuousdevelopment, diversity and inclusivity,respect, unity and responsibility.

If you share these values, want to play a roleinfluencing the energy industry’s future andwant to join a critical sector at a critical time ofchange then we believe our uniquecombination of classroom training, hands-onwork and real life experience as well ascompetitive benefits will get your career withus off to a flying start!

UK Power Networks


opportunities

A Brighter Future for the Next Generation


Employers


Contact detailsEarly Careers Recruitment TeamEmail: [email protected] Contact tel: 020 7061 3435Website: www.wates.co.uk/earlycareers Social media: Twitter @WatesGroup, LinkedIn linkedin.com/company/wates

Job roles• electrical engineer • mechanical engineer • quantity surveyor • site management

SalaryCompetitive plus benefits and structureddevelopment

Opportunities on offer• technical apprenticeship – level 4 • professional apprenticeships – level 6• mechanical & electrical tradesapprenticeships – level 3

• undergraduate placements • graduate programme

Sponsorship throughout university• sponsorship throughout university

Work experience offered to• further education college/sixth formstudents • university students

Application deadlineEnd of January

No previous construction experienceneeded! All you need is a passion for construction andthe positive impact it has on communities andthe built environment we live in as well as themotivation to learn from this excellentdevelopment opportunity.

We are looking for motivated individuals witha real passion for learning and a keen interestin the construction industry to join our EarlyCareers programmes. Our programmes aredesigned to provide you with the right,knowledge, skills and experience to develop asuccessful career at Wates.

Wates is one of the largest and mostsuccessful family-owned private construction,development and property servicescompanies in the UK. Our vision is to become

the most trusted partner in the builtenvironment with an ambition to become a£2bn turnover business.

Our company values of integrity, intelligence,performance, teamwork and respect forpeople, along with communities and theenvironment, run through our business atevery level and are at the heart of everythingwe do.

The wellbeing and safety of our people is ourpriority, therefore creating a zero harm cultureand encouraging a healthy work-life balance isimportant to us. Wates Group are aresponsible and inclusive employer and areproud to have been recognized for thisthrough a range of accolades including goldaccreditations with C2E (Committed toEquality) and Investors in People.

Wates


opportunities

The Level 3apprenticeships areavailable in the North.The remainder arenationwide.

It doesn’t actually seem like work – I get up in the morning and can’t wait to see what today is going to bring. It’s always different!

Lauren Squires, Production Management Trainee

Employers

Available in digital at

targetcareers.co.uk

AECOM ............................................................... Joseph Boak...................................................... 42Balfour Beatty.................................................. Grace Cook ........................................................ 41............................................................................ Tony Ellender .................................................... 10BAM Construction............................................ Joe Steer ............................................................ 45CBRE Ltd ........................................................... Nick Jones ........................................................ 43CITB .................................................................... Lorraine Gregory ................................................ 1Liverpool John Moores University ............... Abbie Romano .................................................. 44National Grid..................................................... Carl Williams...................................................... 45Newcastle University ..................................... Chandan Parmar .............................................. 42Skanska UK plc ................................................ Daniel Mayes .................................................... 44Wates ................................................................. Lauren Squires.................................................. 43

Editor Abigail LewisDesign Rhys JonesProofreader Kath PilgremAdvertising Lee Frith, sales productchampion; the TARGETcareers salesteam; the TARGETcareers campaignmanagement teamCirculation Patty ShufflebothamCommercial director Jon MallottSales director Simon RogersMarketing director Chloe BurgessProduction director Jane AndersonPublisher Matt DaceyGroup chief executive officerGraham Storey

Published byGTI Media Ltd The Fountain Building Howbery Park Benson Lane WallingfordOxon OX10 8BA UK

Tel +44 (0)1491 826262 Fax +44 (0)1491 826401www.groupgti.com

Printer Headley Brothers, Ashford ISBN 1 84318 903 8.

GTI would like to thank everyone who hastaken the time to contribute to, or findcontributors for, TARGETcareersConstruction, Engineering & Property. We would also like to thank all those whosupplied advice and photographs.

AECOM.......................................................... 56Balfour Beatty .................................... 58, IBCCBRE Ltd...................................................... 59Changing the Face of Property.................. 61CITB (Go Construct) .................. 36, IFC, OBCInspiring Futures ........................................60Jaguar Land Rrover.................................... 62Laing O’Rourke............................................ 63

National Grid .............................................. 64Newcastle University .................................. 8Redrow Homes .......................................... 65Skanska UK plc............................................66Thames Water ............................................ 67Transport for London ................................ 68UK Power Networks .................................. 69Wates .................................................... 15, 70

Index of organisations who want to hear from you

Thank you to our contributors

Key:IFC = inside front coverIBC = inside back coverOBC = outside back cover


© GTI Media Ltd, February 2016All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced by any meansincluding, but not limited to, photocopying or stored in a retrieval system in any formwithout prior written consent of GTI. This is subject to the single exception ofphotocopying by careers advisers or lecturers for careers counselling. All items soused should be fully acknowledged. The views expressed in articles are those of theauthors and their publication does not necessarily imply that such views are sharedby GTI. Whilst every care has been taken in the compilation of this publication, thepublishers cannot accept responsibility for any inaccuracies, or for consequential lossarising from such inaccuracies, or for any other loss, direct or consequential, arising inconnection with information in this publication.

More advice on skills, applications, interviewsand assessments at targetcareers.co.uk

Balfour Beatty is looking for the next generation of infrastructure experts.

Experts wanted

Find out how we can develop your expertise at

www.balfourbeatty.com

As the UK’s largest infrastructure company, we fi nance, design and build the structures that underpin our daily lives.

We are committed to the next generation of experts, ensuring that 5% of our UK workforce is made up of apprentices, graduates or sponsored students on structured programmes.

We need exceptional people to deliver our iconic projects – we think that could be you.

We offer training in all aspects of our business, developing your skills to the highest level. Together we will:

Develop your technical skills as an Apprentice Civil Engineer, Power Engineer, Site Supervisor or Quantity Surveyor.

Build your future through our range of Intermediate, Higher and Advanced apprenticeships. We have opportunities in electrical and mechanical engineering, plumbing, maintenance operations, street lighting, highways maintenance and construction operations. You can also earn while you learn with our Professional Apprenticeship scheme.

Keep our business running by taking an apprenticeship in fi nance, procurement, human resources, information technology, business administration and health and safety.

ONCE YOU START A CAREER IN CONSTRUCTION YOU’LL NEVER LOOK BACK

Construction is a career where you never stop moving, never stop learning and never stop playing your part.

career is going in the right direction.Construction is a career like no other.

Industry led, funded by the CITB levy

goconstruct.org

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Construction, Engineering & Property