We’re back with another exciting Buckinghamshire Growth Sector. In case you missed last month’s Health and Social Care spotlight, a growth sector is an area of commercial business developing at a greater pace than others in the county, resulting in more job opportunities, higher salaries and better benefits.
So, if we told you the UK’s new high-speed railway (HS2) is bringing 4,000 jobs to the area and that 4,500 employees are involved in the creation of residential buildings across the county, would you be able to guess the next one…
Hard hat on? Let’s step into the world of Construction.
What?
Construction covers the processes involved in erecting buildings, industrial facilities and similar infrastructure from start to finish. It typically begins with planning, financing, and design, and continues until the asset is built and ready for use. However, it can also include repairs and maintenance work, any works to expand, extend and improve the asset, and its eventual demolition or dismantling. It should come as no surprise then, that the UK construction industry employs 3.1 million people!
Why?
Ideal for anyone who doesn’t like the thought of being stuck at a desk, the construction industry offers a huge range of roles you’ve probably heard of, including Plumber, Roofer, Electrician, and Architect, plus some less familiar paths like Civil Engineer, Quantity Surveyor, Energy Assessor and Retrofit Coordinator. The latter group have become more prevalent in recent years due to the increased demand for sustainable construction, which is almost as high as the demand for skilled young people (only 10% of construction workers are under 25).
Where?
With over 4,000 machines, 80 fitters and 365-days-a-year support, Flannery specialise in plant hire; EKFB brings together four leading civil engineering companies to build railway networks; for infrastructure that supports communities, there’s Balfour Beatty; and the list goes on.
How?
The most common route into a construction role is an apprenticeship or degree apprenticeship, of which there are over 100 to choose from. However, there are equally relevant T Levels, degrees and graduate training schemes. You can also head to the upcoming Bucks Skills Show, where 15 construction companies, including those described above, will be on hand to answer all your burning questions.
For an in-depth look at Construction roles, head over to the Sectors area of our website.
