Look around you: walls, windows, doors, floors, ceilings… Who put them there, and how? What are they made of? How do you know they’re as strong and safe as they’re supposed to be? There was a time when all of this was just a muddy hole in the ground – then a bunch of people went to work:
BUILDING SURVEYOR
People who work in construction have their own skills, but the building surveyor understands them all. It’s their job to participate in and advise on the design, maintenance and alteration of existing buildings. Is the building fit to live in? Or should it be pulled down right now? The building surveyor is the one to ask. Salary: £21,000 (graduate) - £30,000 (chartered surveyor).
ROOFER
Think of it as the icing on the cake. The hard work of everyone else is wasted if the house fills with water, so the roofer works with tiles, slates, asphalt and wood to build a top that will be weatherproof for a hundred years or more. Vertigo sufferers need not apply. Salary: £14,000 - £25,000.
ARCHITECT
Imagine a house. OK? What shape is it? What kind of gutters has it got? Did you remember the foundations? And what about the damp course? Does it look like a giant clown? (Actually, that would be terrifying.) It’s the architect’s job to design the building down to the very last detail. They still use paper and pencils, but also Computer Aided Design (CAD) for 3-D imaging. It’s an incredibly skilled job requiring seven years’ training (including a degree), as well as a broad knowledge of construction techniques and materials. Salary: £20,000 (graduate) - £40,000 (partner in)
JOINER
It’s not all bricks and mortar. Doors, windows, floorboards, stairs, cabinets and cupboards… they all require a skilled pair of hands. The joiner uses special tools and carries a library of techniques and materials in his head (stacked on wooden shelves, obviously). Maths skills are required for measuring and calculating angles. Salary: £17,000 - £26,000.
BRICKLAYER
Remember Lego? This is nothing like that. Bricks are only one form of building material used by the skilled bricklayer. Using a range of tools, blocks and mortars, they’re responsible for making sure the house stands up and stays up when it gets windy. Fitness is necessary, as is a love of the outdoors (there’s no indoors without them!).
Salary: £12,000 - £25,000.
GLAZIER
Bit breezy, isn’t it? Look, the TV’s wobbling. Ah yes – there’re no windows in the house. The glazier cuts glass to size (not easy) and fits it in frames of varying kinds and sizes all over the building. Or the skyscraper (that’s a lot of glass). A keen safety awareness is necessary, and working at height is common. Salary: £16,000 - £19,000.
PAINTER AND DECORATOR
Wallpaper and colour charts, right? Tell that to the guys who paint the Forth Bridge in Scotland, or the specialists who put the finishing touches to a five-star hotel in London. Attention to detail is critical, as is a huge knowledge of materials and techniques. The others build the house – but these folk make it inhabitable. Salary: £9 - £13 per hour.
ELECTRICIAN
So, the building is finished. Flick on the light and let’s have a good look. Oh. There’s no wiring in the walls, no plug sockets and no light bulbs. We take the electrician’s work for granted, but we can’t have modern, civilised buildings without them. They make homes functional and office buildings productive. (Insert ‘shocking’ pun here…)
Salary: £9,000 – £25,000.
Green Houses
We’re all aware of the need to recycle, live sustainably and minimise our carbon footprints. The construction industry is also catching on and introducing new methods to make buildings greener.
Materials
Sustainability can be achieved by using recycled timber, stone, bricks and metal from demolished buildings. Doors, window frames and glass can also be re-used. Or why not use bamboo and even straw bales (note to pigs: avoid heavy-breathing wolves). Plus, it’s important to use alternatives to toxic substances like leaded-paint and fibreglass.
Energy and waste
New buildings can make use of solar, hydro or wind power to cut down on carbon emissions, and use good insulation to limit usage. ‘Grey water’ systems recycle water from sinks and baths to flush toilets, while collecting rain takes pressure off the national water supply. And where are you throwing those carrot peelings? Compost them!
Architecture
Sustainable architecture uses local resources to cut down on transport, and plans meticulously to avoid wasted materials. Designing a house with suitable windows and good sun access means less need to turn on lights – unless you live in Scotland, of course.
The Money
Architect
The money
Graduate starting salary: £20,000
Partner in private practice: £40,000
Entry requirements
First of all, you’ll need a degree in architecture from an architecture school recognised by the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA). To do this, you’ll have two A levels (or three H grades) and hold GCSE A-C grades (Standard 1-3) in Maths, English and Science. The training involves a minimum seven years of study: a three-year degree; a year in an architectural office; a two-year diploma; and one year’s work experience.
Surveyor
The money
Graduate entrant: £21,000
Chartered surveyor: £30,000
Entry requirements
Though there are no specific entry requirements, most entrants have A levels/H grades. A qualified building surveyor will need a BTEC or HND/HNC (which will require four GCSE A-C (Standard 1-3) passes). Two routes exist: first, through the Chartered Institute of Buildings (CIOB), for which you’ll need an honours degree and two years’ experience in a building-related field (or to pass the CIOB exam. Then there’s via the RICS (Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors), which means a RICS qualification and completion of their Assessment of Professional Competence. Both routes will result in an NVQ/SVQ Level 4.
Bricklayer/Glazer/Roofer/Joiner
The money
Bricklayer: £12,000 – £25,000
Glazier: £16,000 – £19,000
Roofer: £14,000 – £25,000
Joiner: £17,000 – £26,000
Entry requirements
There are no set requirements for these jobs, but GCSEs in Maths, English and Technology will be useful for measuring, calculating and understanding plans. Apprenticeships are an ideal way to get into these jobs and offer the benefit of learning while you work (and getting paid!). Most apprenticeships will result in you working towards a National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) and technical certificates in your chosen subject, which will then be your passport to a career in that sector.
Essential contacts
The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA)
www.architecture.com
This site is a treasure trove of architecture related stuff. Find news, jobs, book reviews,
a reference to great buildings, and topics of current debate with which to impress your
university interviewer.
Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS)
www.rics.org/school
Want more information on what a surveyor actually does day to day? How can you find
the right course for you? What about the career prospects? It’s all here to get you
started.
Construction careers
www.bconstructive.co.uk
The whole industry is laid out for you here. Search for different career profiles and
discover which path you can take to your desired job – whether it’s work experience,
apprenticeships or uni. You can also read diaries of people doing the jobs now and
learn about inspiring construction projects
Apprenticeships
www.citb-constructionskills.co.uk
Apprenticeships are often the best way to get into areas like bricklaying, glazing,
roofing etc. The Sector Skills Council for Construction offers advice on the various
routes you can take to get the training and experience you need. There are also job
profiles for most construction jobs.
Green building
www.sustlife.com
This guide to sustainable living offers tips on green construction and how to minimise
your carbon footprint in daily life. Straw houses? Timber houses? Hobbit-style earth
houses? See what alternatives exist to simple bricks and mortar.
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