FAQs

‘Teambuild’ – What is it?

Teambuild is a multi-disciplinary competition for young professionals across the UK construction industry. The aim is to gain leadership, teamwork and collaborative working skills, as well form new professional networks. Ultimately, to develop the future leaders of the UK Construction Industry.

The competition is run over a weekend intensive residential programme, working in multi-disciplinary teams of six, on a real design and construction project. In 2020 this will take place at the Lane End Conference centre near High Wycombe (www.lane-end-conferences.co.uk) from 5pm on Friday 20th November to 3pm on Sunday 22nd November 2020.

There are a range of prizes for the best team and exemplary individuals, and all participants receive certificates that are assets for CVs and valued achievements for employers. Every year Teambuild attracts competitors from all professional disciplines, across a wide range of consultancies and contractors, representing all sectors of the UK Construction Industry.

The competition is judged by senior professionals across the construction industry who provide feed-back and mentoring to all teams and individuals throughout the competition week-end.

Past participants’ feedback highlight the value of the skills and knowledge developed, friendships made and enjoyment of taking part in the TeamBuild competition.

‘Teambuild’ – Who is it for?

All recently qualified or in-training professional in the Construction Industry. The only criteria is membership of a recognised UK professional body (can be student/associate membership) or currently registered on a recognised professional educational or training course for the UK Construction Industry.

Participants should have some knowledge and experience in at least one of the following areas: building design or construction, architecture, civil and structural engineering, building services, quantity surveying, town planning, project/construction management and landscape architecture. A guideline is six years of post-graduate experience in the construction industry.

Participating teams and individuals will be expected to demonstrate and develop skills in leadership, communication, co-ordination, delegation, planning and organisation, teamwork and presentation of ideas.

If you have any queries regarding your eligibility to participate please email: enquiries@teambuilduk.com

‘Teambuild’ – Why should I do it?

Young professionals who have participated in previous years, and their managers, have given outstandingly positive feedback about the accelerated learning and developing valuable skills in:

• Collaborative working and effective teamwork
• Leadership and drive
• Decision-making under pressure
• Innovative thinking
• Project management
• Risk assessment
• Delivering on budget
• Delivering on time

‘TeamBuild’ – What are the benefits?

There are many benefits of Teambuild, as well as the developing the skills listed here:

• First-rate accelerated training, recognised and supported by all major professional bodies as equivalent to four days of CPD
• Cash prizes for the talented winners and certificates for all participants, a valuable asset for any CV
• Hands-on experience of a real-life project and working with client teams
• Opportunity to build professional network at a crucial early stage of a construction professional’s careers
• Valuable personal feed-back and mentoring from experienced construction industry leaders
• Many Teambuild ‘alumni’ have gone on to lead successful teams within major construction companies and consultancies, including past winners
• You can read testimonials from past entrants here

‘Teambuild’ – Who are we?

Teambuild is a UK registered charity whose purpose is “the advancement of education in the construction industry”. To fulfil this aim the charity has been running an annual TeamBuild competition and other industry training schemes over the past 29 years supported by many professional bodies, including the CIC, CIOB, RIBA, RICS and many leading consultancies and construction companies. For information about the Teambuild UK Charity, its Trustees organisers and supporters, please go to about us TeamBuild’ – What do participants have to do?

Participants are expected to take an active role in their teams. This will require some preparation work in the 4 weeks preceding the competition and then full attendance and engagement over the competition weekend which takes place in the third weekend of November.

As part of a team, you will work collaboratively through several competition tasks, following the stages of the RIBA Plan of Work 2013. This start with an outline development proposal, moving into design, procurement and construction stages of a major development. You will need to collaborate, think, discuss, sketch, design, compromise, calculate, and present your work collectively to a panel of TeamBuild judges.

After each stage of the competition, the expert judges will provide collective and personal feed-back on your performance, both technically and professionally. In this way, everyone gets to learn and improve. After a challenging set of tasks, the best individual performers and teams will be awarded prizes, including the ultimate accolade of being crowned the winning TeamBuild team!

‘Teambuild’ – What type of project is the competition based on?

The competition tasks relate to a real large-scale project on an actual site within the UK. The project generally involves site master-planning, different building types and complex construction issues and requires multi-disciplinary inputs such as design, planning, engineering, construction and project management. Details of the project are issued following confirmation of the selection of the competing teams.

What does it cost?

The cost of TeamBuild 2020 is £450 pp and offers great value, as this includes all the resources needed to participate in the competition tasks, judges feedback and mentoring, with two-nights’ accommodation and all meals at the Lane End Conference Centre.

How to Enter?

Simply by completing the application form and by 30th September 2020. Any queries you may have prior to submitting your application can be addressed to enquiries@teambuilduk.com.

You can apply as an individual or as a partial or complete team of up to 6 individuals from different professional backgrounds, from the same or different organisations. The TeamBuild administrators and Trustees can provide helpful advice by email about participating in the competition and assist with the formulation of your multi-disciplinary team. In your application form you should include a brief personal profile (max 100 words) and a statement of not more than 200 words, outlining your reasons for applying and what you would like to gain from participating in TeamBuild, either individually or collectively as a Team.

TeamBuild organisers will assess the submitted application forms and from these select the participants and formulate the inter-disciplinary teams for the annual competition. The organisers may contact applicants with any queries and may propose changes to the submitted teams to ensure a wide range of professional backgrounds and skills are represented within each team.

All applicants will be notified of the outcome of the selection process by 16th October 2020 and those selected invited to register for TeamBuild 2019 with pre-payment of the fee by 30th October 2020. Confirmation of successful registration and detailed information about the competition weekend will be issued on completion of this process.

There are generally more applicants than there are spaces available, therefore selection to participate is a significant achievement. Early application is therefore highly recommended.

How are the teams put together?

Finding and getting to know your fellow team members, from different professional disciplines, is a key part of preparing for TeamBuild. You can start by seeking the support of your employer/manager, informing them about the competition, your desire to take part and asking if they would support your participation as part of your professional development and perhaps other colleagues too within your organisation.

Ask to be put in touch with other areas or disciplines in your organisation or other organisations you work with, as you will need a diverse skill set from different professions to form an effective team. You will need a multi-professional team, so chances are you will need
to make contact with other companies to create a well-balanced dynamic team that could include architects, designers, engineers, surveyors, contractors, project managers, landscape architects, property agents and construction lawyers.

If you are finding it difficult to complete your team, get in contact with us enquiries@teambuilduk.com and we’ll do our best to help and put you in touch with other applicants seeking to complete a team.

You can always enter as an individual, or partial team, and we will help to assemble a complete team.