Thinking about your Options?
Start shaping your future with the right choices.
Explore how the subjects and skills you’re learning now can lead to exciting careers in Construction & Green Economy—one of the UK’s most vital and future-focused sectors. From building net-zero homes and skyscrapers to installing solar farms, retrofitting old buildings for energy efficiency, or designing flood defences, this is where hands-on skills meet the fight against climate change.
Check what’s available at your school and remember: choosing a strong mix of practical, scientific, and problem-solving subjects keeps your options wide open and your future full of possibilities.
Core subjects
What to study?
Relevant Year 9 Options Subjects
Closely Linked Subjects
💼 Business – Useful for project management, contracting and running your own construction firm.
🏗️ Construction & the Built Environment – The core subject that directly prepares you for the industry.
⚙️ Engineering – Highly relevant for civil, structural and mechanical roles on site.
🌍 Geography – Key for understanding climate, sustainability, planning and environmental management.
Linked Subjects
🎨 Art – Great for architectural design, interior fit-outs, landscaping and visualising green spaces.
🏛️ History – Useful for heritage conservation, restoring listed buildings and understanding traditional construction techniques.
🙏 Religious Education – Develops ethical awareness important for sustainable and community-focused building projects.
🗺️ Travel and Tourism – Relevant for large-scale leisure developments, eco-tourism projects and sustainable visitor infrastructure.
🧵 Textiles – Links to innovative sustainable materials, geo-textiles, insulation and interior finishes in green buildings.
Career areas
Unlock Careers in Construction & Green Economy
See the exciting career areas you can unlock by studying subjects within the CGE Gateway. From raising skyscrapers to delivering wind farms, retrofitting homes to save the planet, or protecting communities from flooding, these pathways let you build the sustainable Britain of tomorrow.
The table below highlights the most popular and diverse roles currently in high demand—perfect starting points for your future.
Post-16 opportunities
Below is a list of College courses, Click on the provider:
⚙️ Mechanical Engineer / Design Engineer – [Web link to page]
🏭 Manufacturing / Production Engineer – [Web link to page]
🤖 Robotics & Automation Engineer – [Web link to page]
🖨️ Additive Manufacturing Engineer – [Web link to page]
✍️ Industrial / Product Designer – [Web link to page]
🎛️ Control & Instrumentation Engineer – [Web link to page]
✅ Quality Engineer / Quality Manager – [Web link to page]
🧪 Materials Engineer – [Web link to page]
🔧 Maintenance & Reliability Engineer – [Web link to page]
🌿 Sustainable Manufacturing Engineer – [Web link to page]
Below is a list of companies offering training opportunities:
IAE – Stoke-on-Trent – [Weblink to page]
Goodwins International – Stoke-on-Trent – [Weblink to page]
Bowson Engineering Ltd – Stoke-on-Trent – [Weblink to page]
Glebe Engineering – Stoke-on-Trent – [Weblink to page]