JobsAndCareers_Winter2021/22 - 87

BUILDERS' MERCHANTS
T
here are many
crucial roles in the
construction industry
- after all, structures
need to be planned,
built, checked and
fitted out, and skilled workers are
needed at every step of the way. Builders'
merchants are just one of these, making
sure that a range of materials is available
to builders and tradespeople, including
plumbers, decorators, landscapers and
more. The sector also covers timber and
do-it-yourself materials, and employs
experts who can advise the general public
on the best products and methods.
Equipment rental also plays a big
part. Not all builders have - or need to
have - heavy machinery and specialised
tools on hand all the time, so hiring
these makes good financial sense. What's
more, hiring equipment that is used
infrequently is better environmentally
as well as economically. The estimated
size of the plant hire industry in the
UK is £7.1bn, and it's experiencing
a healthy growth right now thanks
to the booming housing market.
Builders' merchants are a vital part of
construction, which the Builders Merchant
Building Index calculates contributes
more than £40bn to the UK economy
annually, and the nature of the sector
means there are opportunities all around
the country. Sales and marketing roles are
plentiful, but there are also jobs - both
skilled and unskilled - that enable you to
work outside, if you don't fancy the idea
of spending all your time in an office. Here
" The estimated size of the plant hire
industry in the UK is £7.1bn, and it's
experiencing a healthy growth right now
thanks to the booming housing market "
are some of the careers available in both
the building and equipment hire industries.
FORKLIFT TRUCK DRIVER
In this role, you'll load and unload
goods from lorries, ships or aircraft,
stack, pack orders and complete
paperwork. With experience, you
can become a shift supervisor, team
leader or warehouse manager.
What skills and qualifications do
I need? There are no set academic
qualifications needed to get started,
but practical skills in English and
maths will help when it comes to
training. You'll need to pay attention
to detail and be able to remain calm
in stressful situations. You'll also need
a forklift licence, but your employer
can often arrange training, possibly
as part of an apprenticeship.
How much can I earn? Salaries start
around £17,000, although many are
advertised at a per hour rate. With
experience, you can earn up to £30,000.
LIFTING ENGINEER
Here, your role would be to maintain
and inspect lifting equipment, carrying
out testing and adjustments to both
electrical and mechanical aspects of the
equipment. You'd need to be proficient
at fault-finding, conduct repairs and
restore the equipment safely.
What skills and qualifications
do I need? A clean driving
license, along with experience
in working within a testing and
lifting environment, plus strong
mechanical engineering skills. You'll
usually be expected to have a Lifting
Equipment Engineers Association
(LEEA) qualification, too. Good
communication skills are essential.
How much can I earn? Average pay
for this kind of job is around £35,000.
OPERATIONS MANAGER
An operations manager makes sure a
building project is completed safely,
within budget and on time. You'll be
responsible for checking plans with
architects, hiring staff, buying materials,
planning schedules, monitoring costs
and reporting to clients. The work
may involve working evenings and
weekends away from home. With
experience, you could progress into
contract management or consultancy.
What skills and qualifications do
I need? You will need to be able to
organise your time effectively and
have good leadership skills. You'll
also probably hold a foundation
degree, HND or degree accredited
by the Chartered Institute of
Building in a relevant subject.
How much can I earn? Between
£29,000 and £53,000 a year.
Find out more
* Builders Merchants
Federation bmf.org.uk
* CIOB (Chartered Institute
of Building) ciob.org
* Hire Association Europe
hae.org.uk
* Lifting Equipment
Engineers Association
leeaint.com
jobsandcareersmag.com /// JOBS & CAREERS /// 87
http://bmf.org.uk http://www.ciob.org http://hae.org.uk http://www.leeaint.com http://www.jobsandcareersmag.com
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