Wood machinists work primarily in the processing and manufacturing divisions of the UK wood supply chain. They cut and prepare timber for use in furniture manufacture, DIY stores and the construction industry. Working from detailed technical drawings and templates, they select the type of wood required, estimate the amount needed, and cut and prepare it [...]
Window fitters install new or replacement windows and doors, conservatories and glazed curtain walls in all types of property from commercial premises to private households. They work with both traditional wooden- or metal-framed products and UPVC units. The windows and doors may be single or double glazed units or may be in the form of [...]
Welders cut, shape and bond materials to make products and components in a wide range of industries. These including construction, shipbuilding, engineering, transport, power, automotive, aerospace, and offshore oil and gas. They also carry out repairs on equipment and machinery. Welder main activities include: selecting, laying out and positioning materials to be cut or joined, paying close [...]
Water distribution/sewerage workers look after pipes and mains that supply homes and businesses with water and remove waste water and sewage. They carry out planned maintenance work and also respond to emergencies such as mending burst pipes and major leaks. Their duties include: digging holes by hand or using mechanical digging equipment using maps and plans to [...]
Town planners are responsible for ensuring that urban land use meets the economic and social needs of the people who live and work in that area. To do this, they have to balance the demands placed on housing, jobs, transport, leisure and the environment, and make certain that any development is sustainable. Town planners work [...]
Timber yard operatives work for timber merchants, sawmills and larger DIY stores. Duties vary depending on the employer but are likely to include some of the following tasks: loading, unloading, moving and stacking timber, either manually or with a forklift truck sorting and labelling timber into sizes and wood types transferring timber to the sawmill [...]
Tilers cover walls and floors with tiles, on construction jobs that can range from tiling a kitchen or bathroom to fitting out a shop, hotel or restaurant. Some tilers also carry out specialist work, for instance on swimming pools and mosaic walls found in landscape gardening. Tilers follow plans drawn up by an architect, builder or designer. A typical job involves the following tasks: [...]
Thermal insulation contractors, often known as insulation engineers, specialise in applying insulation materials to pipes, vessels, boilers and ductwork in a variety of settings such as factories, office buildings, petrochemical plants, power stations and ships. The insulation can be used to trap and conserve heat, or in the case of refrigeration and air-conditioning installations, keep [...]
Thatchers are skilled craftspeople who roof, re-roof and repair thatched properties. They have to conform to strict rules governing the materials and methods they use in order to preserve the building in its original form. The preparation of the roof and materials before work starts is vitally important. When starting a job, thatchers: put up [...]
Structural engineering is an important branch of civil engineering in the construction industry. It is the job of a structural engineer to design the framework that holds a building or structure together, to make it strong enough and flexible enough to withstand the stresses and strains put on it over its lifetime. Structural engineers’ work involves: meeting clients and developing [...]
