What does a Site Manager actually do?

The short version

Site managers run construction sites — the programme, the subcontractors, the safety, the problems nobody else can solve. It's the job where every decision eventually lands on one person's desk: yours.

The pitch: real authority, genuine shortage, and the natural ceiling for people who can lead trades — whether you came up through a trade or a graduate scheme. The catch: the responsibility is heavy, the hours follow the programme not the clock, and the stress is real when schemes go sideways.

Entry routes that actually work

• Trade → supervisor → site manager — the respected path; you know the work you're managing.
• Construction management degree + graduate scheme — the main-contractor route.
• SMSTS + CSCS card — the practical site licence every contractor requires.