A civil engineer’s role is central to the timely and safe completion of construction projects in the man-made and natural environment. Typical areas of work include coastal development, highway construction, geotechnical engineering and waste management.
Duties of a civil engineer include developing designs, undertaking site investigations, compiling proposals, assessing risk, supervising tendering procedures, liasing with colleagues and on-site contractors, budget management and reviewing drawings, as well as ensuring that each project runs as smoothly as possible within the stipulated time and budget constraints
The civil engineering career has many routes to it. One option is to take a MEng degree, for which an A-level pass at mathematics is required. Other routes include HNC and HND courses or vocational A-levels. Salaries for graduate engineers start at £23,500, with higher starting rates of £24,500 being offered in Oxfordshire, followed closely by London at £23,898. With experience, earnings can reach £36,000 and opportunities for progression to chief executive level are comparatively good.