Electrical building services engineers perform important roles in the construction and property industries, as they handle the design, installation and maintenance of the electrical parts of energy supplies, lighting, heating and ventilation, IT networks and security systems.
All jobs in the industry are highly skilled and anyone who wishes to gain employment in the sector will need qualifications. Many staff begin their careers as technicians, having completed an HND in building services engineering or a related subject. Workers at this level can expect a starting salary of around £16,500, rising to £24,500 after five years' experience.
Career Progression and Salary Information
The next step up is to qualify as an incorporated engineer. Some staff begin at this level as a graduate trainee after taking a degree accredited by the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers, while others work their way up from a technician's job by adding commercial and project management skills to their technical knowledge. Salaries for incorporated engineers are usually in the range of £25,000 to £40,000.
Chartered engineer status is the ultimate goal of many electrical building services specialists. Many of the staff who achieve it have an accredited masters degree, but it is possible for workers to qualify for it via extensive work experience. Chartered engineers, who can earn in excess of £50,000 a year, usually have excellent commercial skills and take charge of major design and installation projects.
Construction contractors, civil engineering companies, buildings maintenance firms and local authorities all have permanent positions for building services electrical engineers. The same companies also hire staff on short-term contracts via specialist construction and engineering recruitment agencies to carry out work on specific projects.