Should you become a builder?

If you’re considering a career change, or just starting out with work and wondering whether or not a career as a builder is for you, then you’ve come to the right place.

Throughout the course of this blog, the team here at Rhino is here to help you understand why you should consider a career as a builder. What's involved, the risks and, of course, why you need builders' insurance.

What you need to be a builder

You will need many skills and qualities to build a successful career as a builder! Considering the fact that builders earn more than the majority of university graduates, it's worthwhile to determine whether or not this is a job for you:

Getting your hands dirty

Building involves a lot of hands-on work. It's a practical career, so this job isn't for you if you don't like getting your hands dirty. 

In this game, there are no easy days. You only get what you put in. It's worth remembering that you have to be wholly committed to completing a project. Otherwise, you can quite easily be labelled a 'cowboy builder'.

Physically demanding job

To succeed as a builder, you must be in good physical condition. You will lift and carry heavy objects daily.

The good news is that you'll get fitter the more work you put in. You'll notice aches and pains in muscles you didn't know you had due to constantly working up a sweat! But once you are into the swing of it, you won't look back!

Don't mind heights!

As a builder, you will work on various projects, some require manoeuvring tools, objects and materials at height. As long as you don't mind this aspect, you will do just fine. 

Enjoy the warm summers but prepare for the cold winters

One of the positives of working as a builder is being outside during the warm spring and summer months. The flip side is that you’ll still be out working in the elements during the colder winter months - you can't just sit in the portaloo and expect your apprentice to do the work!

Working different hours throughout the year

Another thing to keep in mind is that you will work different hours throughout the year. You could work early in the winter because of the short amount of daylight, but in the summer, when the days are much longer, you could work late into the evening.

Apprenticeships and studying at university

Most builders will follow an apprenticeship framework in a specific trade: bricklaying or carpentry.

One positive of studying an apprenticeship (as opposed to those who take the university route for building and construction) is that you learn on the job whilst getting paid, and you don't incur any of that pesky student debt. 

There are various trade construction apprenticeship schemes around at the moment, mainly due to a significant skill shortage in the UK:

• Bricklaying
• Building services
• Carpentry
• Plastering
• Project management
• Design engineers 
• Quantity surveyors

Once you have concluded your apprenticeship, you can still take your career further. Studying a degree in a particular discipline to advance your building career can only mean good things. 

Generally, a time-served builder who goes onto a degree will develop several skills that will help them propel them into the most critical jobs on-site, such as a construction project manager, engineer, and building regulation expert, among many other avenues. 

The advantage of taking a route where you learn the fundamentals of building and then progress to a management position ultimately grants you more respect in the field, more understanding and (as The Lego Movie puts it) will gain you the title of 'Master Builder'. 

Why Choose Rhino Trade Insurance as a Builder?

Building is a cracking career for anybody who wants a challenge. Whether you train and run your own business, conduct renovations in your local area or take the step to project manage major developments in the world, you will always need trade insurance. 

Our insurance experts have designed a quality piece of builders' insurance that can be moulded to your preferred protection. Give us a call (0116 243 7904) to find out more, or get yourself a quote online here.