The Perfectionist

Bricklayers lay bricks, pre-cut stone and concrete blocks in mortar. They construct, extend and repair domestic and commercial buildings, and other structures such as foundations, walls, chimneys or decorative masonry work. Bricklaying offers a real sense of achievement. At the end of a project, you’ll see the results and be able to say, ‘I built that’.

An assessor supports and assesses students working towards a vocational qualification within a college, training centre, or workplace. It's an assessor’s job to ensure that trainees meet the occupational standards required to achieve their qualifications. Many assessor positions involve both teaching and assessing.

Bathroom fitters install all aspects of bathrooms including showers, baths, sinks, toilets and storage units. Many bathroom fitters work as a team, made up of specialists. So you could be removing old units, fitting new ones, laying floors, plastering or tiling walls, painting and decorating, plumbing or even doing electrical work. 

Carpentry is one of the oldest construction trades and is in high demand. Carpenters use natural materials (wood/timber) to install wooden fixtures and fittings. As a carpenter you could be installing doors, floors and furniture in new builds, renovating or refitting existing structures, building sets for film and theatre companies and much more.

Dryliners create walls and rooms in buildings. They use plasterboard to hide pipes and wires, make space for insulation and smooth out uneven surfaces. They can build suspended ceilings, raised floors, and provide specialist soundproofing. The role involves measuring, cutting and attaching plasterboard (fixing), and sealing over joints between boards to smooth the edges (finishing).

Economists study complex data and statistics and use their findings to provide financial advice to businesses. As an economist, you’d research and monitor economic trends, and create statistical models to predict future developments. Employers depend on economists to advise them on the potential impact of policies and investments.

A formworker is responsible for installing and repairing temporary frameworks that support the building process during construction. These temporary structures can be made out of various materials but are most commonly either wood or metal and are used to help the moulding of concrete and other materials.

Kitchen fitters install kitchens in homes and workplaces. As a kitchen fitter, you’d measure and assemble kitchen units, and fit worktops according to detailed plans, working around hidden pipes and appliances. 

A partitioning systems operative is responsible for dividing up buildings into different sections or rooms, which can provide privacy, soundproofing and resistance to fires.

A piling operative, or rig driver, is responsible for driving wood, steel, or concrete columns into the ground during construction projects, to provide vital support for structures such as houses, offices, hospitals, bridges, and piers. 

A self-employed contractor works for themselves, either sourcing and undertaking their own projects or finding work through an agency. As a self-employed contractor, you may work on your own or as part of a team with construction workers, you may even employ other people within your own company. It’s possible to become self-employed in many lines of work, whether you have a skilled trade, such as carpentry or painting and decorating, or can offer your services as a consultant engineer or architect.

Steel erectors assemble the metal framework of new buildings or structures, by fitting together steel girders, pipework and beams. As a steel erector, you’d be working to detailed plans created by architects and engineers. Your work may often be carried out at height, from elevated platforms.

Steel fixers use steel bars and mesh in reinforced concrete to strengthen buildings and other big structures. They work closely with engineering designers, steel erectors and other construction workers on high rise buildings, on a variety of construction sites or on other structures.

Use your skill & precision to apply tiles across a variety of surfaces. Find out more about the salary, skills & duties of a Wall & Floor Tiler.

Bedroom fitters install bedroom furniture, including flat packs and bespoke build units. You could be creating in-built wardrobes and storage units to transform a room or help your clients to make better use of their space.