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Professional Construction Courses at DCG

The UK construction industry is upskilling its workforce to take advantage of the economic upturn – and it urgently needs well-qualified, forward-thinking and dynamic professionals.

Take your construction career to a new level

If your ambition is to become a building surveyor, civil engineer, quantity surveyor, site engineer, site manager, building services engineer or structural engineer, Derby College can set you on the right career pathway.

We’ll equip you with the technical skills, strategic know-how and confidence you need, along with clear progression routes to higher education opportunities and professional qualifications. Your learning will be relevant, up-to-date and underpinned by experience of real work contexts.

Why choose Derby College?

  • Our Professional Construction Employment and Skills Academy – the first of its kind in the UK – offers you an enhanced programme with additional input from local employers including guru lectures, industry mentors and paid summer internships.
  • Most graduates from the Academy progress straight to university or gain jobs or apprenticeships at the companies involved.
  • Our courses combine hands-on training, the highest industry standards and employability skills – to give you a real head start in your career.
  • Our expert staff have vast experience as well as great contacts across the industry.
  • You don’t even have to move away to achieve higher education qualifications: we offer part-time HNC courses in four different pathways/specialisations. You can be employed with a construction company while studying your HNC on a weekly college-release day. You can study any of these HNC courses as standalone or as part of a higher apprenticeship. We offer several higher apprenticeship standards across different pathways.

Is this you?

  • Interested in design and technology
  • Good at paying attention to detail
  • Work well in a team
  • Good practical skills
  • Want to work in an industry that is always changing and moving forward

If you have you set your sights on a career in brickwork, site carpentry, architectural joinery, painting and decorating ,plastering , plumbing or electrical installation

Please visit our relevant subject areas for our Constructiion trades to find out more.

Getting into Professional Construction

  • Full-time at College There is a wide range of full-time Construction courses offered at Derby College, preparing you for jobs in architecture, design surveying, civil engineering, quantity surveying, site engineering, site managing, building services enginnering and structural engineering.
  • Apprenticeships These are available with Derby College in many areas of Professional Construction with small and large local companies. You will be working full-time in industry, including one full day of study at College weekly. You will need GCSEs including English, Maths and Science.
  • Higher education To do some jobs in the construction industry, such as architect, civil engineer or quantity surveyor, you will need a degree, foundation degree or HND. You can study full time at university or part time alongside a job. Derby College itself offers a HNC in Construction and the Built Environment, HNC in Civil Engineering, HNC in Building Services Engineering or HNC in Future Homes Design and Construction. You can study any of these HNC courses as standalone or as part of a higher apprenticeship. We offer five higher apprenticeship standards across pathways
  • Jobs You could take a skilled and professional job in the construction industry and may be looking to achieve a professional chartered status in the future.
hi my name is Emma Hobart and I am from

boomerang Kirkland and I am a chartered

quantity surveyor my main connection to

Darby college is through my role on the

professional construction board and as

mentor to some of the students carrying

out construction studies both Darby

college and BioMarin Kirkland of work

together now for a number of years with

Barron Kirkland offering work experience

site tools and bursaries to students

working in construction is not always a

straightforward career path as there are

so many different roles available my

career path has been a very windy road

to get to the point I am currently at

and I expect it to continue in the same

vein the thing I enjoy about my role is

that every project we do in construction

is different no two projects are ever

the same as there is always something

that makes the project differ it could

be the team you work with or the

location of the site I look forward to

seeing you as you start your journey

with Alba college and the opportunities

of course in construction can bring you

Professional Construction – Course Listings

Course Type: Apprenticeships
Location: The Roundhouse

Course Type: Apprenticeships
Location: The Roundhouse

Course Type: Apprenticeships
Location: The Roundhouse

Course Type: Apprenticeships
Location: The Roundhouse

Course Type: Apprenticeships
Location: The Roundhouse

Course Type: Apprenticeships
Location: The Roundhouse

Course Type: Higher Education
Location: The Roundhouse
Start Date: 15/09/2025

Course Type: Higher Education
Location: The Roundhouse
Start Date: 15/09/2025

Course Type: Higher Education
Location: The Roundhouse
Start Date: 15/09/2025

Course Type: Higher Education
Location: The Roundhouse
Start Date: 15/09/2025

Course Type: Higher Education
Location: The Roundhouse
Start Date: 15/09/2025

Course Type: School Leaver - Vocational/Technical
Location: Hudson Building

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The Roundhouse Open Evening – 07/11/2024

Hudson BuildingJohnson BuildingThe Roundhouse
07-11-2024

Key Information

At Derby College we believe the best tutors are usually those who have real world experience of working in the field they’re teaching. So, in most cases, you’ll be taught by someone who has worked in the industry that you wish to enter. As well as being able to share their knowledge and experiences with you, they have crucial industry connections, which is a huge benefit when it comes to helping you to secure a work placement in your chosen field.

As part of your studies at Derby College we offer a full range of assistance to ensure you have a great learning experience.

Discover our campuses and facilities here. Each campus page contains:

  • 360-degree images of our facilities
  • A location map
  • A list of courses that are run at the campus
  • Student Success Stories
To find out more about our Professional Construction courses, attend our next course and career event or contact us on 0800 028 0289
Press the Apply Now button, that can be found at the top and bottom of every course information page and follow the instructions for the InTouch applications portal. If you are unable to apply online, contact Student Services who will help you complete your application form and will be able to help and guide you to make a decision on the course of study to meet your needs and ambitions.

Related Careers

 

Professional Construction – Success Stories

Priya Sangha

School Leaver Vocational

Smiling young lady.

Tom Doran

Apprenticeship

Higher Apprentice Tom wearing a yellow and orange hi-viz coat stood on a construction site.

Dempsey Grinion

School Leaver Vocational

Young male with short blonde hair wearing a grey jumper holding a document with exam results.

Elliot Poplar

School Leaver Vocational

Young male with blonde hair wearing an orange hi-viz vest and holding a document with exam results on.

Zuzanna Sawicka

School Leaver Vocational

Female student Zuzzana holding her results.

Elliot Poplar

School Leaver Vocational

Elliott Poplar holding his T Level results celebrating, wearing a hi-vis vest.

Jack Foster

Higher Education

Jack Foster at his workplace.

Sarah Barker

Apprenticeship

Former Derby College apprentice Sarah Barker.

View all DCG Success Stories all role models