Helping you find a career in trades
Those who enjoy practical work and don't want to be sat in an office from 9-5 will be well-suited to the trades industry.
General roles that are in the trade industry are plumbers, electricians, builders and mechanics. These are highly skilled professions that provide practical services which are critical across all avenues of society. Whilst there are college courses available for all of these, there are also a number of apprenticeships and work placements that'll allow you to ‘earn as you learn'.
Plumbers work with our water infrastructure. You could work on a freelance basis and be helping individuals who are having issues with their sinks and showers at home, or if you would prefer to be a part of a large team you could work for a company on large-scale projects that involve the installation of complex plumbing systems. There is currently a significant skills shortage in plumbing, so you can be very well paid for your work.
Electricians and electrical workers are high in-demand and they will always be needed, so you won't struggle to find employment. Our modern way of life is dependent upon the reliable delivery of electricity and you could be responsible for installing these systems in new developments or helping to fix things when they go wrong.
Mechanics can either carry out general car repairs, or work for a specific car company and become specialised in that particular brand. All vehicles require mechanics so you could also choose to specialise in construction vehicles, buses, cars or even farming vehicles.
The building industry has a wide range of opportunities and you can start with general, basic building work and, if you wish, you can specialise further on in your career as you find out what you enjoy. Building offers the chance to work on everything - from conservatories to 5* hotels.
You can have a wide and varied career working in the trades industry. You'll need to be good with people and be able to practically apply your knowledge when faced with a problem.