UK site managers and construction managers, do you still enjoy the job or are you quietly worn down by it?
Hi everyone,
I have been in construction for over 14 years, mainly in site and project management roles in the UK. Over the past 2 to 3 years I have started questioning whether this side of the industry is still something people can do long term without it slowly wearing them down.
When I was younger, I used to enjoy being on site. I liked walking the job, checking progress, chasing works, solving problems, dealing with safety, coordinating trades and feeling involved in everything that was happening.
Over time, that feeling has changed.
What used to feel like being in control now often feels like carrying problems from every direction. There is programme pressure, resident and client expectations, subcontractors not performing or needing constant babysitting and checks, design issues, commercial pressure, safety concerns, quality problems, reporting upwards, and the constant need to record everything properly.
On top of that, we are expected to use and master outdated or overly complicated platforms and workflows, deal with constant firefighting, manage workers who sometimes behave like children, and absorb the consequences of questionable decisions made above site level. Too often, the people on site are left to deal with decisions made elsewhere, while working smart seems to be ignored and working the hard way becomes the norm.
Then there is the sheer amount of information you have to carry every day. After spending the whole day speaking to people, chasing, explaining, correcting, solving problems and keeping everything moving, you are still expected to stay calm, stay positive, go home in a good mood, and somehow have the energy to live a little or speak properly to your partner, family or friends.
We then hear a lot of people say “play the game”, which I find to be the most ridiculous game to play.
I think there is a side of the job that is not spoken about honestly enough.
I can only speak from my own conversations, but every site manager and project manager I have spoken to has recognised this feeling in some way. People are tired, frustrated, mentally drained, or quietly thinking about leaving. Some still enjoy parts of the job, some tolerate it, and some feel trapped because construction is what they know.
I have created a short anonymous Google Form to better understand how site managers and construction managers in the UK actually feel about their roles.
This is not for selling anything. I am just trying to get a more honest picture of how people are really feeling in UK construction management, beyond the usual “busy but fine” answer we all give because apparently that is the industry approved emotional setting.
Depending on the number of people who take part in the survey, I may look into turning the responses into an article or summary that could be shared more widely. The aim would be to help highlight what people in these roles are actually experiencing and hopefully support a better conversation about how site and construction management can become a more sustainable and attractive career.
If you work or have worked in site management, construction management or project management in UK construction, I would really appreciate your input.
The form is anonymous and should only take a few minutes.
https://forms.gle/GDGBnB25oWJn3J5x8
Also happy to hear thoughts in the comments. Do people still enjoy this job, or are a lot of us just quietly worn down by it? Please share the form with your colleagues that may be interested in giving their opinion.