The building industry depends for its input of mental skills upon the work of professionals and of technicians, and the training as well as the functions of both groups are to be seen as complementary. The paper concentrates upon the education and training of professional engineers. The industry is characterised by many small operational units as well as large ones, and is in overall a large industry. Education and training aspects have to be reviewed in the context of this whole. The objectives of University engineering education are noted in relation to the intellectual nature of professional functions, particularly that part of them concerned with the development and establishment of scientifically based approaches and methods, where education bears most directly on industrial efficiency. Aspects of some current University engineering courses are discussed and areas of omission noted in the context of building. Similarly, postgraduate practical training is reviewed and a brief reference is made to relevant university research. Finally conclusions are summarised and some suggestions made.