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Working Abroad Job Vacancies Job Hunting Guide Voluntary Work Working Part-time and Temping Useful Job Hunting Resources Working in Somerset Wages and Employment Rights Construction Technicians in Somerset CLCI: U CRCI: BB Construction technicians work in architecture, building, civil engineering and surveying. The work involves figure work, paperwork and technical matters such as designs, estimates and specifications. You could be based at head office or in a temporary office on a building site. At any one time all of your work could relate to one building site. Or you could be involved in projects at various sites. This could mean moving around between different places. To find out more look under the above CLCI/CRCI headings in your careers or Connexions library THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT CONSTRUCTION TECHNICIANS IN SOMERSET Over 8,000 people work in contruction in Somerset. This means there are architectural, building, civil engineering and surveying companies throughout Somerset. Some are fairly small organisations operating only in the local area. Others part of big companies operating throughout the country. Local councils and government departments also employ construction technicians. Building projects in Somerset include houses, office blocks, warehouses, factories, shops, hotels, flood defences, roads and sports centres. HOW DO I GET STARTED?   Get work experience when at school to see if it’s the career for you   Go to college/sixth form full-time to do A levels or a BTEC construction course (and start working at 18+)   Start as a trainee – or apprentice – and go to college as part of your job USEFUL QUALIFICATIONS   GCSEs (at grade C or better) in English, maths, science and design technology are useful   A levels or BTEC National qualifications needed for some jobs   Professional qualifications in architecture, building, surveying, etc (leading to BIAT, CIOB, RICS and other awards) can be done as part of your training More about qualifications, courses and training can be found in Moving On (published by Connexions Somerset) DO YOU KNOW? Somerset construction businesses build throughout the country. One local firm builds motorway service and filling stations WHAT IS THE PAY LIKE? Around £80 per week (maybe more) if starting as a new employed trainee or apprentice. Some firms pay up to £110-120 per week at age 16/17; £140-160 per week at 18. Earnings soon reach £10-13,000 per year and carry on rising with experience. Wage levels are usually fairly good. (The average wage for a quantity surveyor is around £525-550 per week) FINDING A JOB   Connexions centres   Job centres   Through applying for work apprenticeships   School and college careers notice boards   Speculative letters/visits/emails   Newspaper and industry publications adverts   Adverts displayed at premises and on industry/company websites   Job offer after work experience   Word of mouth   A Guide to Job Hunting gives tips on CVs, interviews and job letters. To view click here OTHER THINGS TO CONSIDER ABOUT THIS WORK   You need to be trained properly. You’ll start as a trainee and gain qualifications as you go along   Some companies recruit people at 16 with GCSEs. Others prefer to take you at 18 with extra qualifications from school or college   It’s sometimes possible to get promoted to technician work from jobs like bricklayer, plumber, electrician or carpenter   Jobs in architecture can be the most popular. There is a shortage of good applicants for some construction technician posts   New regulations and standards come in all the time. Keeping up-to-date is important   The work is becoming more technical so high skills and standards are required   Promotion prospects are good. With experience, and extra study, you could go into management or become an architect or a surveyor WHO DOES THE WORK? Sarah (18) started work after her GCSEs as a trainee estimator in a small building firm in Yeovil. She’s doing this through an apprenticeship that includes studying BTEC construction at college on day-release. Eventually Sarah would like to work as a manager in the building industry Amin (20) is training as a surveying technician in Bridgwater. He joined the business after doing A levels. Amin’s boss is encouraging him to aim to become a fully qualified surveyor. This will need several more years of study and training for RICS qualifications More Info: A-Z careers Careers information dates rapidly. Every effort has been made to ensure information is accurate but please check details before making firm decisions. Make text larger Make text smaller Text Only Display Privacy Policy/Terms of Use