Why you should study the Built Environment in Birmingham?
There has never been a better time to study construction, surveying and property courses in Birmingham due to the burgeoning job opportunities that are available through the City's regeneration. Home to the Jewellery Quarter, HS2, Victoria Square and Grand Central, Birmingham is the fastest growing city in England and the second largest in the UK. Studying in the heart of the city, amid this urban redevelopment, you will be in the perfect environment to be working on an array of live projects.
1. HS2 and Smart Motorways
The HS2 station site is opposite our City Centre Campus. As well as it being an inspiring view as you learn, and a fascinating case study of a major infrastructure project, the finished line will positively impact the way the city is developing by connecting other major cities - boosting the city’s workforce. Plus, it will minimise a commuter’s journey time going to and from Birmingham – it’s an estimated 49 minutes to travel from Birmingham to London.
Birmingham is also surrounded by smart motorways and connecting infrastructure, giving plenty of projects for Civil Engineers, Quantity Surveyors and Construction Managers in particular.
2. Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games
The city received a £778 million pound investment to deliver the Commonwealth Games in 2022. Accommodation, transport, and infrastructure were built to cope with tourist demand, which the region still benefits from today. The regeneration associated with the Games led to a demand for jobs and interesting site visits for our students. The opening and closing ceremonies of the Commonwealth Games were hosted in Alexander stadium, which will be utilised by our sports students for many years to come. The stadium was renovated to host the games and ceremonies to improve the experience for spectators locally and globally.
3. Property development and urban regeneration
New housing and commercial properties are continuously being built throughout the West Midlands to accommodate the growing population, which is set to reach 1,240,000 by 2030. This is creating a huge demand for professionals within the built environment industries and endless opportunities for our students to get involved with live projects all around campus including Curzon Street Station, 103 Colmore Row and our £70 million STEAMhouse building, an innovation business hub that is part of our expanding City Centre Campus.
4. Links with industry
We’re proud to have created and nurtured industry links with top local and national firms including Willmott Dixon, Mott MacDonald, Godwin Group, Joseph Mews, Savills, Taylor Wimpey and McDermotts. Our links with industry involve guest lectures, visits, competitions, mentoring and placement years. Our Built Environment graduates, such as Claudine Tracey, are building and managing the West Midlands of the future with these companies!
Our innovative collaboration with Birmingham City Council's Urban Design Team means you can gain work experience, work on key research projects, gain technical application skills and contribute to projects influencing future council policy.
Feeling inspired?
Begin your career journey in the Built Environment and be a part of changing the way in which we live and what cities and towns around us look like. Visit our course search page to find the best course for you.
