Construction and trades

• Acoustics consultant

  Acoustician, acoustics engineer

  Acoustics consultants help manage and control noise and vibrations in homes, workplaces and other environments.

• Architect

  Architects design new buildings and the spaces around them, and work on the restoration and conservation of existing buildings.

• Architectural technician

  Architectural technicians work closely with architectural teams on the design process of building projects.

• Architectural technologist

  Building technologist

  Architectural technologists manage all stages of the technical design and planning process of building projects.

• Boat builder

  Marine craftsperson, shipwright

  Boat builders build, repair and refit marine craft from small sailing boats to large sea-going vessels.

• Bricklayer

  Mason, brickie

  Bricklayers build houses, repair walls and chimneys and refurbish decorative stonework. They also work on restoration projects.

• Builders' merchant

  Builders' merchants sell building and DIY products and materials.

• Building control officer

  Building control surveyor

  Building control officers make sure building regulations are followed.

• Building services engineer

  Building services engineers design, fit and maintain the heating, lighting and power systems in offices, hospitals and shopping centres.

• Building site inspector

  Clerk of works, construction inspector, building site supervisor

  Building site inspectors check the quality and safety of construction work.

• Building surveyor

  Building surveyors advise clients about the design, construction, maintenance and repair of buildings.

• Building technician

  Site technician

  Building technicians support engineers, surveyors and architects on construction projects.

• CAD technician

  Structural technician, BIM technician, digital design technician, engineering design technician

  Computer-aided design (CAD) technicians use software to design structures, machinery, goods and components.

• Carpenter

  Joiner, bench joiner

  Carpenters and joiners make and install wooden structures, fittings and furniture.

• Carpet fitter and floor layer

  Flooring fitter

  Carpet fitters and floor layers fit carpets and vinyl tiles and lay laminate and solid timber floors.

• Cavity insulation installer

  Cavity wall installer

  Cavity insulation installers fit insulation, soundproofing materials and cladding in buildings.

• Ceiling fixer

  Ceiling fixers fit suspended ceilings in buildings to cover pipework, wiring, heating and air conditioning systems.

• Civil engineer

  Engineering consultant

  Civil engineers design and manage construction projects such as buildings, bridges, transport links and sports stadiums.

• Civil engineering technician

  Civil infrastructure technician, civil and structural technician

  Civil engineering technicians give technical support to engineers on construction projects.

• Commercial energy assessor

  Non-domestic energy assessor

  Commercial energy assessors measure the energy efficiency of commercial buildings to produce Non-Domestic Energy Performance Certificates.

• Construction contracts manager

  Construction contracts managers look after building contracts and construction costs.

• Construction labourer

  Construction operative, groundworker

  Construction labourers work on practical tasks on construction sites from the start to the end of building projects.

• Construction manager

  Site manager

  Construction managers organise building projects to make sure they're completed safely, within budget and on time.

• Construction plant hire adviser

  Plant hire controller

  Construction plant hire advisers rent out plant machinery, tools and equipment to builders and the public.

• Construction plant mechanic

  Mobile plant fitter

  Construction plant mechanics service and repair heavy plant machinery like diggers, dumper trucks and cranes.

• Construction plant operator

  Construction plant operators work with machinery and equipment used on building sites.

• Construction site supervisor

  Building site manager, site inspector, clerk of works

  Construction site supervisors manage staff and subcontractors on building sites.

• Crane driver

  Mobile crane driver, tower crane operator

  Crane drivers operate lifting machinery at construction sites, quarries, mining sites, ports and warehouses.

• Demolition operative

  Demolition operatives dismantle buildings and structures, remove hazardous waste and identify reusable materials.

• Domestic energy assessor

  Domestic energy assessors (DEAs) work out the energy efficiency of domestic buildings like houses and flats.

• Drone pilot

  Unmanned aerial vehicle pilot, UAV pilot

  Drone pilots remotely operate aircraft used in work like surveying, filmmaking and aerial photography.

• Dry liner

  Dry lining fixer

  Dry liners use plasterboard and panels to build internal walls, suspended ceilings and raised flooring in houses, offices and shops.

• Electrician

  Electrical fitter, electrical technician, installation electrician

  Electricians fit, service and repair electric machines, equipment and wires.

• Electricity distribution worker

  Transmission worker, electrical craftsperson

  Electricity distribution workers maintain and repair the power lines that connect homes and businesses to the national grid.

• Engineering construction craftworker

  Engineering construction craftworkers fit and repair machinery and equipment in buildings and structures from oil rigs to sports stadiums.

• Engineering construction technician

  Engineering construction technicians support engineers to design, test, install, maintain, repair and decommission industrial facilities.

• Estimator

  Cost engineer, construction estimator, cost planner

  Estimators work out how much the different parts of an engineering or construction project will cost.

• Facilities manager

  Estates manager, support services manager, contracts manager

  Facilities managers oversee the operation and maintenance of building systems and services.

• Fence installer

  Fencer, fencing worker

  Fence installers put up and repair fences, gates and other barriers.

• Formworker

  Form carpenter, concrete carpenter

  Formworkers build temporary wood or metal frameworks, used to cast concrete and other materials in construction projects.

• Gas mains layer

  Gas networks operative

  Gas mains layers install and maintain pipelines that supply homes and businesses with gas.

• Gas service technician

  Gas installation engineer, gas maintenance engineer

  Gas service technicians install, service and repair gas appliances and heating systems.

• General practice surveyor

  General practice surveyors are involved in the management, valuation, buying, selling and development of land and property.

• Glazier

  Glass installer, fenestration installer

  Glaziers install and repair glass in houses, hotels, offices and shops.

• Heat pump engineer

  Heat pump installer, heat pump technician, low carbon heating technician

  Heat pump engineers install and service zero carbon central heating and hot water systems in buildings.

• Heating and ventilation engineer

  HVAC engineer

  Heating and ventilation engineers install and service heating and air conditioning in large buildings like factories, schools and hospitals.

• Heritage officer

  Historic buildings officer, listings officer

  Heritage officers support teams to take care of buildings, monuments and places valued for their cultural and historical importance.

• Kitchen and bathroom designer

  Kitchen and bathroom designers plan and design kitchens and bathrooms to meet customer needs.

• Kitchen and bathroom fitter

  Kitchen and bathroom fitters install kitchens and bathroom suites in homes and businesses.

• Land and property valuer and auctioneer

  Valuers and auctioneers give advice to people buying, selling and renting land or property.

• Land surveyor

  Geographic information systems (GIS) surveyor, geomatics surveyor

  Land surveyors measure the shape of the land, and gather data for civil engineering and construction projects.

• Landscaper

  Landscape gardener, landscape designer

  Landscapers create and maintain gardens, parks and other outdoor areas.

• Mechanical engineering technician

  Mechanical maintenance technician

  Mechanical engineering technicians design, install and repair industrial machines and parts.

• Paint sprayer

  Car paint sprayer, vehicle paint sprayer, body shop worker, paint technician

  Paint sprayers apply coatings and protective finishes to cars, vans, motorbikes and other vehicles.

• Painter and decorator

  Painters and decorators apply paint, wallpaper and other finishes to the inside and outside of buildings.

• Pipe fitter

  Pipefitter

  Pipe fitters install industrial pipework, valves and pumps in factories, commercial premises and large buildings like power stations.

• Planning and development surveyor

  Planning and development surveyors assess, design and manage development projects in towns, cities and rural areas.

• Plasterer

  Plasterers apply plaster to walls and ceilings ready for decorating and finishing.

• Plumber

  Plumbers fit and service hot and cold water systems, heating systems and drainage networks.

• Quantity surveyor

  Quantity surveyors oversee construction projects, managing risks and controlling costs.

• Quarry engineer

  Mining engineer

  Quarry engineers explore new sites, oversee extraction operations and manage sites at the end of their commercial life.

• Quarry worker

  Quarry operative, opencast mine worker, opencast miner

  Quarry workers dig out and process rock, slate, gravel and sand from quarries or mines.

• Refrigeration and air-conditioning installer

  Air-con engineer, HVAC engineer

  Refrigeration and air-conditioning installers work on air quality and cooling systems in buildings, storage and transport.

• Road worker

  Road construction operative, highways operative

  Road workers build and repair roads and motorways.

• Roofer

  Slater, flat roofer

  Roofers re-slate and tile roofs, fit skylight windows and replace lead sheeting and cladding.

• Rural surveyor

  Agricultural surveyor

  Rural surveyors value farms and areas of land, plan how land is used and advise clients.

• Scaffolder

  Scaffolders put up scaffolding on buildings and structures to let other workers do their jobs safely.

• Shopfitter

  Shopfitters make and install fixtures and fittings in offices, restaurants, shops and bars.

• Steel erector

  Steel erectors assemble the beams and girders that support the structure of buildings, stadiums, bridges and tunnels.

• Steel fixer

  Steel fixers install and tie together steel bars and mesh that is used to strengthen concrete on construction projects.

• Steeplejack

  Lightning conductor engineer

  Steeplejacks climb high buildings and structures to repair them or make them safe.

• Stonemason

  Stonemasons carve blocks of stone, and lay and fit stonework into place on construction projects.

• Structural engineer

  Structural engineers help to design and build large structures and buildings, like hospitals, sports stadiums and bridges.

• Surveying technician

  Surveying technicians carry out tasks to support chartered surveyors, architects and engineers.

• Thatcher

  Thatchers use traditional craft skills, materials and tools to replace and repair thatched roofs.

• Thermal insulation engineer

  Pipework lagger, thermal insulation installer

  Thermal insulation engineers install insulating materials around pipes, boilers and ductwork in factories and buildings.

• Tiler

  Wall tiler, floor tiler, ceramic tiler

  Tilers tile walls and floors in kitchens, bathrooms, shops and restaurants, using materials like ceramics, slate and marble.

• Town planner

  Spatial planner, planner, urban designer, planning officer

  Town planners help shape the way towns and cities develop, and balance the demands on land with the needs of the community.

• Town planning assistant

  Town planning technician

  Town planning assistants process applications, give advice about regulations and carry out design work and office administration.

• Water network operative

  Leakage operative, distribution technician, network service technician

  Water network operatives look after the pipes, mains and pumping stations that supply homes and businesses with water.

• Welder

  Pipe welder, MIG welder, TIG welder, arc welder, boilermaker

  Welders cut, join and shape materials like metal in the aerospace, construction and engineering industries.

• Window fitter

  Window fitters install windows, conservatories and glazed curtain walls in homes and businesses.

• Wood machinist

  Wood machinists cut and prepare timber for use in wood products.