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.
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
Apprenticeships (6)
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
Higher Education (5)
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
School Leaver - Vocational/Technical (1)
Course Type: School Leaver - Vocational/Technical
Location: Hudson Building
Key Information
Our Teachers
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.
Our facilities and location
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
Find out more
How to Apply
Professional Construction – Success Stories
Priya Sangha
School Leaver Vocational
Tom Doran
Apprenticeship
Dempsey Grinion
School Leaver Vocational
Elliot Poplar
School Leaver Vocational
Zuzanna Sawicka
School Leaver Vocational
Elliot Poplar
School Leaver Vocational
Jack Foster
Higher Education
Sarah Barker
Apprenticeship