Construction Sector:
Typical Employers
Throughout the UK, the majority of employers offer graduate training programmes with most working towards professional qualifications during this time.
Most employers recruit for their graduate training schemes via recruitment fairs, adverts in Universities and their own websites. Competition is high for these positions and several of the key employers in Scotland have indicated that summer placements or working part-time in the industry during university years can give applicants a significant edge. The general advice would be to take a proactive and speculative approach. Contact companies directly regarding securing some paid or even unpaid work experience whilst completing your degree.
Construction and Building Services
Construction firms will tend to specialise in specific types or sizes of projects. When making choices about your course options it is worthwhile considering what kind of project work would be of most interest. Construction and Construction Management graduates will generally follow professional pathways required by the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors(RICS) or the Chartered Institute of Building(CIOB).
Major employers of graduates in Scotland include:
Balfour Beatty (Edinburgh)
Balfour Beatty is a world class engineering, construction, service and investment business. They employ over 40,000 people across 24 countries and four sectors: Building, Building Management and Services; Civil and Specialist Engineering; Rail Engineering; and Investments.
Morrison Construction (Lanarkshire / Glasgow) Morrison is one of the country's leading facilities services providers. Their job is to look after buildings, homes and the people who live in and use them.
Galliford Try (Inverness/ Aberdeen)
Galliford Try is one of the UK’s leading construction and housebuilding groups with revenues of circa £1.5 billion.
Miller (Edinburgh)
The Miller Group, the UK's largest privately owned Housebuilding, Property Development and Construction Business.
Mansell (Edinburgh, Glasgow, Perth, Dundee & Aberdeen) From houses and hospitals to colleges and classrooms, the scope of Mansell’s building work can be summarised in just two words; Constructing Communities.
Laing O’Rourke (Motherwell) Laing O’Rourke plc is the largest privately owned construction firm in the UK. We have offices in the UK, Germany, India, Australia and United Arab Emirates and over 31,000 employees worldwide.
NG Bailey (Glasgow) NG Bailey has businesses spanning almost every area of building services and ICT.
Skanska (Lanark) Skanska is one of the world’s leading construction groups with expertise in construction, development of commercial and residential projects and public-private partnerships.
Robertson (Stirling /Inverness / Aberdeen)Robertson is a privately owned portfolio of individual companies working in construction, investment, development and facilities services throughout the UK.
Arup (Glasgow /Edinburgh /Dundee) Arup are an independent firm of designers, planners, engineers, consultants and technical specialists offering a broad range of professional services.
Atkins (Edinburgh/ Aberdeen/ Glasgow) Atkins is one of the world's leading engineering and design consultancies.
ROK Group The Group specialises in low risk, relationship based service delivery providing building, repairs and refurbishment, and maintenance services.
Spie Matthew Hall (Edinburgh/ Glasgow) SPIE Matthew Hall provide multi technical and support services from initial mechanical and electrical design, through installation, commissioning to long term maintenance and facilities management.
Real Estate Services and Surveying
This can include property letting, sale and purchase of residential/commercial real estate, surveying and property management. Some firms provide all services, others specialise in one particular area.
Major employers in Scotland include:
Atisreal
CBRE
Colliers
Cushman & Wakefield
DTZ
EC Harris
GVA Grimley
Jones Lang La Salle
Rydens
King Sturge
Knight Frank
Lambert Smith Hampton
Savills
Strutt & Parker
Surveyors of various types are required to acquire professional status from RICS. For information on surveying firms go to www.ricsfirms.com
Architecture
Graduates require postgraduate study and significant professional experience before being fully qualified through the Royal Institute of British Architects(RIBA).
Architectural Technologists follow a route guided by the Chartered Institute of Architectural Technologists(CIAT)
Architectural practices can specialise in a number of different areas, such as conservation, regeneration and residential building. For information on architect practices in Scotland go to www.rias.org.uk
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