6 Reasons Why a Career in the Skilled Trades is Worth Your Consideration

Benefits of learning a trade

A job in trades provides a plethora of benefits that are too good to miss out on. These include:

1. Good job prospects: With the hustle and bustle of everyday life, tradespeople will always be in demand. According to a report by the Department for Education in the UK, there will be 3.5 million job openings in the trades by 2030. This includes roles such as electricians, plumbers, and carpenters, to name a few.

2. Competitive salaries: Tradespeople often earn competitive salaries, especially as they gain experience and expertise in their field. In fact, some trades can earn salaries that are on par with those of professionals with a university degree, so it's a great way to make money without one.

3. Personal satisfaction: Many people find a sense of personal satisfaction in learning a trade and using their skills to create or fix something. It's a hands-on career where you can see the tangible results of your hard work, offering you purpose and an opportunity to hone your craft.

4. Opportunities for advancement: While some tradespeople choose to work for someone else, others decide to start their own business. This provides opportunities for advancement and the potential to earn even more money (and we all like money).

5. Versatility: Tradespeople often have skills that can be applied in a variety of industries. For example, an electrician could work in construction, manufacturing, or even the film industry. This versatility allows tradespeople to explore different career paths and find work in a variety of settings.

6. Short training periods: In comparison to a traditional university degree, learning a trade often requires a shorter training period and less time spent sitting in a classroom. This means you can enter the workforce and start earning money sooner. Don't mind if we do...

Types of trades to get into

Don't want to be a builder or scaffolder? No matter, there are plenty of trades to choose from. Here are some of the most common:

Carpentry

This is a skilled trade that involves working with wood to create, repair, and install structures, furniture, and other objects. Carpenters use a variety of hand and power tools to measure, cut, and shape wood, as well as other materials like plastic and metal.

Some of the tasks that carpenters might perform include:

• Building and installing structures such as houses, apartment buildings, bridges, and sheds

• Constructing and repairing furniture and other wooden objects, including cabinets, doors, and windows

• Installing flooring, drywall, and insulation

• Reading and interpreting blueprints and other technical drawings to determine the size and shape of the materials needed for a project

• Making precise measurements and calculations to ensure that pieces of wood fit together correctly

To become a carpenter, you typically need to complete a carpentry apprenticeship or a formal training programme. Apprenticeships involve on-the-job training and classroom instruction, and they can take up to four years to complete. Formal training programmes, which are often offered at vocational schools or community colleges, typically take one to two years to complete.

Plumbing

Plumbers specialise in installing, repairing, and maintaining pipes, fittings, and fixtures for the distribution of water, gas, and drainage systems. They work in a variety of settings, including residential, commercial, and industrial.

Their duties may include:

• Installing new pipes, fittings, and fixtures, such as sinks, toilets, and water heaters

• Repairing and replacing damaged pipes, fittings, and fixtures

• Maintaining and repairing plumbing systems, including diagnosing and fixing problems with pipes, fittings, and fixtures

• Reading and interpreting blueprints and other technical drawings to determine the size and shape of the materials needed for a project

• Making precise measurements and calculations to ensure that pipes and fittings fit together correctly

• Testing pipes for leaks and proper functioning

To become a plumber, you'll need to complete a plumbing apprenticeship or a formal training programme. After completing one of these, plumbers must pass a licensing exam to become certified.

Construction work

Construction workers are involved in building, repairing, and maintaining structures and other physical structures. They work on a variety of projects, including residential, commercial, and industrial buildings, as well as roads, bridges, and other infrastructure.

Construction workers may specialise in a particular area, such as carpentry, masonry, or electrical work, or they may be generalists who can perform a range of tasks.

Some of the duties of construction workers may include:

• Preparing sites for construction by clearing debris and setting up barriers and warning signs

• Erecting scaffolding and other structures to provide access to work areas

• Laying foundations and pouring concrete

• Installing framing, drywall, and other building materials

• Assembling and installing doors, windows, and other fixtures

• Using a variety of tools and equipment, such as saws, hammers, and power drills

To become a construction worker, you typically need to have GCSE passes in Maths and English as well as some basic training in construction techniques. Similarly to carpentry and plumbing professions, some workers may also choose to complete an apprenticeship or a formal training programme.

Scaffolding

It is a scaffolder's job to construct and dismantle scaffolding, which is a temporary structure used to support workers and materials during the construction, maintenance, or repair of a building or other structure. Scaffolding allows workers to access areas that would otherwise be difficult or dangerous to reach, and it provides a safe and stable platform for them to work on.

Scaffolders typically work on construction sites, but they may also be employed in other industries, such as shipbuilding, offshore oil rigs, and power plants.

Some of the duties of scaffolders may include:

• Reading and interpreting blueprints and other technical drawings to determine the size and shape of the scaffolding needed for a project

• Assembling and installing scaffolding using a variety of materials, including metal pipes, tubes, and fittings, and wooden planks

• Inspecting scaffolding to ensure that it is stable, safe, and compliant with safety regulations

• Dismantling scaffolding when it is no longer needed

• Using a variety of tools and equipment, such as wrenches, hammers, and power drills

To become a certified scaffolder, you'll need to complete a scaffolding apprenticeship or a formal training programme, as well as pass a licensing exam.

Bricklayers

Bricklayers, also known as masons, specialise in constructing and repairing structures made of brick, concrete block, and other masonry materials. They work on a variety of projects, including residential and commercial buildings, as well as bridges, walls, and other structures.

Some of the duties of bricklayers may include:

• Laying bricks, blocks, and other masonry materials to construct or repair structures

• Reading and interpreting blueprints and other technical drawings to determine the size and shape of the materials needed for a project

• Mixing and preparing mortar, a cement-like substance used to bond the bricks and blocks together

• Cutting and shaping bricks and blocks using a variety of tools and equipment, such as trowels, hammers, and chisels

• Inspecting completed work to ensure that it meets quality standards and is structurally sound

To become a certified bricklayer, you'll need to complete a bricklaying apprenticeship or a formal training programme, then pass a licensing exam.

Electrician

Electricians install, maintain, and repair electrical systems, including wiring, circuit breakers, and other electrical components. They work in a variety of settings, including residential, commercial, and industrial, and their duties may include:

• Installing new electrical systems, including wiring, circuit breakers, and other electrical components

• Repairing and replacing damaged electrical systems and components

• Maintaining and repairing electrical systems, including diagnosing and fixing problems with wiring, circuit breakers, and other electrical components

• Reading and interpreting blueprints and other technical drawings to determine the size and shape of the materials needed for a project

• Making precise measurements and calculations to ensure that electrical systems and components fit together correctly

• Testing electrical systems for proper functioning and safety

• Provide advice and guidance to customers about possible solutions for different electrical problems or projects

To become an electrician, you'll once again need to complete an electrician apprenticeship or a formal training programme. Upon completion, electricians must pass a licensing exam to become certified, and may need to pass different certifications, too, depending on the type of electrician they are (e.g. commercial, industrial, or residential).

Don't delay, start today!

So, if good job prospects, competitive salaries, personal satisfaction, opportunities for advancement, versatility, short training periods and a career for life sound like something you'd be interested in, we say, learn a trade today! Trust us – you'll thank yourself once that first paycheck hits.