Your day-to-day activities may include:

• checking plans with architects, surveyors and engineers
• hiring staff and buying materials
• planning work schedules
• monitoring building progress and costs
• checking quality
• reporting to clients
• maintaining and promoting health and safety

You may need to wear protective clothing.

You could work on a construction site or at a client's business.

Your working environment may be outdoors in all weathers, at height and you may spend nights away from home.

With experience, you could progress into contract management or consultancy. With further training, you could move into support services like health and safety and building inspection.

You can improve your career prospects by getting chartered status, through an industry body like the The Chartered Institute of Building.