One of the most appealing things about a career in the trades is that there are many different ways of beginning your training, allowing you to pick the one that best fits your personal circumstances.
Along with this, few sectors can offer the same level of variety regarding the types of roles that fall under the construction umbrella. Whether you want to be an engineer out working in the field each day, would prefer to be based in the office or see yourself overseeing entire construction sites, the industry offers endless pathways for building a long, successful career.
Is learning a trade something you’ve considered? Take a look through the various ways you can go about taking those first steps.
Apprenticeships
Apprenticeships have long been one of the most popular routes for those wanting to enter the construction industry. One of the biggest draws of apprenticeships is the opportunity to earn while you learn, combining classroom teaching with on-the-job experience.
It is worth noting that apprenticeships can take years to complete, and the wage is typically quite low, so this route is primarily suited to school leavers who perhaps don’t have strict financial commitments.
Different levels of apprenticeships have different entry requirements. You can search for apprenticeships and their entry requirements on the UK government website here.
College courses
Enrolling in a college course can be an effective way to build a strong foundation of knowledge in a specific construction area, and can open the door to gaining work experience.
Many courses contain a dedicated placement period, which can be vital in both testing your skills and making valuable connections in the industry. The time commitment involved will depend completely on the course, and whether you learn on a part-time or full-time basis.
On-the-job training
There is also the option to go straight into learning on the job by shadowing an experienced, qualified tradesperson. While there is no guarantee that work experience will be paid, this is a great way to get a taste of whether the profession is right for you, and can be invaluable in forming some of the basic skills and knowledge involved in a trade.
Private training providers
If you’re looking for one of the more efficient ways of building a career in construction, then an accredited course with a private provider could be ideal.
Whether you’re a complete newcomer to the industry, or have some previous experience and are looking to retrain, private providers like Able Skills offer trade courses to suit all levels of experience. All training is also backed by industry regulatory bodies such as City & Guilds, LCL Awards, NOCN, and AIM.
While there is an up-front investment involved when opting for private training, this is the only way you can go from beginner to fully qualified in just a few weeks. This means you’ll be in a position to begin searching for full-time work and earning a proper salary in a much shorter timeframe than the previous options.
Able Skills has been delivering high-quality construction training for more than two decades now, and all of our courses are taught by time-served experts in their respective industries. If you’d like to know a bit more, feel free to get in touch with our team on 01322 280 202 or visit the centre.