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How to
become a builder
Necessary
skills
Apprecticeships
Builders
insurance
Professional associations
How to set up in
business as a builder
Have you ever thought about becoming a UK builder? Perhaps you enjoy
using your hands and mind in a creative and productive manner. Or
perhaps you simply enjoy helping people to build their dream homes.
Perhaps you just enjoy working outdoors, or you are attracted to the
possible lucrative annual turnover.
Whatever your reasons for wanting to become a builder may be, there are
many things to consider first. When deciding on any career, you should
first consider what tasks the job will require you to be able to
perform. Do you have the necessary innate qualities, skills, and
training that the occupation requires you to have?
Qualities and skills required
Besides simply enjoying manual labour, a builder must be physically fit
and able to perform this type of work. Various building tasks may
involve heavy lifting, or bending over for several hours. You may have
to balance on narrow beams or do lots of climbing on ladders, crawling
on your stomach, and standing up for hours without resting.
You must be able to withstand various weather conditions and climates.
Builders also must not be afraid of heights or closed in spaces. Thus, a
builder needs to have lots of stamina, agility, strength, and overall
good physical health.
Building often requires doing things repetitiously, so you may not like
this occupation for long if you get bored easily. However, builders do
need agile, flexible minds in order to perform the various mental tasks
involved. You need to be able to make quick decisions, adapt to changes
easily, and use excellent problem-solving skills. You also must have
good mathematical, mechanical engineering, and calculation skills.
Moreover, you have to be artistic, creative, and detail-oriented.
It’s also highly important for you to have excellent communication and
people skills. You have to be able to work well independently and with
other people. You must be a good listener, be very patient, and be very
tolerant of other people’s lifestyles and belief systems. Additionally,
you must be able to follow directions well, take pride in your
craftsmanship, have a love of learning, and be good at multi-tasking.
Moreover, you must be good at managing stress, as well as managing the
use of your time and other resources.
Training and knowledge required
Builders have to have an understanding of building regulations and
building codes. They also must know about health and safety issues.
Additionally, a builder has to be able to know how to read blue prints
and building plans. A builder also needs to keep up to date on his or
her knowledge of new building techniques, architectural styles, building
materials, and environmental issues. A good understanding of business
management, economical trends, and the finance industry also helps you
to be successful as a builder.
To obtain formal training and skills as a builder, you can take college
courses that help you attain the various National Vocation
Qualifications (NVQ) levels. Or if you want to forego the college
training, you may try gaining an apprenticeship with a building
contractor who will give you on-the-job training. Some large
construction companies are also willing to provide on-the-job training
for new employees. However, most of the professional builder
associations recommend getting your NVQs if you’re considering becoming
a builder in the UK.
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