Jobs and Careers Spring 2020 - 243

CONSTRUCTION ISN'T JUST A JOB...
The construction industry offers
hundreds of diverse professions,
such as environmentally conscious
designers using state-of-the-art
tech, crane operators working
up to 100 metres off the ground,
archaeologists preserving and
safeguarding our heritage, and

architects designing modern
solutions to complex problems.
Check out the range of job roles
in construction, and which would
be right for you, using the
Go Construct career explorer at:
goconstruct.org/career-explorer

CASE STUDY - VERITY BAILEY
and Development from UCL
definitely helped.

I am currently on the Crest Nicholson
rotational Graduate Scheme.
Over the past six months I have
predominately spent my time
in the Planning department and
have assisted the Land Buyers in
completing planning appraisals,
producing reports, attending planning
committees and making visits to
potential sites, determining their
planning viability.
Which company do you work
and what do they do?
I work in Crest Nicholson PLC's
development department which is
an amalgamation of land, planning
and design departments.
Each department liaises with
each other via the development
department from the point of
identifying a potential site.
Together they discuss and analyse the
suitability of the site, the design of
the scheme and work together during
the planning permission process.
What education route did you take
from secondary school to where you
are today?
I don't think either a specific degree
or construction qualifications were
essential requirements, but my RICS
accredited MSc in Planning, Design

JC Spring 2020 CITB F.indd 243

What is your favourite thing
about your job?
I enjoy construction project
management and taking responsibility
for a project. In doing so, I'm able to
establish a rapport and relationship
with numerous internal and external
players. Following a project from start
to finish is really rewarding.
The variation of tasks that my
role offers is really exciting. In my
department it is often required to
deal with queries relating to historical
developments which is often
challenging and requires a keen
eye for detail.
When you resolve a query and come
to a conclusion it's really satisfying one of the best things about working
in construction.
Why did you choose a career
in construction?
I have been enthusiastic about
property for as long as I can
remember, from the point of building
mansions out of Lego to watching
Grand Designs or reading the local
property papers.

not only the likelihood of a site
achieving planning permission but
what could be built on that site and
fundamentally, the role planning plays
in adding value to a site. So I've always
kept an eye on careers in architecture
and construction industry jobs.
What would you say to
someone thinking about a
career in construction?
Gain an accredited degree, the
knowledge from this alone will
help you at interview.
In regards to planning, there are
various planning committees that
can be attended by the public in
your local authority. The experience
from these can provide a talking
point at an interview and provide
you with invaluable knowledge of
how the system works.
If you want to learn more, the Go
Construct website (goconstruct.org)
has a great deal more information
about how to pursue a career in the
construction industry.

GOCONSTRUCT.ORG

At school I became more interested in
the markets and politics surrounding
housing which encouraged me to
focus my BA Geography dissertation
on housing markets and then study
for my MSc.
During my MSc I especially enjoyed
the logic that was required for
planning, from establishing the policy
documents that could determine

18/05/2020 13:49
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Jobs and Careers Spring 2020

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