Site engineer : Training

Training usually starts with an induction period and continues with a mix of on-the-job training and relevant short courses. It is essential to keep abreast of legislation, compliance and reporting requirements through training and continuous professional development (CPD). Attending internal and external training courses, relevant seminars and conferences is an effective way of keeping up to date with current issues and refreshing knowledge. Most large firms offer structured training and encourage professional status.

For future career development, it may be worthwhile to consider gaining chartered status of a professional body, and for a site engineer, there is a choice to make depending on the area of work.

Graduates in the building industry will find the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB)  the most appropriate professional body to join. An accredited degree in building gives exemption from the academic element of membership of the CIOB, but three years must be spent in work at an appropriate professional level (or two years if the degree was a sandwich course). A report on that experience must be submitted and candidates then face a professional interview.

For site engineers working for engineering firms, gaining chartered status of the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE)  or the The Institution of Structural Engineers (IStructE)  may be preferable. Both institutions require members to undertake a programme of initial professional development (IPD), with a mentor assigned to monitor progress. To gain chartered or incorporated status, members will need to undertake a professional review.