Thinking About starting a career in Construction? Here’s Where to Start
A Guide for Young People and Parents Considering a Career in Construction
The construction industry offers far more career opportunities than many people realise.
While trades like bricklaying, Joiners, Electricians and plumbing are well known, there are also offsite roles such as architecture, quantity surveying, design, and project management that play a crucial part in the sector. (These are known as off-site).
Whether you are a young person looking for a career path or a parent exploring options for your child, this guide will help you understand where to start and how construction can lead to a stable, well-paid, and rewarding future.
Create are committed to training the next generation—whether that’s on-site through hands-on apprenticeships or in supporting offsite professionals who contribute to the industry. We work closely with Doncaster College and schools like The Hayfield School, ensuring that young people get the best possible start.
Is a Career in Construction Right for You?
Before diving in, it’s important to understand what construction involves. It is a highly skilled industry that offers huge opportunities but also requires dedication and hard work. If you are an individual who can’t take instructions very well, this industry may not be for you
Ask yourself:
- Do I enjoy practical, hands-on work or do I prefer problem-solving and planning?
- Am I interested in learning technical skills?
- Do I work well as part of a team?
- Am I willing to commit to long-term career development?
- Can I work well under pressure
- Am I prepared to do things outside of my comfort zone
If you answered yes, construction could be a great career choice, and there are both onsite and offsite roles available.
Onsite vs Offsite Careers in Construction
This industry is not just about building, it involves planning, designing, and managing projects too. You don’t have to work directly on-site to have a successful career in construction.
Onsite Construction Trades (Hands-On Roles)
The below roles involve working directly on-site, building homes, commercial properties, and infrastructure. (Not including specialist trades).
- Bricklaying – Laying bricks and blocks to create houses/structures.
- Carpentry & Joinery – Working with wood to create frameworks, roofing, Stud walls, Internal doors, and/or construct furniture etc
- Plumbing & Heating – Installing and maintaining water and heating systems. Bathroom renovations installing showers, toilets, sinks etc
- Electrical Work – Wiring buildings and ensuring electrical safety, this can lead to CCTV installs, Alarms & modern Smart Features inc cinema rooms
- Plastering & Rendering – Finishing interior and exterior walls to a smooth or textured finish.
- Painters & Decorators – The finishers of all the trades, these are usually the last trade to leave a site.
- Groundworks & Civil Engineering – Preparing sites, drainage, and foundations.
- Not forgetting the following: Tilers, Scaffolders, Landscape Gardners, Fabricators, Machine Drivers, Labourers etc
These trades are essential to getting the job done, and skilled workers in these fields are always in demand.
There is a HUGE Shortage of skilled trades right now!
Offsite Careers in Construction (Planning & Professional Roles)
These careers focus on designing, managing, and organising construction projects.
- Architecture & Building Design – Designing buildings and ensuring they meet planning regulations.
- Quantity Surveying – Managing costs and making sure projects stay within budget.
- Construction Management – Overseeing projects from start to finish.
- Structural Engineering – Ensuring buildings are safe and can withstand stress.
- Health & Safety Officers – Making sure sites operate safely.
- Interior & Spatial Designers – Creating functional and aesthetically pleasing interiors.
Offsite roles support the success of on-site work and ensure that projects are completed on time, within budget, and to the highest standards.
Current Shortage of Skilled Labour
The UK is currently facing a significant demographic challenge in construction, characterised by a substantial portion of its workforce nearing retirement age and an insufficient influx of new apprentices to fill the emerging gaps.
Retirement Trends:
Aging Workforce: Approximately one-third of the current construction workforce is aged over 50, indicating that a significant number of workers are expected to retire within the next decade.
Retirement Intentions: Only 15% of UK construction workers intend to continue working beyond retirement age, compared to a 29% cross-industry average.
Apprenticeship Trends:
Current Apprenticeship Starts: In the 2023/2024 period, approximately 33,000 new apprentices began their training in the construction sector across Great Britain
Required Apprenticeship Starts: To meet the industry’s annual recruitment requirement of 50,300 workers, the number of apprenticeship starts needs to triple from current figures.
Implications:
The disparity between the high percentage of workers approaching retirement and the relatively low number of new apprentices entering the field underscores a looming skills shortage in the UK construction industry. Addressing this issue necessitates concerted efforts to attract and train new talent to ensure the sector’s sustainability and capacity to meet future demands.
How to Get Started in Construction
1. Consider an Apprenticeship
One of the best ways to get started is through an apprenticeship, which allows you to earn while you learn.
We work closely with the likes of Doncaster College, which provides a structured and supportive apprenticeship programme. We collaborate with Jamie at Doncaster College, who ensures that students are properly vetted and understand the commitment required.
We don’t just take on apprentices—we train them to succeed.
2. Gain Work Experience
Before committing to a full apprenticeship, work experience can be a great way to see what suits you best.
Recently, we have been working with The Hayfield School to support students like Ollie, who is considering a future in construction. His school has been actively involved in his career development, providing structured career guidance.
Here’s a recent message from his school:
“Ollie has recently had a careers adviser appointment to discuss his post-16 plans, and I am sure he has spoken to you about the possibility of an apprenticeship. Would it be possible to arrange another visit in the New Year to review his progress?”
This highlights the importance of hands-on experience in helping young people make the right career choices.
3. Explore Offsite Roles Through Further Education
If you are more interested in design, management, or engineering, pursuing a construction-related qualification at college or university may be the right path. Many universities and technical colleges offer specialist courses in:
- Architecture
- Construction Project Management
- Quantity Surveying
- Structural Engineering
- Health & Safety
- And Many more,
These courses help students develop the technical skills needed for offsite roles in the industry.
Why Choose Create for Onsite Training?
At Create, we don’t just build houses, we build careers. Many of our apprentices have gone on to have successful careers in the industry, some even starting their own businesses.
We ensure that all apprentices:
- Work on live projects to gain real-world experience.
- Receive mentorship from some of the highest skilled tradespeople.
- Are supported through structured learning programmes with the likes of Doncaster/Sheffield/Leeds College.
We believe in training the next generation to be leaders in the construction industry, both onsite and offsite.
Final Thoughts: Construction is a Career Full of Opportunities
The construction industry offers many different paths, whether you want to work with your hands or be part of the planning and design process.
If you’re a young person, there is an exciting future waiting for you in construction. If you’re a parent, this industry offers job security, great earnings, and lifelong career growth for your child.
If you’re ready to take the next step, reach out to us at Create Builders. We’d love to help you get started.
My Top Tip: “Take it from someone who has lived with someone who works in construction, my partner has been in construction all his life. If you’re considering a career in construction, don’t just look at the trades, explore everything the industry has to offer. Whether it’s working hands-on as a bricklayer, managing projects, or designing the next big development, construction is more than just building. Try work experience in both onsite and offsite roles to find what excites you most. The best way to succeed is to learn from those already doing it, ask questions, get involved, and be willing to graft, It can be tough at times, I can promise you that!”
Katie
Marketing Manager
