Tell me about it
Construction managers supervise and direct people to make sure a building project is completed safely, on time and within budget. This may be the construction of a new building or the maintenance of an existing one. The cost of a building project may range from several thousand pounds to hundreds of millions. 

The work could include developing a programme of work for the project, supervising the building work, making sure the site is safe, and reporting on progress to the client who is paying for the work. They also supervise the preparation of the site and communicate with a wide range of people, including the public and professionals such as architects, engineers, estimators and surveyors. Construction managers have daily contact with the site workforce and have frequent meetings with subcontractors.

Entry level
There are several possible training routes. You could, for example, take a three- or four-year degree in a relevant subject such as construction, building, construction or building management, building studies or technology; you could take a full- or part-time higher national certificate or diploma (HNC/D) in a similar subject; or you could start as a technician with a national certificate or diploma. Sandwich courses are available, which give the opportunity for practical paid experience during your degree. There are also opportunities for sponsorship during your degree course, usually with the larger construction companies.

For degree courses, you would normally need at least two A levels/three H grades and five GCSEs/S grades (A-C/1-3), or equivalent qualifications. Maths and science are often required.

It is very important to have work experience in the building industry, and you should have some knowledge of the range of activities on a building site. Many employers offer sponsorships for higher education courses, where they support you financially, paying your fees and a grant for living expenses, and usually offering a job at the end of the course.

Making the grade
Following your academic training, you could work towards professional qualifications awarded by the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) or the Association of Building Engineers. Some employers provide time off for study during training. The CIOB Site Management Education and Training Scheme gives the necessary education to prepare for an NVQ/SVQ: Level 3 Site Supervision and Level 4 Site Management are open to anyone with experience in building site supervision and management. Level 5 in Construction Project Management is aimed at people already working as project managers. The professional qualification Chartered Builder is becoming increasingly important for career progression.

Experienced construction managers can become contract managers or directors of companies. It is possible to become self-employed, particularly in specialist areas of the work. There are also opportunities in teaching and research, and support services such as health and safety.

Personal qualities
As a construction manager, you would need to apply all your knowledge of construction techniques to ensure that each project is completed to time, on budget and safely. You would have to be able to motivate people and would need excellent communication skills. You would also have to be able to stay calm when things don't go quite as planned. Other people would expect to rely on your judgement. Your decisions would need to be based on your knowledge of technical, legal and health and safety factors but above all on practical common sense and experience. You may find yourself working under pressure when, for example, materials fail to arrive or schedules start to slip.

Looking ahead
The health of the construction industry depends to a certain extent on the national economic situation and as such the job opportunities may vary. At the moment there is good demand for construction managers. Work is usually with a construction company or a specialist subcontractor. There are also opportunities with local building contractors, central and local government, utility companies, and large organisations such as major retailers.

There are opportunities to work abroad, often gained through internal promotion after experience with a large contractor in the UK.

Alternative suggestions
Other possibilities might include architect, building services engineer, civil engineer, estate agent, quantity surveyor, surveyor or town planner.

Take-home pay
Starting pay is usually around £16,000 to £18,000, depending to some extent on where in the country you are working. This can be raised by allowances for being on site or for travelling. With qualifications and experience, you could expect to earn between £30,000 and £40,000. Salaries are higher in London.

Extra benefits may include a car and expenses.

Effects
The standard working week is around 38 hours, Monday to Friday, but evening and weekend work may be needed to complete some jobs. A large part of the work will be outdoors on site, in all kinds of weather.

Some construction managers move from location to location as one project is completed and a new one starts. This may mean staying near the site and coming home at weekends.

Sources of information
Association of Building Engineers: www.abe.org.uk

Chartered Institute of Building: www.ciob.org.uk

Construction Industry Training Board: www.bconstructive.co.uk - for young people, www.citb.co.uk/careers - for careers advisers, teachers and adults

Institute of Clerks of Works: www.icwgb.org

Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors: www.rics.org

CRCI: BB
DP Group: 3