Construction Professions

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Construction Professions

CONSTRUCTION PROFESSION COURSES FOR 16-19 YEAR OLDS

The South West’s construction industry annual recruitment requirement of 2.6% per year, is the strongest across the UK and means an extra 32,000 new workers are needed between the end of 2020 and 2025.

Our outstanding range of courses are taught by experienced professionals in high-quality facilities, and provide qualifications that are recognised across the industry.

Use this page to discover your perfect course, and apply direct right here.

Civil engineering student posing for camera

As a Weston College student you will become part of our exciting new Construction Career Excellence Hub. Your study programme will have lots of career boosting benefits, all with the aim of giving you the opportunity to become career ready! This includes unrivalled exposure to employers, enhanced work experience, employer visits and more...
Our Construction Career Excellence Hub endorsers include:

Find out more

Job Roles in the West of England Currently Include:

WHAT OUR PARTNERS SAY...

We’re delighted to be involved with the Construction Career Excellence Hub. It gives learners the chance to hear from and speak to industry professionals and hear what it is really like to have a career within the construction industry. They can see the breadth of careers our industry has to offer.

Danielle Haskings

Social Value Manager, Wilmott Dixon

The Construction Career Excellence Hub presents an exciting opportunity for us to invest in local talent and develop learners who could become the future leaders in our business.
Weston College is the perfect location for people to develop their construction skills, and we are thrilled to play a role in your development and offer further assistance on your journey into our industry.

David Bowdley

Operations Director, Galliford Try

OUR CONSTRUCTION PROFESSION VIDEOS

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Industry Facts

A career in construction can involve all kinds of settings and skills. It could range from working on building sites for new builds, to renovations, to creating beautifully crafted furniture. Led by experienced professionals, with great links with local employers to help launch your career, our courses are designed to give you the skills that will prepare you for employment.

Over 53,000 construction companies in the South West

Electrical professionals can earn up to £45,000 a year

Over 11,000 building projects across the South West

Over 2.7 million employees in the construction industry in the UK

Facilities

The South West Skills Campus offers state-of-the-art training facilities dedicated to construction training.

Facilities

The South West Skills Campus offers state-of-the-art training facilities dedicated to construction training.

LATEST NEWS

26 Jan 2024

Learners stocking food onto trolleys in a warehouse

Our T level Design, Surveying and Planning in Construction students provided their assistance to the Foodbank Warehouse in Beaufighter Road, Weston-Super-Mare.On the 10th of January, the learners began their exciting day with an introduction from Lucy, the Foodbank Warehouse manager. She explained their struggle in the movement of food products around the warehouse and explained how they could use the students help. This meant that the students were fortunate enough to get involved in a real-life project to solve the foodbanks problem!After being split into three groups and being assigned a task, the students carried out a detailed measurement survey of the entire warehouse – this included the ground floor, welfare and office areas and the first-floor mezzanine structure. Lucy then provided them with her project requirements which involved the budget.After a day of exciting events, the students returned to the Weson College classroom and eagerly began using a Computer Aided Design software called Revitt. This specialist software enabled the students to draw out the warehouse’s layout, they even had an option of various re-designs which would be costed up!The T Level learners are eager to meet up again with Lucy to submit their very own designs to her and receive feedback to work upon!A huge thank you to Lucy and the team at the Foodbank Warehouse for giving our students the opportunity to work on such a fantastic project!This project forms part of the subject Careers Excellence Hub; Weston College is committed to preparing learners for success in a rapidly evolving job market which is reflected in our offer via our bespoke Career Excellence Hubs, which form an integral part of all college programmes. In a world where professional networks and industry-specific skills are integral to landing employment, these hubs provide a unique solution to bridge the gap between education and industry demands.If you're interested in finding out more about our T Level Construction courses, <a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/surve… here</a>

T Level Students Visit a Foodbank Warehouse

22 Jan 2024

Construction company, Hydrock, visited South West Skills Campus last week to engage with learners studying on the T Level in Design, Surveying and Planning in Construction.The day was packed with activities, which gave learners the opportunity to test their skills with activities like planning a new sustainable town, as well as gain top tips for their future endeavours with CV reviews and mock interviews.Learners also heard from former T Level learner, and current Hydrock employee, Ben, who inspired the learners with his story – having been sat in that very room just 12 months ago.Ben spoke about his T Level placement with Hydrock, working 315 hours and managing to gain employment on the back of his course, with a Degree Apprenticeship through University Centre Weston.Engaging with employers forms part of the Construction Careers Excellence Hub. Weston College's Career Excellence Hubs are designed to be the launching pad for our learners' careers. In a world where connections and relevant skills matter more than ever, these hubs offer a holistic approach that prepares learners to thrive in their chosen industries. With the support of these hubs, our learners are well-equipped to make a significant impact in their professional journeys.Daniel Comerford, Construction Professions Lecturer at Weston College said: “We were delighted to welcome Hydrock last week, and it was great to see Ben as well.“Our learners found the whole day really beneficial, and left feeling inspired – which is what the Career Excellence Hub in Construction is all about!”<a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/const… can find out about our construction courses, by clicking here.</a>

Hydrock Visit Construction T Level Learners

21 Mar 2023

Civil Engineer surveying land with theodolite equipment

Civil Engineers play a critical role in our community; they design and manage construction projects, including roads, bridges, canals, dams, airports, sewage systems, pipelines, structural components of buildings, and railways.

Civil engineering is also one of the most in demand construction roles in the UK, with demand due to grow by 10% in the next 10 years.

We asked Paul Nethercott from the sustainable civil engineering contractor, <a href="https://griffiths.co.uk/">Alun Griffiths</a>, about life in the industry, to give an insight into a career in civils: “Civil engineering is a rewarding, creative and fun job.

"The projects we undertake are critical to the evolution of humanity and our constant ability to adapt and thrive.

"No day is ever the same, it's a team effort with good pay - and lots of fantastic progression opportunities as there simply aren't enough engineers to go around.

"There are lots of different roles that you can take in civil engineering too, including:

<ul>
<li>Design</li>
<li>Surveying</li>
<li>Civil/Site Engineering</li>
<li>Building Control</li>
<li>Buying</li>
<li>Estimating</li>
<li>Planning</li>
<li>Site Technical Support.”</li>
</ul>

You might be wondering how exactly to become a Civil Engineer – well, you’ve come to the right place!

There are several different routes into the industry, which can be chosen if they suit your learning style:

Apprenticeships

An apprenticeship is a fantastic way of entering the industry, and provides an opportunity to meet local organisations that are wanting to invest in and develop their future workforce.

Apprenticeships are open to anyone over the age of 16, so you could be a school leaver, or someone that wants to turn their passion into a career. As an apprentice you will be employed by the company, and complete training at college – you will be expected to work at least 30 hours a week, with the rest of your hours being training.

You can complete apprenticeships at a number of Levels, depending on your experience and skill level. We currently offer two apprenticeships in Civil Engineering, click the course below to find out more:

<a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-adults/construction-m… Engineering Level 3</a> – 36 months

<a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-adults/construction-m… Engineering Senior Technician Level 4</a> – 12 months

Once you have completed your apprenticeship, you can either further your development by studying the next Level, or go into full-time work.

T Levels

T Levels are a great way to start your journey into becoming a Civil Engineer.

T Levels are the new ‘Gold Standard’ in technical qualifications and are designed to ensure that learners are more employable – with a mix of classroom based learning and practical experience.

Our two-year <a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/const… Level in Construction: Design, Surveying and Planning</a>, is a Level 3 standard, and can lead on to either a Degree Apprenticeship, or a Degree.

You can also complete other <a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/const… based courses</a>, <a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/engin… courses </a>or <a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/level… Levels</a>, which can lead you on to one of our <a href="https://www.ucw.ac.uk/subject/engineering-and-construction/">Degree Level courses</a>, taught through University Centre Weston.

Paul Nethercott from Alun Griffiths, also told us about some of the key skills that you will need for working in civil engineering: “The industry is really welcoming to graduates and new starters, but there are certain skills that will really help you to have a long and successful career. These include:

<ul>
<li>Attention to detail</li>
<li>Being a team player</li>
<li>Possessing problem-solving skills</li>
<li>Being a strong communicator</li>
<li>Punctuality and reliability</li>
<li>Having commercial awareness.”</li>
</ul>

A big thank you to Paul Nethercott.

If you would like to find out more about our courses, join us at our next Open Evening, taking place on the 29th March, across all campuses. <a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/event/march-open-evening-adults-courses-and-sc… here to book your spot</a>.

How to Become a Civil Engineer