After a few lean years following the economic crisis in 2008, the construction industry has bounced back and has been steadily growing over the last couple of years. And with the growth in output comes a demand for more workers, making this a fantastic area to consider if you’re planning the next stage of your education.

If you want a career in construction, then you’ll need to undertake a course relevant to the field you’re interested in. You’ll find a huge range of construction courses available, but why would you want a job in this sector? There are a few reasons that make working in construction a smart choice.

• Growing Employment Opportunities. A recent industry report found that employment in the construction sector had grown for the twelfth month in a row. And with the demand for housing and offices on the rise, this looks set to continue. There is also an expected skills shortage in the UK construction sector, so the competition for jobs will be less stiff than in other sectors, and you’ll have a real edge by studying on construction courses.
• A Bright Outlook. With a current boom in house building, at its highest since 2008, the current landscape is healthy and economists believe the outlook remains strong. The CITB Construction Skills Network believes that 182,000 new jobs will be created in the UK industry between 2014 and 2019.
• Rich Rewards. How much money you can earn in construction depends very much on the role you pursue. Naturally, a skilled craftsman will earn more than a labourer. But let’s say you were to complete a Level 2 Diploma in Bricklaying. You’d be looking at an average starting salary of about £16k rising to around £30k as you earn experience.
• Global Skills. Skilled workers in the construction industry are in demand across the UK and around the globe. If you see your future abroad, then working in construction offers incredible opportunities. Pay for construction workers is uniformly good relative to the local economy.

So if you’re interested in these benefits of working in the trade, you’ll need to undertake construction courses to gain the necessary skills to secure a job or paid apprenticeship.

What Are Construction Courses Like?

Because of the nature of the subject, construction courses are naturally very practical in nature. You’ll learn about the tools, materials and techniques in your chosen area of expertise as well as general construction theory and elements such as health and safety.

Much of the work on construction courses will be hands-on in workshops, allowing you to develop your skills under the careful eye of experienced professionals, but there will also be classroom elements to ensure you learn the essential knowledge that informs construction techniques and practices.

Once you’ve successfully completed a construction course, you’ll be in a much better position to find work in the industry.  Gaining qualifications in construction-related trades will help you get a CSCS card – which you will require when working on most building projects.

For some jobs, such as electrical and gas appliance installers, you are legally required to have qualifications proving you have the right skills. Construction training specialists (such as the College of North West London) can advise both school leavers and experienced trades people what type of qualification will help them get the job they want.

Post credit; College of North West London offers a variety of construction courses across various trades. To find out more, visit http://www.cnwl.ac.uk/courses/construction-and-building-services/

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