Construction and the Built Environment

Learn the skills that are always in demand by building your future in construction.  

Follow your passion and get one step ahead towards an exciting hands-on industry with our construction courses. With the latest technology, state-of-the-art equipment, our workshops will allow you to immerse yourself in the construction and the built environment.  

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What is Construction and the Built Environment?

The construction industry creates and develops buildings and structures. As the job market is expanding, we can give you the chance to earn a qualification filled with knowledge and skills to prosper in this trade.  

Focusing on improving and maintaining the world we live in; construction can help you understand the process and expand our society. With the profession taking you anywhere, you could be fixing your own home to working overseas.  

From being self-employed, working for a local company, creating new build homes or working for a big business construction could be the career for you.  

Why study Construction and the Built Environment

With an expanding and thriving job market, you can use the skills learned with the college to become highly employable in many different areas of construction including sustainability, brick laying and health and safety.  

Get one step ahead in your career and make yourself an irresistible candidate for employers.  

Study Construction and the built environment with us to enjoy:

• Access to world-class facilities – our construction workshops give you the experience and skills in a safe and welcoming environment 
• Real-world skills – our courses are designed to put your skills into practice, gaining that first step into a new career.  
• Support from highly-trained staff – our lecturing and professional construction staff will help you learn the academic theory and the practical skills you need to get ahead and succeed.   
• Have job security – as the population keeps growing and construction work has increased, older buildings that need restoring, or replaced and new and exciting sustainable projects are bringing in new job roles.  
• A route to a viable career – with a qualification in construction you could go self-employed, work for a big corporation, work for a local company and beyond.  

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Where Construction and the Built Environment could take you 

Take a look where a qualification in construction could take you.  

Career Options  

As more than 1 in 3 college leavers go on to find employment*, a qualification in Construction could lead to the following careers:  

• Bricklayers – Have excellent knowledge and skills of brickwork which can be transferred into creating and transforming projects. Bricklaying is the foundation of any property and with this importance, Bricklayers need to have the ability to repair, build and refurbish brickwork by paying close attention to detail. Bricklayers must work on site and are often employed by a company. Average starting salary £17,000 – £20,000 
• Carpenters/Joiners – Provide services that construct, repair and fit woodworking projects. Confidently being able to use tools Carpenters/Joiners must have the knowledge of construction and regulations to execute the client’s requirements. Using their own initiative and expertise in their crafts, they must have a good knowledge of mathematics to correctly assemble structures. Likely to be employed but can be self-employed. Average starting salary £17,000 – £20,000 
• Painters and Decorators – Can bring high quality finishes of outside and inside surfaces bringing them to life. Knowledge of different products that can cover, fill and carry out the needs of the consumer to a premium standard. Painters and Decorators pay close attention to detail and have good communication skills that can work well with businesses and clients. Can be employed or self-employed working within different businesses or homes. Average starting salary £17,000 £20,000 
• Quantity Surveyor – Oversee, prepare and estimate costs of construction projects. Using knowledge of construction, building, health and safety Quantity Surveyors will be able to see risks and confidently give clients their informed and well researched opinions of the project. They are often heavily involved from start to finish. Most likely to be employed, often working on-site or in an office. Average starting salary £18,000 – £25,000 

Onward Study  

As more than 1 in 3 college students who graduate with an HNC or above go on to university study¹, a qualification in Construction could lead you to the following degree options:  

• Degree in Civil and Construction Engineering  
• Degree in Construction Management 
• Degree in Quantity Surveying  

1. based on SFC College Leaver Destinations report 19-20   ↩︎

Professional Memberships 

Students studying and graduates with a qualification in Construction can become a member of the National Federation of Builders and Chartered Institute of Building – the professional body for those working construction industry.  

Memberships offers you:  

• Access to a well-respected network  
• Ability to develop through ongoing learning   
• Access to insights from the industry  
• Opportunities to gain industry and professional recognition  
• Develop your career 

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Course Entry Requirements

Despite being a very popular subject, the entry requirements to study Construction can be relatively low. Specific requirements will vary by course, but we offer courses where no formal academic qualifications are required. For them, all we ask for is:  

• You demonstrate a keen interest in studying Construction with us  
• You attend an entry interview and present yourself well  
• You have a positive learner reference – if you’ve studied with us before.  

For courses with formal academic entry requirements, we offer a number of routes in – from studying the qualifications that allow you to progress to offering alternative options.   

All Courses

Choose the course for you and click through to find out more and apply: 

*Courses listed above are available as at time of publishing. Availability is subject to demand and some courses may stop accepting applications or be withdrawn at any time.

Learning Environment

Our industry standard workshops give you the opportunity to thrive in a Construction environment developing the skills and knowledge for your future career or further education.  

With support from our qualified staff, they will help you learn about the different roles and the academic theory giving you the opportunity to succeed in your studies.  

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