Northumbria
Construct

Innovation · · Physical pilot · further development

BRIC — Build Routes Into Construction

BRIC is an interactive educational card game helping students explore credible routes into construction careers. Teams combine qualifications, apprenticeships and practical experience, adapt to challenges and discuss progression. A Gateshead College pilot is informing clearer instructions, refined gameplay and future educational development.

Northumbria Construct BRIC card game overview showing collaborative career pathway exploration
BRIC — Build Routes Into Construction · developed by Northumbria Construct

Innovation · Developed by Northumbria Construct

Explore. Discover. Plan. Progress.

One industry. Many careers. Multiple pathways.

An interactive educational card game helping students and aspiring professionals discover, construct and defend their own routes into construction and the built environment.

BRIC combines career exploration, collaborative problem-solving and strategic decision-making. It connects qualifications, apprenticeships, work experience and professional development in a hands-on learning experience.

Career guidance can make it difficult to see how different routes connect. BRIC encourages participants to recognise transferable skills and explore alternatives: your qualification is a starting point, not your destination.

How BRIC works

Teams use colour-coded cards to build credible pathways from a starting point to a construction career. Five interconnected elements guide the journey:

  1. START — Where are you now?

    Begin with a qualification, apprenticeship, technical education or experience in another industry.

  2. ROUTE — How could you get there?

    Combine qualifications, apprenticeships, employment and practical experience into a realistic pathway.

  3. DESTINATION — Where do you want to go?

    Explore roles such as Construction Project Manager, BIM Manager, Structural Engineer, Quantity Surveyor and Sustainability Specialist.

  4. WILDCARD — What if circumstances change?

    Adapt to constraints such as earning while studying or pursuing a career without attending university full-time, and justify your choices.

  5. PROGRESSION — What comes next?

    Consider continuing professional development, leadership, specialisation and professional recognition.

The challenge is to show that multiple credible routes can lead to the same career, through discussion, teamwork and friendly competition.

From concept to classroom

BRIC first appeared at the CIOB North East Tomorrow’s Leaders Professional Engagement Day at Gateshead College on . The initial physical edition included 50 cards per team, with career destinations, educational pathways, locally relevant Gateshead College opportunities and discussion challenges.

The pilot provided practical insights into student engagement, gameplay and instruction clarity. These are informing refinements to gameplay, simpler instructions and the learning experience. Explore the event and photographs →

Learning through exploration

BRIC is designed to support career awareness, understanding of alternative pathways, critical thinking, teamwork, communication and career confidence. For educators and professionals, it offers a structured way to begin career conversations and connect learning with real occupations.

Designed to evolve

Development continues following the first physical pilot. Cards can be tailored to institutions, qualification systems, occupational specialisms and regional opportunities. Northumbria Construct is exploring stronger educational content, refinements to the physical game and potential digital adaptations. These are future possibilities rather than released products.

Interested in educational workshops, further testing or collaboration? Explore BRIC with us →

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