As students receive their exam results this summer, the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE) is encouraging them to consider a career in the fast developing sector of building services engineering.
In the CIBSE/Hays Salary Survey 2013 the industry is shown to be increasing job prospects as 57% of firms were planning on recruiting more staff.
Engineering in the built environment sector is about creating great buildings for people to work, play and live in. CIBSE members are the engineers who design, install, operate, maintain and refurbish the systems installed in buildings, and also make a significant contribution to the thermal design of building envelopes.
This role is increasingly a critical one says CIBSE President George Adams: 'We must recognise our growing cities are the biggest single challenge in addressing the impact in a changing world of social and climate change.'
The breadth of what is on offer in a building services career is clearly demonstrated by the winners of this year's Ken Dale Travel Bursary. This Bursary offers CIBSE members in the developmental stage of their careers the chance to travel and research areas connected with the applicant's field of work.
Winners in 2013 are:
· Katie Wallace, Sainsbury's, to study 'Co2 Heat Reclaim' in Sweden, Norway and Denmark focusing on refrigeration in supermarkets;
· Angela Reid, Wallace Whittle, to visit three international sustainable mixed-use developments to help look at reducing energy use; and
· Kayley Lockhead, NG Bailey, to study renewable technologies in Africa.
Building Services Engineering offers many opportunities to school leavers and graduates. CIBSE recognises young talent in the industry through its Young Engineer Network (YEN) and Awards such as the Young Engineer Awards (YEA), and the Society of Light and Lighting (SLL)'s Young Lighter of the Year Award. CIBSE also embraces employment diversity through its Diversity Panel and has a very active network Women in Building Services Engineering (WiBSE) which aims to support and encourage women joining, working, staying and progressing in the building services industry.
A new work-based route through the Technician Apprenticeship Consortium is now available for 2013/14 to become a qualified technician. For more information contact
Sheila@hoileassociates.co.uk