Engineering Construction Craftworker

Typical Salary

£18,000 To £30,000

Typical Hours

42 to 44 a week

evenings / weekends / bank holidays away from home

How To Become a Engineering Construction Craftworker

You can get into this job through:

a college course
an apprenticeship
applying directly

College / University

You could do a college course, which would teach you some of the skills needed for the job. This may help you to find a trainee craft position with a company once you finish. Courses include:

Level 2 Certificate in Engineering
Level 2 Certificate in Mechanical Engineering
Level 2 Certificate in Engineering Operations
Level 3 Diploma in Fabrication and Welding Practice

2 or more GCSEs at grades 9 to 3 (A* to D), or equivalent, for a level 2 course

4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, for a level 3 course

Apprenticeship

You could start by doing an engineering operative intermediate apprenticeship. The exact apprenticeship you do will depend on your area of work. Examples are:

welding
pipefitting
mechanical fitting
electrical installation

some GCSEs, usually including English and maths, or equivalent, for an intermediate apprenticeship

Routes into this Career

Routes into this Career are not listed for this job.

You could apply directly for craft jobs if you've got experience and qualifications from other areas of engineering, construction or the armed forces.

Other Routes

Other Routes are not listed for this job.

Skills And Knowledge

You'll need:

knowledge of building and construction
to be thorough and pay attention to detail
patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
the ability to work well with others
the ability to use your initiative
physical skills like movement, coordination, dexterity and grace
sensitivity and understanding
the ability to work well with your hands
to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device

Day To Day Tasks

Your day-to-day duties will depend on your job. Roles you might work in include:

steel erecting - putting up and fixing the girders and sections that make up a structure
pipefitting - positioning, shaping and fixing pipework
welding - cutting, shaping and joining metal plates and pipework
plating - cutting, shaping, assembling and inspecting sheets of metal
mechanical fitting - assembling, installing and repairing machinery
electrotechnical installation - fitting, testing and repairing control panels, motors, valves and pumps.

Working Environment

You could work on a rig, on a construction site or in a workshop.

Your working environment may be physically demanding and you'll travel often.

Career Path & Progression

With experience, you could move into a chargehand or supervisory management role.

With further training you could become an engineering technician.

Volunteering Opportunities

Volunteering Opportunities are not listed for this job.

Tips & Information

Registration

you'll need an industry safety certificate like the Client Contractor National Safety Group (CCNSG) Safety Passport Scheme for many jobs

Further information

You'll find more advice about careers and training in craft engineering from the Engineering and Construction Industry Training Board and Tomorrow's Engineers.

Restrictions & Requirements

Restrictions & Requirements are not listed for this job.