Built Environment 2009 by Real World

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2009

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EDITOR’S LETTER

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Contents 4 Good foundations There’s more to the world of built environment than bricks and mortar. Our overview of the sector explores what you could do and where 6 Building blocks The cities and towns we live in would not exist without the input of civil engineers. Our feature and case studies show exactly what civil engineers do 10 Better by design If you are besotted by buildings then maybe a career as an architect would be right up your tower block 12 All you survey Civil engineering surveyors are responsible for major infrastructures such as roads and bridges, so by working in this sector you can really make your mark 16 The future’s green Find out why sustainable development is the way forward for the built environment sector

Building a better future It was only while doing the research for this special issue that I realised just how important the Built Environment is to all of us. Usually, I would take for granted the roads, railways and underground network I use each day to get to work, the office block I sit in writing this letter, and the shops and entertainment facilities, such as cinemas, restaurants and bars, I go to in the evenings. Now I see them in a different light, acknowledging the intense planning, designing, co-ordinating, and actual building skills and effort that are needed to complete each one. The success of China’s Bird’s Nest stadium at the recent Olympics showed how good architectural design and cutting-edge engineering techniques can produce a modern structure that is not only good to look at, but durable, and more than fit for purpose. That’s why we’ve got together with the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE), a charity that exists to promote and progress civil engineering, to bring you features, interviews and case studies showing how varied and remarkable an area Built Environment is to work in. The economic downturn may have slowed the rate at which new homes and commercial property is being built around the country, but it hasn’t yet impacted on large civil engineering projects such as the London Olympic build, Crossrail and the overhaul of much of the country’s transport infrastructures. All this means the Built Environment sector is still healthy, so if you are studying to be an architect, civil engineer, or surveyor there are plenty of job vacancies out there just waiting to be snapped up. Here we’ll tell you all about them, and you can read first hand accounts from recent graduates already out in the industry. Within the Built Environment the environmental and sustainability sectors are also growing faster than anyone could have predicted – they have had to in order to protect natural resources – and here we explore how green issues will impact on and alter not only the way we use buildings, but also the way we construct them. Looking at the London skyline, currently dominated by hundreds of towering cranes, it’s obvious within five years I’ll be looking at a cityscape radically different from the one on view today. By building a career within the Built Environment you could help influence just how different London and the other towns and cities across the UK will look in the future.

Dee Pilgrim, Editor dee@realworldmagazine.com

Contributors HANNAH DAVIES Hannah Davies took German and Russian at Cambridge. She stayed on to do an Mphil in European Literature before becoming a journalist. She joined the Real World team in 2007 in the position of editorial assistant, writing features and conducting case studies.

MADHVI pankhania Madhvi is an English graduate from Somerville College, Oxford. She worked for the Student Union as a sabbatical officer before joining the Press Office at Real World Magazine, working on the Real World Awards.

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built environment | introduction

There’s more to the Built Environment than bricks and mortar. As a graduate entering this sector you could find yourself working on the design of a super-structure such as the Olympic Stadium in east London, project managing the build of a new school, or overseeing the conservation of one of our historic country houses.

he UK has a reputation for world-class design, inspirational architecture and high quality building work. In fact, the built environment is this country’s biggest employer – one in every 14 people works in construction – and it is also the UK’s biggest export, generating over £1 billion a year. However, in the past the sector has suffered from a poor image and has

Photograph: iStockphoto

often not been the first choice of career for many young people, particularly women and young black and Asian people. Now, the perception of the construction industry is definitely improving, and in order to achieve this ConstructionSkills, the Sector Skills Council for the construction industry, has made huge efforts to show women and young black and Asian ethnic minorities the times are changing, and there is so much more on offer than might have previously been assumed. Through its national recruitment campaign, Positive Image, ConstructionSkills is promoting construction careers and presenting an appealing image of the industry to encourage young people to ‘make their mark’ on the built environment. This is an industry that is a vital pillar of society and has a huge contribution to make to everyone’s quality of life. What’s more, it is constantly growing and renewing itself. According to ConstructionSkills, between 2007 and 2011 construction in the UK will continue the trend of growth it has enjoyed for the last decade. In 2005, 2.41 million people were employed in construction and that figure is expected to rise to more than 2.8 million by 2011. This means on average 87,600 new construction workers will need to be recruited each year. This figure includes

many roles for the more academically minded. Constructionskills is predicting the UK will need 32 per cent more recruits in roles such as construction manager, architect and other technical staff in the next five years. The great variety of what is done on different projects in different places is one of the biggest attractions of the sector for many people who do not want the normal desk-based 9 to 5 routine. New recruits could find themselves working on a new road bridge, on a building site, in a design office, or travelling around the country visiting National Heritage sites in a variety of different roles. JOBS IN THE SECTOR All construction or refurbishment projects start with the practical ideas of an Architect who draws up plans and designs. The job of a Building Services Engineer is to install all the utilities that buildings need to function properly. All existing buildings need maintenance and repair, which is the chief task of a Building Surveyor. When buildings are renovated or valued, the project is planned by a General Practice Surveyor. The monitoring of the running costs of a project is carried out by a Quantity Surveyor. Structural Engineers assess whether standing structures (such as bridges) can continue to operate safely. Helping to protect the UK’s building heritage is the Building Conservation Officer, who is resposible for historic buildings such as lighthouses, windmills, churches, country houses and even our manufacturing heritage such as mills and factories. And if you’re interested in devising the whole urban (and rural) environment, you can aim to be a Town (and Country) Planner. Major design projects, such as those for highways, harbours and airports, are the responsibility of a Civil Engineer. A Geospacial Modeller produces computerised 3-D models of natural and built landscapes in order to help plan construction projects. In order to know how each project might affect the marine environment (or be affected by it), reports are drawn up by a Hydrographic Surveyor. A Land Surveyor measures and records landscape features to produce models and maps for construction projects and information. The quality of the outdoor spaces that surround us is the province of the Landscape Architect. As the name implies, a Project Manager monitors the planning, management, co-ordination, and financial control of a construction project. If you are a graduate (usually in a relevant subject such as civil and structural engineering), you can expect a high level of responsibility when you enter the profession. You will be trained for highly specialised or management positions and will have the opportunity to gain professional qualifications, such as Chartered status. So if you’ve never considered a job in the built environment, now is a great time to explore what could be in it for you. Read on for our great Case Studies with people already out there and ‘making their mark’. n

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BUILDING BLOCKS

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The built environment we see every day of our lives could not exist without the input of civil engineers. Although often unsung or acknowledged, their work is vital for the smooth running of our towns and cities. Here we take a more in-depth look at the role they play and what they actually do.

ivil engineers design, build and maintain infrastructure projects. They are at the heart of the built environment and impact on every person in the UK every day. The essentials of everyday modern living - water, energy, transport, and handling waste – are the domain of the civil engineer. Society’s greatest challenges, such as addressing and mitigating against the effects of climate change, and securing clean drinking water and sanitary conditions for the world’s poor, can only be adequately addressed and resolved by civil engineers. Civil engineers are involved in all stages of the infrastructure lifecycle from inception, through feasibility, design, construction and maintenance, to decommissioning. They are typically employed as clients (those who commission the projects), consultants (those who design), contractors (those who build), or academe (advanced research). According to David Lloyd-Roach, the Director of Membership at ICE (Instituttion of Civil Engineering), this is a sector offering

civil engineers professionally qualifying with the Institution. Females make up 20 per cent of the graduate membership between the ages of 22 and 30, and for two years running in the past five years, the Graduate Civil Engineer of the Year has been female.’ If you feel this could be the career for you then you’ll need strong technical skills with a sound understanding and knowledge of core engineering principles, with the ability to be able to apply these. Increasingly, employers are looking for strong communication skills (both oral and written) underpinning an ability to engage with the public. It’s also good to have an understanding and a developing commitment to risk management, particularly where applied to Health, Safety and Welfare. ‘Employers want good team (increasingly multidisciplinary team) working skills,’ says David. ‘Motivation, selfresilience, and above all, a pro-active outlook are all essential.’ As with many professions, the speed with which an individual can move up the career ladder is determined by their ability. ‘Good civil engineers will move up the ladder quickly otherwise their employers will lose them,’ explains David. ‘It is possible to move “sideways” in the profession. Those who start out in design as consultants can move into construction project management as contractors, and vice versa. Unfortunately, for the profession, civil engineering skills are always in great demand so there are opportunities to move into other professions / employment areas as well. The finance sector, as an example, has traditionally recruited those with a civil engineering degree.’ Continuing professional development, training and undertaking postgrad study are important for the profession. Some disciplines, for example geotechnical engineering, virtually require a postgrad qualification for advancement, and continuing developments of new techniques and uses of materials demands that civil engineers keep up-to-date. If you feel this could be the sector for you then David offers the following advice. ‘Identify and seize opportunities to spend some time with companies. All the major employers would

new graduates a wealth of opportunities. He says: ‘They could typically be involved in design. A graduate civil engineer

welcome such enquiries. This could be turned into vacation work placements, which are great ways of learning more about

working in structures could work on the design of a pedestrian footbridge, or as a graduate engineer working in geotechnics,

the profession, particularly the different work undertaken by consultants and contractors, and understanding better what

on the design of foundations. Graduate civil engineers employed by contractors could be responsible for implementing designs and managing the construction work on site. Recent examples of work undertaken by civil engineering graduates have included assisting with the design of the London Crossrail scheme, project managing the construction of a school for 500 children in Nepal, and designing a foundation raft for a 22-storey building.’ Apparently, there are skill shortages in the sector with current estimates showing a demand for over 12,000 professionals each year in the construction sector until at least 2011. UK employers are having to recruit civil engineers from outside the UK to plug the gaps, so employment prospects for good civil engineering graduates are excellent. There are several reasons for these shortages, as David explains: ‘The profession has suffered from an image problem as it has traditionally been seen as comprising white, middle-class, middle-aged males. However, this is changing. There is an increasing percentage of female graduate

they look for when they recruit graduates.’

Illustration: © iStockphoto.com

civil engineering | introduction

The Construction industry is a £100 billion sector of the UK’s economy, accounting for approximately 8 per cent of the economic output. It has a major impact on the UK’s infrastructure. The sector is healthily robust, despite the economic downturn. According to Hays Civil & Structural, the UK’s leading civils recruitment consultancy, 2008 has been yet another booming period for UK civil engineering firms. The latest figures indicate that far from the stories of doom and gloom, civils is a resilient market due to much of the work being publicly funded, and all of the top civils firms are continuing to look for staff. Projects such as the 2012 Olympics sites and Crossrail which is worth £16 billion, combined with Ruth Kelly’s announcement that £6 billion will be invested in the nation’s transport system, highlight the opportunity for civil engineering jobs, particularly for those who are qualified and are working towards Chartered status. Construction industry growth is forecast to be 3 per cent annually until at least 2010.

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civil engineering | case studies

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events. I would potentially consider further study in the form of an in industry Engineering Doctorate or even an MBA, although I don’t necessarily see these as a requirement to gaining promotion.

Ben Freedman Age: 24 Degree: University of Bristol, Civil Engineering (MEng) Work Title: Civil Engineer, Building Design Partnership (BDP) What do you actually do? My role is to provide civil engineering design of associated infrastructure to buildings, working alongside architects, structural and building services engineers. Through high quality design, my passion is to create sustainable infrastructure solutions. A typical working day includes design calculations, meetings, informal design discussions, and occasional site visits. Were you always interested in civil engineering as a career? Most of my family is in medicine, so I was tempted to follow family tradition and become a doctor. However, since childhood I’ve enjoyed solving problems, and at school I was always interested in physics, technology and maths (though I freely admit that maths was never my strongest subject). During my A-Levels I attended a Headstart course run by the Royal Academy of Engineering, which introduced me to the wider world of engineering. I chose to pursue civil engineering because I realised the positive impact that I could have on society, providing security, health and prosperity for communities. How did you find out about this particular job? BDP interested me as it is interdisciplinary (architects, engineers, designers) and has an excellent accredited training scheme. I did a summer placement at BDP’s Bristol office which I thoroughly enjoyed. I was so impressed by the team atmosphere and varied projects. When I was then offered a permanent position shortly into my final year at university, I was keen to take it. Would you undertake further study to gain promotion? I am working towards gaining Chartered engineer status through the Institution of Civil Engineers. This involves achieving a number of development objectives, many of which are achieved through experience and attending training

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What do you most like about what you do and are there any downsides? Many jobs advertise that ‘every day is different’. But I would have to say that civil engineering has the ability to provide far more than just variety. It is a truly rewarding career path. My role within BDP allows me to be involved in interesting projects which create amazing places for people. Furthermore, a career in civil engineering allows you to work around the world. For instance, I am currently the Project Design Team Leader for the sustainable design of a sports academy for the charity Future Hope, which provides homes, education and medical aid for street children in Kolkata (Calcutta) India. The only downside I can see is that some people still don’t fully understand what civil engineers do, as compared to other professionals such as doctors and lawyers. However, once you explain the kind of projects you’re working on and how important civil engineers are to society, they are often amazed and fascinated. What skills do you need in order to succeed? To be a successful engineer I believe you need the following skills: • Teamwork • Problem solving • Analytical thinking • Ambition and Drive • Determination As an engineer you are always working in a team, so strong team skills and eventually leadership skills are crucial. Engineers are looked to for solutions to complex problems, so lateral creative thinking is a useful strength. The civil engineering degree at University of Bristol highlighted the importance of holistic thinking, and collaborating between professions. This made the interdisciplinary culture at BDP especially attractive.

Katie Symons Age: 26 Degree and University: Cambridge University: General Engineering, specialising in civil and structural in the final two years Work Title: Structural Design Engineer, Ramboll Whitbybird What do you actually do? I typically fulfil a project engineer role for projects ranging in value from £4m - £20m. I have responsibility for delivering the structural design. This involves working with architects at the early stage of a project, to ensure the outline design of the building has a sensible and economic structural frame, developing this design in the detailed stage, doing structural calculations and working with CAD

technicians to produce drawings, then finally supervising work on site, sorting out problems as they arise, and ensuring the structure is constructed using the correct procedures. Were you always interested in engineering as a career? No, I wanted to be a musician when I was at primary school! But at secondary school, I realised I enjoyed maths and science, and I wanted to apply what I learned in those subjects to doing useful things and changing the world. Engineering seemed to offer that opportunity. How did you find out about this particular career? I was encouraged to learn more about engineering when I was at school, and went on a course to encourage girls to consider engineering as a career. I’ve always been interested in buildings and structures, and during my degree I decided that was the area in which I wanted to work. I found out about my employer, Ramboll Whitbybird, by looking for structural engineering firms that had an office in Cambridge, where I lived. I did a summer placement in the office and then accepted a job with them after I graduated. Would you undertake further study to progress your carer? Possibly – there are loads of areas in which fascinating research is going on: I am particularly interested in issues of sustainability in the built environment, and there is the possibility of doing an MPhil in this area. What do you most like about your job and are there any downsides? Seeing a building I’ve designed being built and finally being used is great. The environment can be intense, with pressure to meet deadlines in a very competitive market. The hours can be long too. But it’s usually worth it for the sense of achievement at the end! What skills do you think you need to succeed? The ability to think quickly, methodically, and clearly is very important. A good understanding of the theoretical and practical sides of structural engineering is also useful.

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Jen Stables Age: 22 Degree and university: Civil and Structural Engineering Masters at the University of Cambridge, First two years of course general (including computing/ electronics/ mechanics/ maths & structures) then specialism in the structural side of the course through choice of modules. Job Title: Graduate Engineer, Faber Maunsell What do you actually do? I have been involved in one major project, one smaller project, and done a few pieces of simple design work for other jobs. The large project is a further education college in west London. Faber Maunsell are structurally involved with the demolition and rebuild of three buildings, an extension and floor insert for an existing building, and the design of an atrium structure. When I joined the scheme design was just starting so I have been involved fully in the project and now feel like a bit of an expert! I started doing simple calculations like column takedowns and steel beam checks, moved on to ground design and slab modelling in finite element programmes, and have recently been scheming up the extension, checking column locations and being responsible for considering all details, chasing up our CAD technicians and issuing drawings. The project is now starting on site (eight months after I joined) and I should be spending some time down there checking everything is being built according to plan. I am working with an Associate Director and Principal Engineer, with other graduates and engineers being brought in when the workload increases. On the smaller project, I am the main engineer with just an Associate Director above me to speak to when I have any queries. The project is a villa (about the size of four large British houses) on the isle of Mustique in the Grenadines. On this project the architects are responsible for producing all drawings, and it has been my job to check the stonework drawings for adequate reinforcement, bearing in mind this is an earthquake and tornado zone. I have also schemed, designed and had drawn-up reinforced concrete beams for the roof

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quite often people in maths and physics tend to be more introverted, so they need to get themselves over that hurdle.

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structure. Unfortunately, although this project is currently on site, I will not be getting a site visit! Within the structures team in our office there are a number of graduates, and I would say my experience is by no means typical. One works on many small projects and bespoke structural details, one on high rise buildings, and one on prisons. One of the guys has spent the last week in Hong Kong working with our structures team there on a building in London, and one goes to site most weeks. Were you always interested in engineering as a career? I first started considering engineering when I was attending careers fairs thinking about my university possibilities. I’d chosen my A-Level subjects because they were reasonably academic and I was good at them, but if you’d asked me what career I wished to pursue just before I picked them, I would have been adamant about being a graphic designer. I was dissuaded from attempting this when I met a designer at a careers fair. Through my A-Levels I found that I actually liked the maths and physics I was doing as much as I liked the design so started to consider aiming for a degree in maths. The thing that really brought me round to engineering was my mum. She basically said she thought I was a bit of an idiot going to university for three or four years to come out not particularly qualified for any sort of specific career. Engineering had the mathematical basis I was after, but was practical and relevant to the real world.

Sam Stephens Age: 26 Degree and university: Engineering, Borough University Work Title: Civil Engineer, Atkins What do you actually do? I work with building construction. On new projects I design facilities for industrial plants and I do assessments on existing buildings for changed use. I manage a team of other graduate engineers and this involves writing reports, and looking at drawings. The project I am working on at present is the design of a new build for one of our clients which is 60 metres by 60 metres – a multi-million pound project. I’m responsible

civil engineering | case studies

for collaborating with the architects on the total design of the project. Did you always want to go into engineering? I didn’t have a clue when I was young. But I always loved maths and physics at school and I loved doing practical things so engineering really appealed to me – I wanted to learn stuff I could apply in the real world. I’d like to go on and become Chartered in order to further my career What do you most like about your job and are there any downsides? I really like creating new things. As an engineer you are always picking up new skills. A lot of what I do requires further analysis, looking at things a little bit differently. It’s great when I get a new problem and have to solve it, and do research and come up with solutions; I think that’s the best thing about my work. Any work can be boring sometimes and it is frustrating when things don’t go to plan.

What skills do you need to succeed? You have got to be prepared to put yourself out there and talk to people. Quite often people who are interested in maths and physics tend to be more introverted, so you need to get yourself over that hurdle. Also, you need to be able to find the right balance between artistic flair and extravagance. What advice would you give to graduates coming into this sector? Keep up with your reading about the built environment. Also, even before I went to university I did a year in the industry and I would recommend that to anyone going into engineering. It gave me life experience and boosted my confidence and gave me a link to an employer. You can talk about work experience at interview and it really helped me to grow up. Do you have anything you’d like to add? Over the next ten to fifteen years there are going to be great opportunities in engineering as there is so much work to be done on areas such as reversal of climate change and how to provide clean water in different parts of the world. You could be working on a project in India or in China. Engineering is going to become an even more desirable skill to have. n

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betterbydesign

If you are besotted by buildings, are highly creative, and care about people and the environment, then architecture could be your ideal career choice. Read on to see if you could be someone who could make a real mark on the world.

Photography: © iStockphoto.com

better by design | architecture

There are around 6,000 private architectural practices in the UK, and in 2008 there were 28,000 architects in full-time employment. Private practices earn 90 per cent of the earnings in the entire market, the remaining 10 per cent is earned by other organisations which provide architectural services, such as local authorities. Other areas of income for practices are feasibility studies, planning consultancy and interior design, and other activities that use the work of architects include landscape architecture, and lecturing. A growing number of architects are also involved in a range of consultancy services in fields such as conservation.

avid Gloster is the Director of Education at the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA). He says: ‘The reason the built environment is so important is because it has many knock-on effects to our quality of life. Both urban and natural landscapes are so dictated by the quality of the buildings that we use around us that it can’t not be an issue. It goes beyond aesthetic factors to management of the environment, infrastructure, the convenience and conviviality of cities, and the other places where we live. Ethical and environmental issues are both incredibly important, also issues of housekeeping and protocols for industry, which go hand-in-hand with this.’ The UK has a great reputation for producing outstanding architectural design and Gloster is convinced this is because our educational system is so good. ‘We’ve had fantastic success at producing really extraordinary architects who are at the top of their game and profession, so there’s obviously something in the water in UK architecture education,’ he states. ‘There is a very strong accent on design education in the architectural universities and schools; 50 per cent of the curriculum has to be related to design which translates as

conversions of barns in the Pennines, but equally others will want to work on these massive global projects that are extremely exciting. Also, architecture as a series of qualifications does furnish people with a lot of transferable skills, so having your architectural qualifications can take you into practise, or it can take you into academia, journalism, criticism, and writing.’ The skills that architects possess are relevant to all aspects of the built environment, from constructing new buildings to conserving old ones and finding green solutions to problems, and if you really want to succeed in this sector, Gloster says you have to have the following strengths. ‘You must have the capability to listen and to absorb things quickly. You need to be flexible. You need lots of baseline competencies and skills; the ability to draw, to conceptualise,

students spending 75 to 80 per cent of their time designing. Architectural courses

to work as an individual and in teams, an understanding of possibilities in technical

in British schools and universities are not analogues of building construction

construction, and the alternatives you can develop. You need to have a grasp

courses, because they are intellectually different pursuits.’ This distinction has led to some stunning buildings in the UK, but also to British architects being much in demand abroad. Although many people think of architects in terms of mega-stars such as Sir Norman Foster and Sir Richard Rogers, Gloster explains one of the beauties of the sector is the variety of levels available. ‘It’s a profession that does allow people to operate on lots of different scales. While practises have certainly got a lot bigger over the last 15 to 20 years, the majority of the profession is still fairly small scale, so people can opt into different areas. Some may be happy doing very sensitively observed

of structure, of geometry, of form. It is an extraordinarily complex subject and there’s an awful lot in it, and it is never the same two days in a row. Finally, it really helps if you can write because as a practitioner you have to write a lot – everything from contractual letters, to feasibility reports. You can make a very good living from it (newly qualified architects with RIBA Part 3 can expect to earn £25,000, but many partners earn over £100,000), although I think that’s never been a reason for the majority of people getting into architecture at first degree level.’ Still think you’ve got what it takes? Then read our case studies with people already working in this sector. n

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civil engineering surveying | overview

If you’d like to make an impression on the built environment in a really big way, then why not consider becoming a civil engineering surveyor (CES)? They are responsible for civil infrastructures such as roads, railways, bridges, water supply systems and power stations, and are involved right from the initial planning stage through to completion.

ithout the input of civil engineering surveyors, our modern world just wouldn’t be able to function. Our transport systems would collapse, our power supplies would fail, and we would have no access to fresh water. That’s why working in this sector can be so appealing – what you do here really does make a difference. Although there is currently a downturn in the British housing market, Mike Sutton, the President of the Institute of Civil Engineering Surveyors (ICES), says this has not affected the buoyancy of the CES sector. ‘In the major civil engineering works there is a load going on and that won’t stop,’ he declares. ‘Not only is there the major upgrade of the rail network happening, but also the huge Crossrail project, and the Olympics -- which is really short of construction professionals. That’s because it is not just about what is going on at the Olympic site, but also about its legacy. A great deal of the Olympics has been planned so when the Games are over the buildings can be amended to be suitable for different uses. That

Commercial managers do some site work, but a lot of their work is desk bound. It is the most lucrative side of CES with pay starting at around £20,000, rising to £40,000 after five years.

includes the reconstruction of certain buildings, including the Olympic Village, which will be converted into apartments. Also,

geography; they usually have good spatial awareness and that fits in with the job, so people with geography degrees do

the main arena is so vast, after the Games it will be changed to have a reduced capacity suitable for football matches.’

well,’ explains Sutton. ‘They tend to go in right at the beginning of the project, so that designs can be done from

There are two main branches of CES, offering distinct career choices, and which you choose will depend on your strengths and interests.

the initial plans, and are also involved in making sure everything is in its correct and accurate place, and is fit for purpose.’ Most people in this branch start as part of a field survey team as a geospatial junior surveyor, and with more experience of using the field instruments they become a surveyor, managing a group or team. Rates of pay start at around £20,000, going up to £30,000 after about five years. With the basic geographical knowledge people in geospatial have, there are plenty of other areas they could go into including design and architecture. British surveyors are very valued abroad for their technical skills and many now travel to work in the Far East and to the Gulf States in order to double or even treble their earning power. This is great for them but, as Sutton says: ‘This leaves a bit of a shortfall in this country, which means we are actively trying to recruit more people into this sector.’ Currently there are golden opportunities within CES, so read our case studies to see if this could be the career for you.

Photography: © iStockphoto.com

Commercial Management (also known as Quantity Surveying) is all about evaluation and measuring. Commercial managers prepare the initial documents for projects; they have close contact with the contractors and subcontractors asking for quotes, and then pick the right company to do the work at the right price. They will prepare an estimate of the overall cost of the project, and must monitor the work as it continues to make sure it is not going hugely over-budget. Sutton says: ‘The commercial management side is where we manage projects by bringing together all the people involved, from architects to engineers, to oversee the whole project. This side, including quantity surveyors, suits people who have a good idea of figures and science, are good planners, and have good negotiating skills.’

Geospatial Management Geospatioal managers tend to spend much more of their time on site. They will be surveying the land on which projects are to be located; measuring to make sure they have the best position on which to build bridges, tunnels and roads. Much of their time is spent on using measuring instruments and producing charts, maps and plans for the build. They must also monitor work in progress to make sure the initial measurements are being kept to. Geospatial engineering is the biggest sector within CES, and includes specialist areas such as hydrographic surveying (measuring surfaces covered by water such as the seabed, lakes and rivers), and photogrammetry (studying photographs to gain information on a potential site). ‘Geospatial surveyors work with Geographical Information Systems (GIS), and many people on this side are interested in

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quantity surveying | case studies

and agreement of variations with subcontractors, Labour and Plant costing and reporting, sub-contract valuations and management, and Internal Cost / Value reconciliation reports. Why did you decide to go into the built environment? The decision to go into the built environment was a result more out of not wanting to enter the legal profession when leaving university – thinking back I wasn’t even sure that I wanted to stay within the sector – but after being in the industry now for a few more years, the challenge that the role provides, with the factors that influence the design and construction, and the impact that the built environment has on people and communities, shows how different it is to the legal industry. We are delivering something of value to people.

Neil Schwanethal

the commercial aspects themselves are varied and challenging covering design, procurement, installation, and commissioning of not only civil works, but also mechanical and electrical works. Working on an alliance contract is also giving me a good experience at working in an environment that does promote open and honest working practices, but still working to the key challenge of any scheme…successful delivery. Sometimes there is a lack of opportunity. I have been fortunate to have worked on diverse projects, however from speaking with a few graduates, the schemes they are involved in focus too much on cost collation rather than the wider role that a quantity surveyor can play in the built environment. I feel it is important that all graduates push to get involved in the wider role we do play.

Age: 29 Degree and university: LLP law degree, University of Kent at Canterbury Work Title: Quantity Surveyor, Balfour Beatty

What do you think are the most important Would you undertake further training to further skills/strengths you needed to make a your career? As part of my membership with success of what you did? A quantity surveyor the Institute of Civil Engineering Surveyors we needs to be methodical, with keen ears that are required to keep a CPD plan, this outlines listen to everything that is going on around future training 22/9/08 requirements. This continuous QP_ICES2.pdf 17:06:19 What do you actually do? I am a quantity you; its amazing what you pick up when you development in the built environment is surveyor with Balfour Beatty Management. I are sat in open plan offices. Yyou have to be obligatory, not just for career enhancement, am currently working as part of the good with people, generally you need but also to keep up with the innovation and commercial team on the Electricity Alliance information from people and in a busy project advances of the sector. Real World Magazine Ad:Layout 1 23/7/08 15:50 Page 1 (East), where my role means I undertake most environment, which is just focused on delivery, parts of the traditional QS role with on-site you need to ensure a good rapport with What do you like most about what you do measurement and record keeping, pricing operational colleagues. and are there any downsides? I enjoy that

education training membership

Surveying Surveying your your future? future? The Institution of Civil Engineering Surveyors (ICES) supports

theCivil professional development of surveyors studying and The Institution of Engineering Surveyors (ICES) supports within the civil engineering industry. the professionalworking development of surveyors studying and working within ICES the civil engineering industry. members work in one of two disciplines: Commercial management ICES members work in one of two disciplines:

Quantity Surveying • Estimating • Procurement • Project Management • Planning • Construction Economics • management Engineering • Construction Law

Commercial Quantity Surveying • Estimating • Procurement • Project Management • Planning • surveying Construction Economics • Geospatial engineering Engineering Surveying Engineering • Construction Law • Land Surveying • Photogrammetry • Remote Sensing • Geographical Information Systems (GIS) • Cartography/Visualisation • Hydrographic Surveying

Geospatial engineering surveying Engineering Surveying • Land Surveying • Photogrammetry For more information about the benefits of ICES membership,• and attending ICES regional events, contact Remote Sensingrecruitment • Geographical Information Systems (GIS) • Paul Brown or Juliette Mellaza on t: 0161 972 3100 or visit: Cartography/Visualisation • Hydrographic Surveying www.ices.org.uk

Institution of For more information about the benefits of ICES membership, CIVILevents, ENGINEERING SURVEYORS recruitment and attending ICES regional contact ICES is a registered charity 1013672 Paul Brown or Juliette Mellaza on t: 0161 972 3100 or visit: www.ices.org.uk

Institution of CIVIL ENGINEERING SURVEYORS ICES is a registered charity 1013672

alternative jobs | case studies

Glenn Sage Age: 25 Degree and university: BEng (Hons) Civil and Coastal engineering, University of Plymouth. Job Title: Assistant Engineer in the Ports and Marine section at Mouchel, the consulting and business services group. What do you actually do? I’ve already been involved in many projects both locally in the UK, and internationally in the Middle East and the Dominican Republic. I work on a wide range of port projects including jetty feasibility studies for oil refineries at Coryton, Essex and Stanlow, Ellesmere Port. When I was seconded for six months to Kuwait in 2006, I carried out a coastal protection study for Saudi Arabian Texaco at their Ras-Al-Zour site. I’m now back in Mouchel’s Kuwait office, conducting a masterplan review and concept design study for a new Container Terminal.

What do you like most about what you do and are there any downsides? It gives me an opportunity to work abroad on really exciting projects! Even though I was just a graduate when first seconded to Kuwait, I had the chance to develop my skills by overseeing and managing parts of the project. It was very challenging, but at the same time I had a chance to gain valuable experience. Sometimes the deadlines for project deliverables can be very short, but that’s what makes it challenging and rewarding when the particular project is completed. What skills do you think you need to succeed? You have to be detail oriented and have time management skills. There’s so many things happening at the same time and deadlines are extremely tight. One has to be very efficient and flexible to succeed in this area. What advice would you give graduates entering this sector? Show initiative and try to gain experience wherever and whenever you can. Universities give a lot of opportunities to get involved. Don’t wait to be discovered, but decide which company you want to work for and approach them.

Jenny Morrison Age: 25 Degree and university: Civil Engineering, University of Newcastle upon Tyne Work Title: Graduate Engineer, Atkins

Were you always interested in engineering as a career? Just like a lot of young people, I didn’t know what career to take when I first started thinking about what to do after school. But I had always been interested in construction, so I started to research different degrees. I was sold the minute I found out about the courses available at the university of Plymouth. How did you find out about this job? I found out about Mouchel through one of the honorary professors at my university. He was also a consultant at Mouchel, and so incorporated a few projects as case studies in his lectures. I thought this was something I would love to get involved in, and so I’m now in Kuwait working on one of those very projects. Would you undertake further study to gain promotion? If you mean study as in learning new things, then everybody within the industry is doing it as a part of their continuing professional development. However if there was a course at a university that would benefit me and my department, then I would go back to study. I am also under agreement with the Institute of Civil Engineers to become a Chartered member.

What do you actually do? I work in structural design, maintenance and repair, basically looking after a structure from the beginning of construction to the end of its lifecycle. Structures can include buildings, bridges, football stadiums and much more. My present role focuses on the redevelopment of New Street Station in Birmingham, which is a £600 million pound scheme aimed at meeting the projected increase in passenger demand, regeneration of the local area, and creating a landmark station for the city. My job involves taking the vision of an architect and designing the structural elements – the parts which will

‘

i take the vision of an architect and design the structural elements, the parts which enable the building to stand up.

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enable the building to stand up. The New Street Station scheme involves the remodelling of an existing building whilst maintaining station operations, and we are working out how to use the structural elements to our advantage, without replacing them. I do calculations, sketches and reports for my clients, but I also spend time on site taking measurements and photographs, so I don’t spend all of my time in the office environment. Were you always interested in civil engineering as a career? I had always been interested in the built environment, and when I was very small I wanted to help people in developing countries to have clean drinking water. My grandfather was also a civil engineer and he travelled all over the world with his work, which is something which really interests me. I decided that I could combine all of my interests and strengths at school by following the engineering career path, and decided after graduating that Structural Engineering was the choice for me. Would you undertake further study to gain promotion? I would definitely undertake more study in order to gain promotion. The working world demands that you learn new skills, and I receive training to improve my technical and non-technical skills. I am also working towards becoming a Chartered Engineer which will enable me to take on technical and management work myself both in the UK and all over the world. What do you most like about what you do and are there any downsides? Civil engineering is such a broad field that you will get involved with lots of different disciplines. This gives you an opportunity to explore other interests and get a good idea of what they are about. It also gives you a chance to work with lots of very different people, which is something which I believe can be missed out on in other jobs. What strengths do you need in order to succeed? Good communication is the most important thing about my job. The variety of work makes it necessary to co-operate with a lot of different people, all of whom have different backgrounds and experiences. Listening to people is vital, as you need a good understanding of their needs in order to deliver the most suitable outcome. n

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environmental issues | introduction

pparently, we all spend 80 per cent of our time in buildings, which are a major source of carbon emissions, so no wonder making the built environment greener is a high priority for people involved in the sector. Professor Sarah Sayce is the Head of Surveying, and the Acting Head of Architecture at Kingston University. She is also the Chair of C-SCAIPE, the Centre for Sustainable Communities Achieved through Integrated Professional Education. She says: ‘For the future of the built environment to be sustainable you need a cohesive education to send graduates out into the workplace who are not only skilled up, but also have the right value sets in order to move the agenda forward. There is a huge problem within the industry of lack of integration between architects and surveyors all pursuing their own agendas, and we are trying to break that down and make graduates realise they are actually part of a bigger picture.’ According to Sayce, graduates may have a good grasp on the environmental impact of what they do in the built environment, but environmental and sustainable are two different things. As she says: ‘You can have a really green building, but if it is not going to work from

an economic point of view it is a non-starter. If we’ve got the right kit and the right capacity why is it not working? The reason it wasn’t working in the past was a lack of understanding of the occupants’ needs, and the requirements of the investors. What clients want are buildings they can make a return on, but which meet Corporate Social Responsibility and also Responsible Property Investment criteria. So what you need is the architect saying what is physically possible, you have to have the occupiers on board, and you’ve got to have all the stakeholders engaged in a constructive way that is solution-driven rather than profit-driven.’ Lucy Pedlar is the Director of The Green Register, set up in October 2000 by architectural practice Archipeleco, who

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environmental issues | case study

wanted to create a network of like-minded construction professionals nationwide. She points to three major factors that hampered the growth of sustainable and green initiatives. ‘There was a real thirst for independent knowledge about sustainable building, but it was quite difficult to find any information that wasn’t supplied by manufacturers,’ she explains. ‘People wanted good quality independent information, which is why we started doing a two-day course on Sustainable Building and Services. Secondly, a lot of really enthusiastic clients could not find anyone professional (either architects or builders) who could deliver the services or work they wanted. The final point was no one took sustainable construction seriously; it used to be seen as all brown rice and lentils.’ But sustainable building has now moved up people’s agendas. Although some just want to do business as usual, and others are still sceptical about climate change, the huge rise in fuel prices is converting people to the view that building sustainably makes good economic sense. Pedlar states: ‘The message is to consume less and use less materials, energy and water, and technology is pushing ahead sustainable ways of using these resources.’ Sayce is also hopeful for the future and also cites rising energy prices as the focusing force. ‘Because energy prices are now getting so high we will have to go this way in the future. Solar panels and wind turbines will become the norm rather than being unusual, but a lot of it will depend on the government and legislation and regulation. But I think we will eventually end up with a better built environment.’ In fact, changes are already filtering through. Tate Modern’s plan for its new £215 million extension has been radically overhauled in order to make it greener. It was originally going to be clad in glass panels, but these have now been swapped for a red-brick screen design. This and other changes mean the building will now use 40 per cent less energy, and generate 35 per cent less carbon than regulations demand. Built environment graduates will play a major part in this greener future. Sayce believes they will need to be flexible and better listeners in order to deliver what clients want, and this means architects, surveyors and other professionals working

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in the sector will have to learn to interact. ‘Graduates will definitely need better problem solving abilities and a recognition of where they fit into the picture,’ she explains. ‘Surveyors do tend to work in groups and problem-solve together, whereas architects do very little of that, and there is much more a cult of the individual and “my design”. That’s very different from planners who do a lot of group work.’ She also believes these new ways of working will expand the job market within the sector. ‘There are going to be a lot of careers based on managing the buildings that already exist as well as new build. The issue for the graduates is where they get the jobs, and we are already seeing lots of jobs in dispute resolution, asset management, revaluations, rent reviews, and lease renewal. That work may not have the megabuck money behind it, but it will still require professional people to do it.’ The Green Register www.greenregister.org.uk C-SCAIPE www.c-scaipe.rroom.net

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the message is to consume less and use less materials, and technology is pushing ahead sustainable ways of using resources.

Tom Ryan

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Age: 25 Degree and university: graduated with BA in geography and with an MSc degree in Environmental Assessment and Management from Brighton University. Work Title: Graduate Environmental Consultant at Mouchel, the consulting and business services group. What do you actually do? I work with Southern Water on the design and construction of pipeline schemes, as well as with Essex County Council on their highways scheme. My job is to ensure that everything is done in accordance with environmental law; therefore I often cooperate with government bodies, such as Natural England and the Environment Agency.

Why did you decide to go into the built environment sector? I wasn’t really sure what to do with my geography degree, but I’ve always been interested in environmental issues as well as ecology, and since it’s such a fast developing area I decided to continue my studies in this direction. How did you find out about your particular course? I was an ex-student at Brighton University so I was aware of the course when I finished my geography degree. I knew I wanted to extend my education and so doing it in Brighton seemed natural, particularly as this was a course I was very interested in. Would you undertake further training to gain promotion? I’m keen to learn both on-site as well as undertake further training. I’ve already attended additional courses in field surveying, and I might develop my skills further in this area. What do you like most about what you do and are there any downsides? I’ve had a lot of responsibility on my hands since day one, which has motivated me a lot. I’ve received great support from my manager and the team. I enjoy what I do a lot – I’ve been involved in volunteering with the National Trust. I do some environmental maintenance and improvement works every other Sunday, so I can develop my skills outside work as well. Co-ordinating everyone can be challenging, as well as explaining environmental issues to people who aren’t aware of their importance. But these challenges make my job even more attractive and interesting. What skills do you need to succeed? Attention to detail is definitely crucial. One has to be very responsible as well since you are given responsibility early on in this profession. What advice would you give other graduates? Getting into this industry is the hardest part, but it’s all about networking and seeking out opportunities; you just have to get your foot in the door. I was quite lucky as my current boss teaches at the Brighton university and that’s how I first heard about opportunities at Mouchel. n

Kingston University London Faculty of Art, Design & Architecture

Develop your career with a postgraduate qualification in the built environment Courses in the School of Architecture & Landscape encourage a creative approach and an understanding of physical, social and cultural contexts. The School works closely with RIBA (Royal Institute of British Architects) and the Landscape Institute. Courses in the School of Surveying & Planning focus on real estate and planning whilst reflecting the broad nature of surveying, which gives a firm grounding in general property issues. The School is a partner institution of RICS (the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors) and the RTPI (the Royal Town Planning Institute). All programmes are taught by a dynamic and experienced team of committed practitioners and specialist lecturers. A commitment to sustainability is at the heart of all our teaching. The Faculty is home to a vibrant interdisciplinary research community with many opportunities for postgraduate students to participate and contribute to ongoing debates.

The School of Architecture & Landscape �

Graduate Diploma in Architecture (RIBA Part 2)

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PgDip Professional Practice of Architecture (RIBA Part 3)

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MA Professional Practice

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MA Architecture (Thinking Building)

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MArch Architecture (Design)

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PgDip Landscape Architecture

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MA Landscape and Urbanism

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MA Architecture and the Creative Economy

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MA Landscape Urbanism and the Creative Economy

The School of Surveying & Planning �

MSc Building Surveying

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MSc Real Estate

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MSc Quantity Surveying

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MA Planning and Sustainability

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MA European Real Estate (Immobilia)

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MA Arts Market Appraisal (Professional Practice)

Tel 020 8547 7327 Email designpostgrad@kingston.ac.uk Visit www.kingston.ac.uk/designpostgrad

Realise your potential With a Masters degree from Cass Business School you will gain the knowledge and skills to stand out in the real world. MSc in Real Estate MSc in Real Estate Investment MA in Property, Valuation and Law

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