8 exciting career paths in the built environment
Posted on: 21 October, 2024
The built environment is an exciting sector full of opportunities in a wide range of areas. Here are a handful of examples.
When you think of the built environment, you’d be forgiven for picturing construction sites, hardhats and high visibility jackets. However, while the stereotypical image of the sector isn’t always glamorous, the truth is that industries like architecture and construction are among the most diverse when it comes to breadth and opportunities.
They’re also the most in-demand, too. Housebuilding numbers in the UK are at their lowest since World War II; between 2022 and 2023, the number of green jobs grew twice as fast as the number of workers with green skills; and, according to a UCEM survey of 300 built environment professionals, 88% believe their industries are desperately in need of sustainability talent.
If you’re interested in a career in the built environment, here are seven of the most exciting pathways you can pursue in the sector.
1. Architectural Technology
Architectural technology is the meeting point of architecture, science and engineering. A blend of creativity and practicality, professionals in this field are responsible for taking an architect’s design and turning it into a safe, practical and sustainable reality.
A typical day in the life of an Architectural Technologist varies – one day, they could be meeting with a client to discuss the requirements of their project. The next, they could be making use of Building Information Modelling (BIM) and other tools to bring these designs to life and simulate their operational performance.
Learn more: Architectural Technologist Job Profile
2. Building Control
Building control gained prominence in the wake of the Grenfell Tower disaster, the Building Safety Act and the emergence of safety, accessibility and regulation as a new priority in the built environment. It’s one of the most important professions in the entire sector, meaning it’s in high demand.
Professionals who work in building control are trusted with taking on the mantle of responsibility and ensuring the safety of families and communities. As a result, they’re often tasked with making significant decisions and driving positive change in the sector.
Learn more: Your guide to the 12 types of surveyor
3. Building Surveying
For many professions in the built environment, no two days are the same, but this is especially the case for Building Surveyors.
One of the most diverse, complex and challenging professions in the sector, building surveying requires both a broad range of knowledge and specialist expertise in specific areas. This makes it one of the most varied industries in the sector, where you can expect to work on a wide range of different projects.
“It was the variety that helped me decide on building surveying,” Annabel Huffer, UCEM Alumni and Chartered Building Surveyor, told us. “Luckily, I wasn’t disappointed.”
4. Environmental Science
Environmental Scientists seek to understand the relationship between humans and both the natural and the built environment. Whether they’re working for a business or employed by a client in a consulting capacity, their output is focused on how to combat issues like global warming
Using a scientific approach to problem-solving, Environmental Scientists are often involved in research into the impact man-made structures have on the natural environment. This can involve conducting laboratory experiments, analysing data, and building conceptual models that help them come up with innovative solutions to environmental challenges.
5. Environmental Sustainability Management
Sustainability Managers oversee the sustainability aspects of a construction project. As such, they’re required to be up-to-date on the latest green building credentials and sustainability compliance standards, and knowledgeable in areas like renewable energy and low-carbon technologies.
The role of sustainability management is likely to become more and more important for the built environment, meaning professionals in this area can expect job security and no shortage of opportunities for employment.
6. Real Estate
If you enjoy working with people and supporting clients, real estate could be the profession for you. From valuation to commercial, residential and agency work, success in real estate is driven by the ability to build relationships, establish networks and generate new business. It’s also yet another broad field in the built environment where professionals have the opportunity to specialise in a specific area.
“The people are what make this the best – the clients and the people I work with,” Sadaqat Hussain, a UCEM alumni and Senior Surveyor with CBRE told us. “They’re what makes this an enjoyable career.”
Learn more: Property is about people – a student success story with Sadaqat Hussain MRICS
7. Sustainability Consulting
Sustainability Consultants are experts in all things sustainability. They’re brought in by organisations to assess the impact of their operations on the environment, and identify ways they can optimise their processes and become more sustainable.
This profession is not only lucrative, but also one that is growing importance as more and more organisations look inward and assess their contribution to climate change. In the built environment, sustainability consulting is also broad, with applications across the entire building lifecycle and plenty of opportunities for employment.
8. Urban Planning
No profession in the built environment has the potential to impact as many people as urban planning. Planning professionals manage the allocation and utilisation of space in neighbourhoods, towns and cities, helping to ensure that development (and redevelopment) meets the needs of communities while minimising damage to the environment.
From solving complex problems and navigating complex regulations to giving presentations and negotiating in disputes, planning is a people-oriented field that necessitates both creativity and organisation.
Learn more: Urban Planner Job Profile
Final thoughts
The above roles are just a snapshot of the different career paths professionals can take in the built environment. With international net zero targets fast approaching and countries across the world short of the skilled professionals they need, there are a wealth of opportunities in the built environment, and no shortage of possibilities for where a career in the sector can take you.
To find out more about the different professions in the built environment, visit our careers webpage.
