The systems that make buildings safe, convenient, and pleasant are designed, installed, and maintained by building services engineers. As a building services engineer, you may install or service equipment in buildings such as offices, hospitals, or shopping malls.
This includes:
- acoustics
- health and safety
- heating
- lifts and escalators
- lighting
- power and supply
- security.
Responsibilities
Throughout your apprenticeship, you may help:
- create plans using CAD and building information modelling software
- design and install controls for systems like heating and ventilation
- estimate costs
- make sure jobs meet building regulations and health and safety requirements
- attend meetings and present ideas and progress reports
- coordinate the work of technicians and craftspeople
- assist with installation and maintenance work.
Salary
- Starting salaries for an apprentice building services engineers are generally in the region of £24,000 to £26,000.
- Experienced engineers can earn a salary of £40,000, with those working at senior levels earning more than £55,000. Having chartered (CEng MCIBSE) or incorporated (IEng ACIBSE) status will generally increase your level of pay.
- Partners in a firm of consulting engineers or highly experienced building services engineers with chartered status may earn over £80,000. In larger international consultancies, this figure could be in excess of £110,000.
Working hours
It’s common to work more than average office hours between 39 to 41 hours in this role, but this shouldn’t include weekends or shift work. However, you may be required to be on standby at times, as part of an emergency call-out service.
Working environment
You could work on a construction site or in an office.
You may need to wear protective clothing.
Qualifications
Qualifications you can achieve as an apprentice building services engineers include:
- Level 4 Building Services Engineering Technician – Entry requirements for this level include 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A levels, or equivalent, for a higher or degree apprenticeship. This qualification takes 32 months to complete.
Skills
On a building services engineer apprenticeship, you’ll learn:
- knowledge of engineering science and technology
- maths knowledge
- analytical thinking skills
- to be thorough and pay attention to detail
- excellent verbal communication skills
- knowledge of building and construction
- the ability to use your initiative
- the ability to use, repair and maintain machines and tools
- to be able to use a computer and the main software packages competently.
Employers
Building services engineers can find opportunities with a variety of employers, including:
- consultancies
- multidisciplinary construction companies
- major house building companies
- universities and other educational institutions
- local authorities
- the public health and healthcare sectors, including hospitals and care homes.
Professional development
By working with the Engineering Council, you may become a professionally qualified building services engineer. To do so, you must be a member of a licenced institution, CIBSE.
You’ll need to show that you have the necessary skills and knowledge for CEng or IEng status, which is often done via relevant qualifications and experience.
Because technology and techniques in building services engineering are continually improving, it is vital to keep up to date. In addition, several short courses, conferences, and seminars may be helpful.
Career prospects
Progression within the industry is often straightforward. For example, the traditional career path while dealing with clients/end-users or contractors is from engineer to manager.
However, career pathways are flexible, and your growth is somewhat impacted by your chosen company’s size and specialisation.
Because they may lead to your specialist field, it is essential to be smart when choosing the kind of certification to seek and the areas where to get practical experience.
Because growth is based on gaining professional credentials and relevant experience, it is advised to earn the requisite qualifications and join the appropriate professional body as soon as possible. The title of chartered and incorporated engineer is recognised in the United Kingdom and worldwide.