Diploma in Construction and the Built Environment
The Industry
The construction and built environment industry is one of the largest and most important economic sectors in the UK. It covers a range of varied industries such as architecture, structural steelwork, heating and ventilation, painting and decorating and surveying. These industries create tens of thousands of new jobs every year.
If you want to work in the construction and built environment sector, you need to have a good understanding of why the built environment is significant to the public, the environment and the economy, and how to work safely in the industry.
If you can offer the right skills and knowledge, your career prospects in this sector are excellent.
Build essential skills and experience
The Diploma in Construction and the Built Environment gives you a chance to learn in different settings. You will learn how the built environment was designed and constructed, how it is used, and how it affects people and communities. But you will also be doing lots of practical activities such as getting involved in site visits and the planning and building of prestigious projects. You will then be able to apply everything you have learnt when working on your own projects.
What will I learn?
All levels of the Diploma in Construction and the Built Environment focus on three main themes:-
How is the Diploma made up?
Principal learning (subject learning you have to do)
At the heart of the Diploma are your core construction and built environment subjects. These will teach you the main things you need to know about the sector. You will learn about the issues that are affecting the sector today, how it works and what skills you need to have to work within it.
Additional and specialist learning(choices you can make)
-----Specialist Learning: At each level, you can develop your particular interest in construction and the built environment further by taking specialist courses relating to your chosen subject and career ambitions. You could, for example, learn about housing or sustainable communities or the impact different land use has on the safety, health and well-being of communities, or you could opt for plumbing and joinery if those skills interest you.
-----Additional Learning: You might choose a GCSE or A level in subjects like Maths or Art and Design, which would help you get onto a university course. You can also broaden your course by taking an additional subject that reflects your other interests and career ambitions - like a language, a science, or a creative subject like Music.
Functional skills in English, Maths and ICT
Like all Diploma students, you will develop a good standard of English, Maths and ICT. These subjects are essential to succeed in any business or learning environment, whether you decide to continue in the construction and built environment sector or not.
Personal, learning and thinking skills
All Diploma students will develop personal, learning and thinking skills, such as team-working, creative thinking and self-management. These are vital skills in both life and work, and will be useful to you in the future, no matter which path you take.
Work experience
Your Diploma will give you the opportunity to do at least 10 days' work experience. This is a great way to use the knowledge, understanding and skills you have learnt in the classroom, and experience what work is like from the inside.
Student projects
During your Diploma, you will complete a student project to demonstrate the skills and knowledge that you have learnt. This could be a written piece of work, like a report or an investigation; or it could be a practical piece of work, like designing a new structure where you use a range of materials and then produce a plan that enables others to build it.
What a Diploma will lead to
A Diploma in Construction and the Built Environment will give you the skills you need for either university or work, and is a first step towards a career in the sector.
It could lead you to a university degree in construction management, building services engineering, housing practice, planning or architecture; or it could help you begin a career as a building services contractor, construction worker, electrician, engineer, urban planner, property developer, estate agent, restorer of old buildings or architect.
However, the Diploma in Construction and the Built Environment doesn't mean you have to opt for a career in this sector. Because a Diploma teaches a mix of subjects, it will give you the skills that will be welcomed by colleges, universities and employers, no matter what you choose to do.
"The Diploma in Construction and the Built Environment will provide young people with a new and exciting way of learning and, for the first time, place the built environment at the heart of mainstream education. A whole generation will now see opportunities for careers that until now they were hardly aware of."
Mel Lees, Deputy Director of the Centre for Education in Built Environment, Salford University.
Want to find out more?
To find out more about the Diploma in Construction and the Built Environment, speak to your teacher or careers adviser. You can also find more information about Diplomas on these websites:
www.direct.gov.uk
www.connexions-direct.com
www.cbediploma.co.uk