YEN Blog: Dare to discover a career in BEMS
As Tomorrow’s Engineers Week (10th-14th November) will be shining a light on the incredible opportunities within the building controls industry, there’s never been a better time to dare to discover a career in Building Energy Management Systems (BEMS).
Chair of BCIA’s Young Engineers Network, Josh Steel explores why young people should dare to discover a career in BEMS.
The BEMS sector sits at the very heart of the UK’s transition to net zero, creating smarter, more sustainable, and more comfortable buildings. But to deliver that future, we need fresh ideas, new perspectives, and, most importantly, more young people entering the profession.
Having worked in the BEMS industry for over a decade, I’ve experienced first-hand just how diverse and rewarding this sector can be. My own journey began as a BMS Electrical Installer, where I learned the foundations of how control systems bring buildings to life. From there, I moved into roles as a Commissioning Engineer, BMS Sales Engineer and later Sales Manager, developing a broader understanding of how technology, teamwork and innovation combine to deliver performance, comfort and sustainability across the built environment.
What’s truly exciting about this industry is that there’s no single path to success. Whether you’re coming through an apprenticeship, a T Level, or a degree apprenticeship, there are opportunities to grow, specialise and progress. Each of these routes gives young people the chance to enter a forward-looking profession that’s helping to tackle some of the biggest challenges of our time - from energy efficiency and carbon reduction to occupant wellbeing and digital transformation.
At the BCIA and within the Young Engineers Network, we see how curiosity and creativity drive innovation. Our industry needs people who are willing to ask questions, experiment, and push boundaries - people who dare to discover.
That’s why the YEN exists: to support early-career professionals, create networks for knowledge sharing, and provide a platform for young engineers to grow in confidence and influence. It’s about ensuring that the next generation not only joins the sector, but helps to shape its direction.
For young people considering their next steps, the BEMS industry offers more than just a job. It offers a career with purpose. Every project you work on, every building you help optimise, and every system you design has a measurable impact on how people live, work, and experience the world around them.