Britain is crying out for builders: this is how we built successful careers in the industry… and you can too

Britain is facing a serious shortage of skilled professionals, including electricians, plumbers, bricklayers and carpenters.

Industry reports show that the country needs almost a million new recruits over the next decade to achieve its housing, infrastructure and net-zero energy policy goals.

The work can also be lucrative. While apprentice level apprentices may start at £14,000, this can rise to £32,000 for a qualified builder and then up to £74,000 per year for business owners, according to Checkatrade.

Eric Hargreaves, owner of Manchester-based Your Choice Home Improvements, says: ‘It’s really important for people to know that if they get good at their job and start working for themselves they can get really good rates.

‘It is a very safe sector to work in. It is quite unlikely that AI will take over the role of bricklayer or carpenter, which could influence some young people as they consider career paths.”

Builders can work on all types of projects, from residential homes to commercial projects such as offices or warehouses.

While some may specialize in areas such as bricklaying, roofing, insulation or soundproofing, other builders have a wide range of skills within their trade.

Eric says some masons are in such high demand that they can pay per brick.

“The more bricks you lay, the more money you make,” he says.

“If you have a trade in construction and are skilled in it, you can command anything.”

How Darren built his career in construction

Darren Byrne, building and construction manager at Your Choice, started his career in construction at the age of 17, immediately after leaving school.

Inspired by his father who worked as a bricklayer, he joined a twelve-month Youth Training Scheme (a vocational training program run by the government at the time) with Sheffield-based construction company Henry Boot.

During the twelve months he was introduced to plastering, masonry, carpentry and various other aspects of the construction trade.

He especially loved carpentry, which led him to secondment to a carpenter. Once he completed his training, he stayed there for another three years, making snooker tables from scratch.

Then he decided he wanted a change and switched from construction to logistics.

He started in a warehouse as a forklift driver and rose to management. Within two to three years he became a warehouse manager and within about five years he became a warehouse manager.

He stayed in that industry for about 12 years.

His way back into construction came through a good friend with whom he had previously worked in the carpentry business. The friend had his own construction company, and while he was doing some work on Darren’s property, he offered him the opportunity to join him as a partner.

Darren was immediately thrown into leading the construction side of the business.

He was involved in pricing, managing finances and organizing work. However, they were so busy that Darren and his business partner also had to work on site.

Although he did not have much experience with bricklaying at the time, he had to learn it quickly.

“I learned to lay bricks, build roofs, plaster and do many of the other chores required to complete a construction project,” he said.

‘That period taught me an important lesson: you never stop learning in construction.’

They ran the business successfully for about twelve years until the recession hit and the amount of work began to decrease.

That eventually led Darren to his current role at Your Choice Home Improvements, where he has worked for approximately 14 years.

When he joined the company, it was primarily a window and conservatory company. He joined as a building and construction contracts manager with the aim of developing the construction side of the business.

He recently moved to the sales side of the business.

The sales team sends him new leads, he speaks to the customers, understands what they want to achieve, visits them and discusses how best to approach the work. He then puts together the quotation.

“One of the big advantages I have now is the knowledge I have built up over many years in the industry,” he said.

‘There is very little I don’t know about domestic construction work, and that knowledge is now extremely valuable in my sales role.

‘I am paid on a commission basis, so my earning potential has developed alongside my experience and knowledge.

“That’s one of the things I want to emphasize to young people: you may start out with a lower wage, but as you gain skills, experience and responsibility, there are plenty of opportunities to increase your earning potential.”

Building is not always easy. There are cold winters, bad weather and days when the work can be physically demanding.

But Darren thinks it’s a great environment to work in.

“You’re on the road instead of sitting behind a desk, you meet people, you see projects developing in front of you and, most importantly, at the end of a job you can step back and say, ‘I worked on that,’” he says.

“For me, that’s what makes construction such a rewarding career, and after all these years I’m still learning and enjoying being a part of it.”

Darren is also extremely proud that his son Sam is now involved in the business.

Sam’s experience

Like his father and grandfather, construction was the first industry Sam worked in when he left school. He found a job as a laborer on a building site in Ancoats, Manchester.

His job was to get the materials where the merchants needed them and then clean them up.

He initially found it difficult to work with experienced professionals and felt it was important to earn their respect.

“It’s quite easy to overcome, you just have to work hard,” he says.

He then followed various careers, but always ended up in construction.

“There will always be a need for construction and there will always be a need for physical craftsmen,” he says. ‘I also like the physical aspect of building. It keeps you fit and is good for your mental health.’

Over time, he gained the confidence to go out on his own and started working as an independent general builder for a number of people and companies.

When a role became available as a contract manager at Home Choice, he applied and got the job.

“You always start with a basic worker wage or an apprentice wage,” he said.

“As time goes by, you earn your stripes and as you become more skilled, you get more money. It’s actually quite simple.’

How do you apply for a construction course?

A common way to get into the construction industry is through an internship.

Plumbing and electrical work will take approximately three years, while joinery will take approximately three to four years.

Sometimes you come into contact with a university and you are sent on site once a month.

The minimum contract duration for an internship is 30 hours per week. You will also be given homework to complete in your own time.

You can also become a builder by enrolling in a university course or learning on the job from experienced builders.

Some qualifications that are valuable when entering the trade include the NVQ Level 1 Certificate in Construction Skills, the T-Level in Site Construction and an Intermediate Apprenticeship in Construction.

Eric added: ‘Unfortunately the pay for an apprentice isn’t great, but if you can shine, companies won’t stick to the agreed rate.’