Ask a room full of construction professionals how they got into the industry and you’ll quickly discover there’s no standard blueprint.
That was the key takeaway from Constructing Careers: Paths into the Industry, a CIOB Midlands Tomorrow’s Leaders event held at STEAMHouse in Birmingham, supported by Kier.
Kier continues to grow and strengthen its presence in the Midlands, securing a place on the Constructing West Midlands framework and recently opening a new Birmingham hub in the city centre. Supporting the event therefore provided an opportunity to connect that growth with the emerging talent who will help shape the future of the industry.
Bringing together students, emerging professionals and industry leaders, the evening highlighted a simple but important message: there is no single route into construction.
Chaired by Nicola Markall FCIOB, construction and engineering director at Kier, the panel featured professionals working across project management, sustainability, digital construction, architecture, demolition and specialist subcontracting. While their job titles varied, their experiences showed just how diverse careers in construction can be.
From apprenticeships and graduate schemes to career changes and specialist roles, attendees heard first-hand how people have built successful careers in the industry. The discussion challenged traditional perceptions of construction, showcasing opportunities in sustainability, digital innovation, design, engineering and project leadership, as well as highlighting the skills needed for the future.
Stay curious
The session concluded with a short Q&A. When asked how candidates can improve their chances of securing an apprenticeship, Markall offered some simple but important advice: “Stay curious. Be authentic. Be yourself. AI is here to stay and is quickly becoming business as usual, so embrace the opportunities it brings.
“But never let technology take away the one thing that is uniquely yours: you. Authenticity matters. We want to get to know the real person behind the CV, not who you think you need to be.”
Emily Ingram, assistant project manager at AtkinsRéalis, echoed this sentiment, adding: “People like people. You need the right attitude and energy.”
A fitting end to the panel came when each speaker was asked to complete the sentence “If you’re considering a career in construction, you should…”
Ingram encouraged attendees to “look at everything there is to offer and all the different companies and opportunities out there”.
Nidaa Alazmeh, digital project delivery lead at John Sisk & Son, advised aspiring professionals to “think outside the box and explore all opportunities”.
Paul Chatwin, associate director at Cundall, opted for a more light-hearted approach, prompting a laugh from the audience with his answer: “Get a job in sustainability.”
Titus Akpan MCIOB, assistant project manager at Colemans, encouraged everyone to “be open-minded”, while Dav Bansal, a partner at Howells, urged attendees to “go for it! Engage with people and look at the amazing buildings around you.”
Derry Building Services’ Gregg Matthews rounded things off with some practical wisdom: “Do your research, apply yourself and be the very best version of you.”
Leading industry names
Following the panel discussion, attendees had the opportunity to continue conversations with representatives from Kier, Quantem, Colemans, Strabag, AtkinsRéalis, Sisk, Cundall, Derry Building Services, Retrofit Academy, SDC, Winvic, Tilbury Douglas, Spacion, Howells and McBains.
The networking session allowed attendees to seek advice, explore career pathways and gain a deeper understanding of the opportunities available across the sector.
The event highlighted the breadth of careers available across construction and the many different ways into the profession. Most importantly, it showed that behind every job title is a unique journey, proving there is no such thing as a “typical” construction career. For anyone considering their next step, Constructing Careers offered a simple but reassuring message: there’s more than one way to build your future.
