The world’s best kept secret
A career in Building Services Engineering
How to be a building services engineer
If you were to undertake a qualitative survey to explore ‘how to become a building services engineer’ (also known as a MEP Engineer), the results would conclude that this happens by accident for most experienced professionals in this sector.
However, as a result of this secret, very few teachers or careers advisors talk about or promote a career in Building Services Engineering. It is literally the worlds best career secret.
There are so many flexible routes to train for a career in this exciting sector. It could be an apprenticeship at 16, an undergraduate apprenticeship after A levels or College, a post graduate route and then there are opportunities for those who are early or mid-career that want a career change.
Choosing a career journey or next career step can be a daunting experience. There are many fantastic organisations and websites that help support this decision-making process in choosing the learning and development options that are right for you. Once the study is over, then the process starts on getting that 1stwork place opportunity that is right for you. CIBSE, BESA, IET, ECA are all good starting points to find information about the many roles and opportunities in this important sector.
Buildings are dark uninhabitable spaces without Building Services
For the past three decades, there could not be a better time to train for a career in the global building services sector. It’s a sector that experiences constant technology driven change from materials, working practices, all on a global footprint. Energy efficiency and building safety has always been at the hub of this sectors responsibilities. Over the past 30 years we have seen coal replaced by gas, nuclear power generation gaining popularity as a clean energy generator and heat pump technology replacing gas fired boilers.
Sustainability in an increasingly critical area of Building Services.
Building services is about integrating multiple complex mechanical and electrical systems in to one building. A big engineering jigsaw puzzle.
Buildings are dark uninhabitable spaces without the mechanical, electrical and controls systems that bring buildings to life.
There remains a global shortage of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) workers to meet the demands of a consistently growing built environment and construction market.
Looking forward a couple of decades and there is no slow down predicted. In fact, the forecast reality is quite the opposite. There are many social and political factors driving the global construction economy, which is estimated to grow by over 30% by 2030 to $15.2 Trillion (Oxford Economics, 2021), and expected to double up again to reach $30 trillion by 2050 (Vairagi et al., 2023).
Adding to the employment opportunity complexity which includes hybrid working at a global level, we are seeing more and more sectors and markets competing in the hiring of skilled knowledge-based workers in and from the built environment sector. Much of this demand is enabled through a skill base adapting to the growing application of digitalisation (gaming tech), industrialisation (high tech manufacturing), sustainability leadership of the design, build and maintenance of buildings and assets of the built environment.
This landscape is creating many global opportunities for individuals as skills are increasingly transferable, significantly reducing the risk of the impact of recession and downturn on career trajectory.
As the building services sector continues to evolve, in creating new roles and disciplines around social value, sustainability, visualisation, creative writing, there are increasing opportunities for social sciences, humanities and arts graduates need to join the sector.
The sector offers opportunity for continued professional development, global travel, and unrivalled career development and opportunity.
From LDNY’s experience, we see an industry that is diverse and one that constantly reinvents itself, with an increasingly interconnected global workforce of professional networks, a sector that rewards enthusiasm, hard work and innovation, and one that can have future positive influence on the worlds global net zero targets.
LDNY really do believe there is a role for everyone across the many industries and businesses operating across under the umbrella of Building Services.
Buoyant industries today include clean energy including Nuclear New Build, Renewable Power Generation and Storage, Defence, Data and Digital Sectors, High Technology Manufacturing, Infrastructure which includes Rail, Fuel storage and distribution, New Cities including Hospitals & Schools, Housing as examples.
It’s a sector that has a need for both new entrants and experienced staff to develop skills and retrain for the new roles and specialisms as they develop in response to policy and regulation changes, and modernisation of working practices.
At LDNY we can help you manage your career development or your business resources. LDNY can find your first or next role to fill or place. We also love to help you manage your personal or career journey.
Joining our community will give you exclusive insights in to trends and opportunities and tools to effectively manage your career.
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