Construction workers take on much of the day to day work on a site, preparing the site or materials, breaking up concrete, plastering walls and digging earth. This is the kind of work that first pops to mind when most people think of construction, so if you’re looking for an entry route to construction this area may be your starting point.

These on-site jobs are becoming more specialised, with labourers taking on specific roles in which they have developed their skills through experience and training. Examples include steel workers, pipe layers, scaffolders, heavy goods vehicle drivers, machine operatives, asphalt layers and demolition workers.

If you are interested in a career in construction but want to focus your efforts on one aspect of construction and to master it, then you could work towards becoming a Trade Craftsperson. Here you would operate in roles more skilled and specialised than those undertaken by construction craft workers, such as brick and stone-layer, plasterer, plumber, electrician and carpenter/joiner.

Career Paths

An excellent route into a skilled trade is training as an apprentice under the Designated Crafts Scheme with SOLAS. An apprenticeship allows you to learn a trade through practical on the job work, earning a wage as you are instructed. The training is structured, with apprentices taking blocks of training that allow them to develop a rounded, complete skill set suitable to the modern construction site.

The focus on developing skills prepares the apprentice for any workplace in need of their abilities. This means an apprenticeship is a mobile qualification, equipping the worker to take their skills and experience where there is labour market demand. Check out our Apprenticeships area for more information, examples relevant to the construction sector include apprenticeships in carpentry, plastering, plumbing and electrical work.