Built Environment

Be part of a vital profession that changes the built world around us. In this sector you will be responding to what people want and need from structures.

Depending on the route you take, you might be designing our built environment, you might be creating and managing the systems we need to make buildings habitable, or perhaps you will be responsible for ensuring that it all fits together and suits the local community.

There are opportunities in:

  • architecture and architectural technology
  • building services engineering and building control
  • surveying and planning
  • town planning and town centre management


Built Environment is a relatively new way of describing the design, construction and managements of manmade structures. The traditional areas of Construction, Property and Land Surveying are included in this sector, but see our separate sector summary for more information. It is also worth noting the overlap with Engineering.

Check out the professional bodies own entries in the Profession Finder.

Here’s some things you really want to know:


Jobs and salaries:

Find out what an architect does and what a typical salary in the profession is. See how a landscape architect’s salary works out, and read about careers that overlap with landscape architecture. Want to know what a chartered architectural technologist does? And a professional architectural technician?

Building services engineers look after lighting, heating and ventilation, lifts and escalators, acoustics, plumbing, power supply and energy management systems, as well as security and safety systems in buildings. How much does a building services engineer typically earn?

Building control surveyors/officers make sure that buildings meet construction regulations. BCOs typically work for Local Authorities, but they also work in private sector organisations, such as the NHBC. Find out what to expect as a building control officer, including information about salary and other benefits.

Follow the ‘Quick Links’ to read about the different specialisms within the surveying profession.

Town planners (or spatial planners) help to shape the way towns and cities develop. Interested in town planning?

Find out what a town centre manager does.


See our Construction, Property and Land Surveying for roles in housing and property. Civil engineering, civil engineering surveyors and explosives engineers are also included in these pages, but in more detail in our Engineering section.


Routes and qualifications:

Degrees and/or professional qualifications are needed to practise in most fields in this sector, with progression to higher qualified roles being common.

Qualifying as an architect in the United Kingdom involves a combination of academic studies and professional experience within a practice, and takes a minimum of seven years to complete. Visit RIBA (The Royal Institute of British Architects) to see how to train as an architect. Since 1997 the title ‘architect’ has been protected, and architects must register with the ARB (Architects Registration Board), who regulate the profession. A non-traditional/alternative route is also available into this profession. Listen to landscape architecture students talking about their studies.

Professional architectural technicians (TCIAT) can develop into chartered architectural technologists (MCIAT). Entrance, and progression, to both roles, involves completion of a Professional and Occupational Performance (POP) Record where an individual's competence is assessed by CIAT (Chartered Institute of Architectural Technologists).

Read about how you can become a building control officer, and find out about the ways into building services. ABE (The Association of Building Engineers) accredit courses in the field, find out about the routes to their membership.

There are broadly two routes into surveying: by way of a degree or through an HNC/D and then work experience. See what the road towards a career in surveying looks like.

To become a town centre manager start the journey here.

Find out how you can become a town planner.


Funding and support:

  • The David Butler Bursary provides financial support to those wanting to pursue a career in housing.


What’s it really like working in Built Environment?


How many Built Environment jobs are out there?

Get an idea of how many professionals are working in the different fields by checking the following professional bodies’ sites:

  • Architects - RIBA; 
  • Chartered Architectural Technologists and Professional Architectural Technicians - CIAT.   


Location, location, location

Work in this sector spans both the private and public sectors of the economy as well as different types of organisation – many architects, for example, are self-employed. Working in this sector is also likely to mean time spent in offices and ‘on-site’ – where the ‘site’ could be anywhere in the world.


Will a career in Built Environment suit me?

What are the entry requirements to become an architect? To qualify as a landscape architect, you will need to have an interest in the environment and ecology and you will undertake a period of mentored experience while working, as part of the Pathway to Chartership (P2C).

Read about the difference between an architect and a chartered architectural technologist, and download CIAT’s careers handbook.

To become a building services engineer you’ll need at least grade C in GCSE science and maths. Design Technology is also useful.                                                                                            

You’ll also need:

  • a talent for making things work
  • be able to think outside the box
  • have enthusiasm and creativity
  • show ambition and determination
  • be able to meet deadlines
  • be a good team player
  • be an excellent communicator


To become a surveyor you’ll need:

  • negotiating skills
  • excellent communication skills
  • the ability to work well as a member of a team
  • good maths and analytical skills
  • the ability to develop and maintain working relationships
  • commercial awareness


Furthermore, to qualify for chartered status through RICS, you must complete the RICS Assessment of Professional Competence (APC) while you are working. You will also need at least two years' work experience and will have to pass an interview with a panel of assessors.

Town planners are expected to have a degree and then pass an Assessment of Professional Competence.



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