Contracting civil engineer
The Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) strives to promote and progress civil engineering. We are a qualifying body, a centre for the exchange of specialist knowledge and a provider of resources to encourage innovation and excellence in the profession worldwide. Get qualified with the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE).
Contracting civil engineers aim to turn the plans of consulting civil engineers (designers) into reality. They oversee the actual construction on the ground and work in conjunction with consulting engineers. All civil engineers need a good understanding of design and construction processes as well as of health and safety issues.
Once plans have been drawn up and approved by the client, an engineering contractor uses their professional expertise to organise human and material resources on site, and ensure the project runs to time and budget and is safe to work on. Occasionally, contractors will put together a design and build a team themselves. This blurs some of the boundaries between the services they offer and those traditionally provided by consultants.
The work involves turning the designer's plans into reality by actually building them. Contracting engineers ensure that all aspects of the construction project under their responsibility - from ground works and foundations to final finishes - are completed within cost and time constraints and to client specification.
Typical activities are likely to include:
However, turning designer’s plans into construction reality is never straightforward and other activities are likely to include:
The Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) strives to promote and progress civil engineering. We are a qualifying body, a centre for the exchange of specialist knowledge and a provider of resources to encourage innovation and excellence in the profession worldwide. Get qualified with the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE).
The Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) strives to promote and progress civil engineering. We are a qualifying body, a centre for the exchange of specialist knowledge and a provider of resources to encourage innovation and excellence in the profession worldwide. Get qualified with the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE).
This area of work is open to graduates of civil/structural engineering. An honours degree, accredited by the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) , is essential for gaining Chartered Engineer (MICE CEng) status with the ICE.
It may be possible to enter this profession as a graduate with a Bachelor of Science or another engineering discipline, but you may be limited as to how far you can progress in your career. Entry with an HND only is unusual, but diplomates can top up their HND with a degree and can gain Incorporated Engineer (MICE IEng) status.
Relevant summer work experience and placements can be very useful in providing a context to job applications as well as networking opportunities. Contact the ICE or take a look at online resources such as Technology Horizons to find out about industrial placements. Degree courses that provide a year in industry can also be very helpful in developing contacts. The engineering world is an active community which provides a variety of opportunities for new entrants to network and build on their knowledge of the industry.
Candidates need to show evidence of the following:
In order to achieve chartered membership of the ICE, the first stage is to satisfy the requirements of the educational base. This means either taking an MEng (Hons) or doing a BEng (Hons) plus a relevant postgraduate degree or following a suitable employer-led learning programme. The second stage involves undertaking Initial Professional Development, preferably through an ICE-approved training scheme. The final stage is to meet the requirements of the Professional Review.
Full details on routes into civil engineering can be found in the careers section of the ICE website.
Becoming professionally chartered takes a significant length of time but once achieved offers enhanced opportunities in terms of increased pay, promotion to more senior and specialised roles, and the ability to work freelance.
For more information, see work experience and internships and search courses and research.
The Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) strives to promote and progress civil engineering. We are a qualifying body, a centre for the exchange of specialist knowledge and a provider of resources to encourage innovation and excellence in the profession worldwide. Get qualified with the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE).
Training is undertaken whilst working and involves design and planning-focused work within the office in addition to site-based activities. Many employers offer structured training schemes to meet Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) requirements for chartership. As well as structured training and development, these schemes also provide support through a mentor/supervising civil engineer. It is important to check with employers during the selection process to see if they operate such a scheme for graduates and if you will be offered a place on the scheme. The ICE Approved Employers Search provides details of companies that offer approved training schemes.
To join an approved training scheme you must first enter into a training agreement with your employer. This guarantees that the employer will provide structured training which will help you to reach the various development objectives necessary to achieve chartership.
An example of a development objective is to 'Apply appropriate theoretical and practical methods to the analysis and solution of engineering problems'
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In order to gain chartership status, a graduate would have to show how he or she has achieved this development objective taking into account criteria such as:
A combination of personal reports (e.g. diaries, continuing professional development (CPD) records), work documents (e.g. drawings, calculations) and the testimony of others have to be provided to demonstrate that you have achieved the development objective.
CPD is an important element of career progression for civil engineers. The ICE provides guidelines for effective CPD and specific types of activities. The ICE and other key professional bodies such as the Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management (CIWEM) and the The Institution of Structural Engineers (IStructE) offer conferences, courses and workshops on a range of subjects.
The Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) strives to promote and progress civil engineering. We are a qualifying body, a centre for the exchange of specialist knowledge and a provider of resources to encourage innovation and excellence in the profession worldwide. Get qualified with the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE).
Large contractors prefer graduates to have overall experience of the whole contract process, in conjunction with institution training schemes.
As graduates progress towards incorporated or chartered status, they take on more responsibility and have the opportunity to move into site manager positions. Site careers can lead to responsibility for major projects (£25million plus). Progression is then to contracts manager or company director. Office-based career prospects also exist.
Postgraduate study can be undertaken in more specialist areas. Some engineers take business qualifications such as an MBA or an accountancy qualification such as those conferred by the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) . This sits well with engineering training, being the accountancy qualification specialising in industry and commerce.
A more usual pattern in the civil engineering profession is to gain at least three years' experience. Following this, engineers can go on to specialise in specific fields whilst still being regarded as civil engineers. Areas include:
The Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) strives to promote and progress civil engineering. We are a qualifying body, a centre for the exchange of specialist knowledge and a provider of resources to encourage innovation and excellence in the profession worldwide. Get qualified with the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE).
Civil engineering contractors can range from small locally based firms to large multinationals. Look at any building site and the names of the companies involved can be seen - both consulting and contracting engineers, as well as architects. These companies often cover a range of operations and have a number of smaller companies operating under their umbrella. The following are just some of the areas in which they may be involved:
Other companies may specialise in areas such as road surfacing, environmental contracting (e.g. landfill sites) or bridge building. Small local companies may offer a limited range of services.
Specialist recruitment agencies commonly handle vacancies.
Get tips on job hunting, CVs and covering letters and interviews.
The Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) strives to promote and progress civil engineering. We are a qualifying body, a centre for the exchange of specialist knowledge and a provider of resources to encourage innovation and excellence in the profession worldwide. Get qualified with the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE).
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