Construction Jobs in the UK | Should you Consider NOT Going to Work Abroad!?
Posted by Steve Thomas , Construction Recruitment Director, UK & Canada on Tuesday, July 23, 2024
At Maxim Recruitment in the UK, we have the pleasure of recruiting UK construction professionals into construction jobs all around the world every year. This can be a fantastic career opportunity and an amazing personal adventure too – but in truth, it’s not for everyone.
It is always a good idea to consider your career options fully before committing either to go overseas or to stay with the same company for a long time. There are advantages to staying in the UK to build your professional construction career as well as a great many prospects to do the same overseas. The UK is a highly attractive place to work and live and staying in the UK offers fantastic construction project and unique career opportunities if you make sure you work for the right company. Lets briefly look at the draw of career prospects overseas and then focus on the advantages of the UK to build your career in the construction industry.
The recruitment consultants at Maxim Recruitment have been recruiting UK qualified and trained professionals to go and work internationally since 2004. While we often get some international roles in exotic and unusual locations, our core locations where we recruit UK construction professionals most often include Canada, Australia, Hong Kong, Macau and Dubai.
UK construction professionals are often not bilingual (get in touch if you are!!) and many of our most common work placement locations are places where English is the language used by the construction industry in most circumstances. All the above locations offer completely different lifestyles and offer fantastic career opportunities that are not available in the UK.
For example, high-flying Project Managers, Quantity Surveyors or construction dispute professionals can often achieve a promotion and a pay rise at the same time as relocating. Often our premium UK experienced construction professionals find they can fast-track their career overseas as their skills, software knowledge and industry-leading processes and procedures are in demand with forward looking international companies looking to learn about UK best practices.
Nearly all our international construction recruitment placements tend to stay overseas for longer than they originally intended – many are still in the same job or country 20 years (or half their career) later!
However, many construction professionals that have worked abroad eventually come back, and a large number never actually leave the country to work, preferring to build a successful career in the UK. So, what are the reasons why many in construction make the choice to stay in the UK?
Familiarity with the UK Regulatory Environment
The UK has a well-established regulatory framework governing the construction industry. Professionals in the UK are familiar with local building codes, standards, and regulations, which can differ significantly from those in other countries. This familiarity allows them to navigate projects more efficiently and to be able to complete tasks and progress to a higher level of seniority with relative ease.
Build Long Term Professional Networks
Over time, construction professionals build a robust network of contacts within the industry, including clients, suppliers, contractors, and colleagues. This network can be crucial for career development, being visible for new career opportunities, and leveraging professional relationships to advance projects and secure new business. A long-term career plan within a particular location in the UK can lead an ambitious and capable construction professional to “climb the greasy pole” of career advancement to a senior level with sustained commitment.
Economic Stability and Predictability
The UK construction industry offers a relatively stable and predictable working environment. Economic and political stability in the UK can be more appealing than the uncertainties that may exist in other countries, particularly those with volatile markets or unstable governments. This stability helps construction professionals in the UK to plan their long-term careers with greater confidence. Clearly no one knows what could be around the corner either economically or personally but a familiar location and familiarity with cultural practices can be a comfort when things don’t happen as predicted or hoped.
Work-Life Balance & Quality of Life
People in the UK are often negative about the lifestyle, weather (!) and social infrastructure in place in the UK – but to those coming to the UK from overseas, it is often seen as attractive and a major draw. The UK offers a high standard of living, access to quality healthcare, education, and, with the right employer, a good work-life balance. Construction professionals with families might prefer the UK to other international locations for its education system, healthcare services, and overall quality of life. Additionally, staying in the UK allows individuals to remain close to their family that also live in the UK and continued access to social support networks, which is important for personal well-being.
Career Development Opportunities
The UK construction industry is one of the largest in Europe, with numerous opportunities for career advancement. Major infrastructure projects, urban development, and ongoing investments in housing and commercial real estate provide a wide range of career opportunities with a range of different employers, right through the supplier network from consultants, contractors, subcontractors and claims and dispute consultancies.
Additionally, the UK has several prestigious professional bodies and institutions, such as the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) and the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), which offer valuable professional development and accreditation opportunities. It is often helpful to achieve professional qualifications in construction such as MRICS, InstCES, ICE, LLM etc prior to even considering working overseas as they are often more difficult to achieve and find the time to complete when working outside of the UK.
Summary
2024 is witnessing the ongoing battle to secure and retain the very best talent in the construction industry. While the opportunity for global mobility is a reality for premium UK construction professionals, this needs to be balanced with the career opportunities and personal priorities that are important to you as an individual.
It is worth noting that if you do decide to go and work internationally, relocating with your current employer is not always the best option to take despite the relative stability and predictability that it may at first appear to offer. International divisions of a company are often in reality separate legal entities and you may lose your continuity of employment rights and continued pension contributions despite appearing to ‘transfer internally’.
It is also worth reflecting that internal recruitment and ‘talent acquisition / talent management’ professionals working for your current employer are often targeted not only to recruit but also to retain existing employees within the business. There are two sides to this – this could mean that your career and competitive remuneration are prioritised and maximised to mutual benefit, or it could mean just that you are just being proactively encouraged to stay for a long time when your personal best interests may lie elsewhere – be that elsewhere in the UK or internationally.
Whether you decide to build your construction career in the UK or internationally or do a bit of both, the team of specialist recruitment consultants at Maxim are here to offer you honest advice as to your options and would be happy to speak with you in confidence at any time.
Steve is responsible for Maxim Recruitment in the UK and Canada. He is based in the Maxim head office in Leicester, UK and the Toronto office in Canada. He regularly travels to meet employers and job seekers and attend construction industry networking events in the UK, Canada and worldwide. Steve has over 25 years of experience in construction and property recruitment and enjoys working with many repeat clients. He manages dedicated search and headhunting assignments for a range of premium UK, Canadian and international clients.