The Team Player

Construction team leaders work in supervisory roles and are generally in charge of a team working on a construction project. As a construction team leader, you may specialise in overseeing a particular area of construction, relating to your previous skills and experience, such as bricklaying, roofing or another trade.

A bench joiner works offsite, cutting wood and timber to required lengths for building projects. They may work for a builders’ merchant or inside a workshop, making structures to be assembled onsite such as door or window fittings, timber frame buildings and more. 

Building envelope specialists install and repair non-structural coverings to buildings using a variety of materials such as wood, glass and metal. Building envelope design is a specialised area of architectural and engineering practice that draws from all areas of building science and indoor climate control.

Chimney engineers install and maintain chimney and flue systems in accordance with current building legislation and regulations. As a chimney engineer, you will need to follow strict health and safety guidelines, as you may be working at height, with the support of a harness and protective gear.

Civil engineering technicians give technical support to engineers on construction projects. They tend to specialise in one area of civil engineering, such as design, planning or logistics and may be involved in projects ranging from building bridges, to widening roads, or creating new infrastructure.

Floorlayers are trained in subfloor preparation and installing a range of floor coverings in commercial locations and site conditions. Commercial floorlayers will install textile, resilient, wood and tile products on commercial sites, in public spaces and industrial buildings.

Concrete finishers spread and level poured concrete to create smooth finishes for surfaces like roads, pavements, floors and curbs, using a variety of specialist equipment. As a concrete finisher, you may also use forms (moulds) to create concrete blocks for building projects.

Demolition operatives are part of a team to clear a site ready for a new construction project.  Using anything from basic hand tools to larger plant and machinery, they strip out fittings, remove hazardous materials and salvage anything that can be reused, before demolishing or dismantling the unsafe or obsolete buildings and structures.

Domestic energy assessors calculate the energy efficiency of homes, apartments and other domestic buildings. 

Electrical distribution workers are responsible for the maintenance of power lines that connect buildings to the national grid. 

Electrical engineers design, develop and maintain electrical systems for buildings, transport systems and power distribution networks. They work in and across many industries, such as construction, transport, energy (including renewables), building services, and manufacturing. Electrical engineers need a good understanding of engineering science, and strong maths and computer skills.

Electrical project managers oversee the installation of electrical systems and supply of electricity to homes, businesses and infrastructure, such as roads or power stations.  

Electrical testers survey, test and inspect electrical installations in homes and businesses. They identify faults and complete test reports to confirm which equipment is working safely and efficiently and which are condemned as unsafe to use. 

Electricians provide buildings with energy to light rooms, heat water and power devices. They install, inspect and test electrical equipment, making sure it is working properly and safely. As an electrician, you could be maintaining traditional systems in homes, shops and offices. Some electricians work with renewable technology or fibre-optics. Others service motors, transformers, street lighting or traffic systems, or work on engineering projects.

Energy managers ensure organisations meet their energy, carbon and water reduction responsibilities.

Environmental advisors ensure that construction projects comply with environmental regulations and targets. They strategically plan ways to keep air pollution or water and soil contamination to a minimum, reduce material waste and ensure that any necessary waste is disposed of in the correct manner.

Environmental engineering focuses on protecting the environment by reducing waste and pollution. Environmental engineers optimise the use of natural resources, help to develop renewable energy resources and maximise the use of existing materials. They design technologies and processes that control pollution and clean up contamination.

A finishing foreman works with managers, contractors and other onsite workers to ensure construction jobs are successfully completed on time, within budget, and finished to the standard and specification agreed with the client. 

General construction operatives are involved in a range of practical tasks on a construction site, working on projects from foundation to completion. This includes preparing the site ahead of building work taking place and carrying out manual work whilst a project is in progress. Construction operatives complete a wide variety of tasks, ranging from mixing and pouring concrete, moving and unloading materials, operating machinery and more.

A groundworker is a construction professional who prepares the ground before, during and after building. Usually the first tradesperson on a construction site, groundworkers set out and prepare the sub-surfaces ready for the structural work to begin, installing drainage systems, concreting, carrying out de-vegetation, interpreting design specifications and more. Groundworkers work throughout a construction project and often carry out the final tasks, such as laying driveways and footpaths.

A joiner works with timber to create a variety of structures integral to many buildings. This can include staircases, windows, doors, furniture and more. As a joiner, you will make and install these structures and fittings in the correct locations.

A lead roofer is responsible for working on a variety of buildings – from housing to listed structures, churches and cathedrals. This can involve inspecting, removing, or repairing existing lead sheeting or installing new sheeting. 

Liquid waterproofing roofers apply protective liquid membranes to new or existing flat roof structures to ensure they are watertight. They can find work with specialist roofing firms, building contractors, local authorities and other public organisations.

A maintenance operative is someone who carries out a variety of tasks around buildings, to keep them in good repair. Duties can include activities such as fixing roofs, painting walls, or fitting doors and skirting boards. 

Mastic asphalters apply a hot mixture of limestone and bitumen to a range of surfaces to waterproof, protect and strengthen them. Mastic asphalt hardens when it cools, so it may be used for roofing, laying floor surfaces such as railway platforms and car parks, lining tanks and swimming pools, as sea or river defences, or more.

Plumbers fit and maintain water systems in buildings. This includes toilets, baths, showers, sinks, washing machines and dishwashers. They can also install central heating systems but need additional qualifications to work with gas boilers. Plumbers install new pipework, service older systems, identify and fix faults, and may attend emergency call-outs when water or heating systems are damaged.

Roofing operatives work on the roofs of new buildings and also repair or re-roof older structures. This can involve using a range of different materials, such as slates, tiles or materials for flat roofs, as well as fitting skylights. 

Safety net riggers assemble, install, maintain and secure safety nets for a variety of construction projects. The safety net systems they provide offer fall protection for construction workers working at height. They ensure overall on-site safety and efficient build programmes by erecting safety netting to the correct standard.

Scaffolders erect and dismantle temporary metal scaffolding on structures and building sites, so that other people can work at height and carry out their jobs safely. Scaffolders may set up scaffolding around a structure, or inside a building undergoing construction, renovation or demolition.

Sealant applicators seal joints to ensure a building is airtight and waterproof. As a sealant applicator, you could be sealing door and window frames, building facades, or baths and sinks. You could also be carrying out structural bonding, such as glass to glass seals.

Setting out engineers use sites plans, technology and precision instruments to pinpoint and mark structural features above and below ground before construction work begins. They use clear markers to indicate where structures are going to be installed, including access roads, foundations, gas, electricity and water facilities, and drainage systems. They ensure that workers on the site adhere to these markers.

Shopfitters transform the interiors of offices, shops, restaurants, bars and more. They create plans, then make and install fittings to enhance our experience of a space. As a shopfitter, you’ll be ripping out the old and refitting the new. You could be overseeing builds and working with a range of materials to bring an area to life.

Site inspectors monitor all work carried out on a construction site to ensure safety and quality standards are upheld. They make sure that building plans and specifications are being followed correctly and manage staff and subcontractors on building sites. They also attend site management meetings and help project managers to plan work.

Sprayed concrete lining tunnel operatives line tunnels with concrete sprayed from purpose-built equipment. The use of sprayed concrete in tunnels, mines and other civil engineering structures is an important and integral part of successful, productive and safe ground support systems. 

Steeplejacks carry out repair work high above the ground on construction sites, power stations, high rise buildings or on monuments and castles. They ensure they are structurally sound and may also install lightning conductors.

Tunnelling operatives build the underground tunnels needed for services such as rail lines and water works. They assist with the excavation, support and forming of tunnels and shafts in the ground associated with the construction process to provide an underground space, tunnel or shaft. 

Window fitters install windows, doors, conservatories, and glazed curtain walls in buildings and structures. They may work on new-build properties, upgrade old fittings, or help restore heritage buildings. 

Wood machinists cut and prepare wood for construction projects. They may produce timber for panelling, floorboards, kitchen counters, bars, banisters, skirting boards, window and door frames, and more. As a wood machinist, you would require a good understanding of different types of timber and their uses, and the ability to use a range of hand tools and machinery.