Civil Engineer

Also known as:

Building Engineer
Construction Engineer
Engineer, Civil

Introduction

Civil engineers plan, design and manage construction projects such as roads, tunnels, bridges, waste management and water systems, power stations, harbours and dams. The work includes supervising engineering technicians and construction workers.

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Work Activities

Civil engineers plan, design and manage construction projects. These include transportation systems such as roads and railways, water and waste management systems, and structures such as buildings, ports, harbours and offshore platforms.

Civil engineers work both in an office and on-site. Office duties include producing designs for projects, making detailed drawings for use on-site, calculating and checking specifications for projects, planning work and keeping records of progress, plant, stock and finance.

When a construction project is under way, civil engineers on-site are responsible for making sure that the work is being carried out according to the designs, plans and estimated timescale. They use specialist equipment to survey the site to make sure that construction work is being carried out in the right place and that the structure is safe; for example that steel reinforcements are correctly in place. They also supervise construction workers and engineering technicians.

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Personal Qualities and Skills

As a civil engineer you will work as in a team with a number of people including other engineers, sub-contractors, clients, quantity surveyors and local authority representatives such as planners.

You will need to keep up-to-date with the latest materials, methods and techniques in design and construction.

Civil engineers use computer software packages for many aspects of their work: analysing data, making calculations, producing accurate drawings and blueprints, keeping records and helping to plan and monitor the progress of their work. Civil engineers also need to cope with and solve any problems or difficulties that may arise on-site.

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Pay and Opportunities

Salaries vary depending on the company and level of responsibility.

The pay rates given below are approximate.

Civil engineers earn in the range of £23,000 - £28,000 a year, rising to £34,000 - £42,500. Higher earners can make around £55,000 a year, and higher salaries are possible.

Most civil engineers work around 35-40 hours from Monday to Friday. However, you may have early starts and late finishes, and you may need to work some weekends, especially as deadlines approach.

You might have to travel to different locations and perhaps spend periods living away from home.

You may work for firms of engineering consultants, building and civil engineering contractors, local authorities, and gas, water and electricity companies.

Some civil engineers work in the Civil Service, in manufacturing industry and in the armed forces. Some civil engineers work independently, as consultants.

There are also opportunities to work in other countries.

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Adult Opportunities

It is now illegal for any organisation to set age limits for entry to employment, education or training, unless they can show there is a real need to have these limits.

People with relevant qualifications or skills and abilities gained in the construction industry or as an engineering technician have an advantage.

People without the usual academic qualifications can achieve membership of the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) via the Technical Report Route (TRR). See the ICE website for guidance on entry requirements.

If you don't have the qualifications needed to enter your chosen degree or HND course, a college or university Access course (eg, Access to Engineering) could be the way in.

These courses are designed for people who have not followed the usual routes into higher education. No formal qualifications are usually needed, but you should check this with individual colleges.

ICE Quest Scholarships are available to candidates with a conditional offer for an ICE accredited course in Civil Engineering.

Sponsorship for study at higher education level is available through the larger building/construction companies.

Some civil engineers work independently, as consultants.

• 12% of people in occupations such as civil engineer are self-employed.
• 4% work part-time.
• 15% have flexible hours.
• 3% of employees work on a temporary basis.

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New Developments

Some people working in this occupation may be involved in the green jobs sector in areas such as renewable energy.