The world of construction is always changing. Our blogs uncover the latest developments in the industry and provide insight into the work CIOB and our members are doing for the built environment.
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I didn’t decide to enter the construction industry until my mid-twenties. I was working as a telecom engineer and had 2 young children and really wanted a career change. I had just recently completed a refurbishment of my house and enjoyed it so much I thought a career in construction would be enjoyable.
My career path into construction has been a winding, sometimes bumpy, but definitely worthwhile, journey. It hasn’t been the traditional route from school into higher education or an apprenticeship. When I was in my teens I fell on hard times. It was a struggle as I found myself homeless and felt that there were no opportunities for me to pursue a career, I just needed a job. I found myself working in hospitality, in bars and shops, but I knew it wasn’t what I wanted long-term.
There is no quicker way to learn than to immerse yourself in an unfamiliar environment, and that’s how apprenticeships work. People are immersed in their role and they learn by doing. It really is no wonder why work-based learning delivers such fantastic results for employers. They offer businesses an array of benefits, from retention to productivity. In fact, research has shown that a typical apprentice delivers productivity gains of over £10,000 per annum. With the arrival of new standards, there is no better time to invest in apprenticeships.
Each year the CIOB run the Sir Ian Dixon Scholarship, which is a one-year research scholarship on the subject of construction management. This year’s recipients, Alex Stephens and George Holder, are both new to construction, with less than 6 years in the industry between them. For National Careers Week 2018, they sat down to tell the CIOB how they’ve ended up pursuing a career in construction.
From my accidental start in a building surveyor's office to a fulfilling 25-year career in construction, I've discovered an industry rich with opportunities for anyone passionate about creating change and leaving a lasting impact.
I discovered the Construction Manager of the Year Awards (CMYA) back when I was a student and decided then that one day I would apply, and one day I would win. Throughout my career the award has been at the back of mind but I wanted to wait to find that moment where I felt worthy of it.
January can feel like a tough month for most of us. After the excitement of the Christmas and New Year holiday, where we might’ve filled ourselves with mince pies and turkey surrounded by loved ones, we suddenly find ourselves back in the real world and back to work. That is, if we are fortunate enough to be employed.
If you hold any sensitive client, employee or supplier data, you could be at risk of a cyber-attack and data breach. A recent survey by Hiscox insurance found that 51% of UK businesses have experienced a cyber-attack in the past 12 months. Although large organisations such as the NHS attack make the headlines, it’s the threat to small and medium businesses which could have devastating consequences.
Any industry suffering from a skills shortage is shooting itself in the foot if it doesn’t make itself an attractive career option for the entire population. But that’s where we in the construction sector find ourselves, having failed to attract a diverse workforce.
The consequences of the fallout from the Grenfell Tower disaster is likely to put considerable pressure on the resources within the industry to cope with the extensive rework programmes needed to remedy the growing numbers of unsafe buildings.
I’ve blogged about my job, my location and my professional qualification. What have I learned and what’s next for me?
In my last blog I said that a Quantity Surveyor is like an accountant/lawyer/engineer hybrid.