What’s the Best Trade to Learn for You?

If you are thinking about becoming a tradesperson, it's important to know which trade might be right for you. There are several different trade types, and the one that is right for you will depend on your personal experience, skills, and what you enjoy.

In this article, we will take a look at the most common trade jobs and some tips on how to choose the right trade to suit you. So, if you're considering trade work, read on to find out everything you need to know.

What is a Trade?

Trades to learn in the UK are a type of profession that requires a specific set of advanced skills and training. Rather than training for your career with a degree, you typically learn a trade job at a technical school or with on-the-job training.

Different types of trade have a set of requirements that are designed to ensure you are suitable for the job. For example, some trades require you to complete an apprenticeship or internship through an employer out in the field, rather than just a formal qualification.

Some examples of trade jobs include a plumber, electrician, plasterer, and carpenter, among many others.

What are the Most Common Trade Jobs?

There are several different trades available with some easier to learn than others. Below is a list of popular and most in demand trade jobs in the UK, with some information about each one:

Electrician

An electrician will install, test, and maintain electrical wiring, equipment, and appliances in both domestic (houses and flats) and commercial (warehouses and offices) premises.

Every working day is different, and you may be required to do a range of different things on any given day. This can include planning out a wiring framework for a home refit or installing lights in a huge warehouse.

Safety is an extremely important aspect of an electrician's work, and gaining a relevant qualification is essential. If you want to work in domestic properties only, you will only need to qualify as a domestic engineer. However, if you want to work as a commercial electrician, you will need to complete the relevant NVQ Level 3 qualification.

What Qualifications Does an Electrician Need?

In the UK an electrician requires a 3 to 4 year apprenticeship and a Level 3 technical and vocational qualification or a Level 3 Diploma.

How Much Does an Electrician Earn in the UK?

The average electrician salary in the UK is around £32,000 for newly qualified electrician, but rises to £52,000 for more experienced electricians.

Gas Engineer

A gas engineer will help with installing, maintaining, testing, and repairing all of the appliances and heating systems within the UK. A gas engineer will need great customer service skills, physics and maths skills, problem-solving skills, and time management skills.

Most gas engineers will work a 9-5 job; however, sometimes the work can go beyond the usual business hours. If you like working in a high-risk, fast-paced environment and love trying to solve problems, then a gas engineer trade is the perfect career for you.

What Qualifications Does a Gas Engineer Need?

There are apprenticeships and diploma options available, but largely you will need to undergo on-the-job training and industry exposure. In the UK, in order to become an official Gas Engineer you will also need to be Gas Safe Registered.

How Much Does a Gas Engineer Earn in the UK?

A gas engineer's salary will depend on how much experience they have. Newly-qualified gas engineers earn around £25,000 per year, while more experienced gas engineers earn £45,000 per year or more.

Plumber

A plumber will usually work on a wide range of tasks on a day-to-day basis. This can include repairing gas and water pipes, fitting fixtures such as taps, baths, toilets, and showers, and installing appliances such as washing machines and dishwashers.

Plumbers will work in domestic and commercial settings and may also be responsible for planning and installing pipework on new build properties.

If you decide that plumbing might be the right career for you, you will need to have great verbal communication skills as you will spend a lot of time dealing with the public and other trade professionals.

You will also need to be able to think fast and come up with solutions to problems quickly. You must also be able to organise your time efficiently.

What Qualifications Does a Plumber Need?

In order to become a plumber in the UK you need at least NVQ Level 2 or 3 in plumbing and domestic heating by passing practical exams. Becoming a qualified plumber takes time, usually around four years, and most people get into the trade through apprenticeships.

How Much Does a Plumber Earn in the UK?

The average plumber salary in the UK is around £29,000 per year for newly-qualified plumbers and £45,000 for more experienced plumbers.

Carpenter

If you are interested in a very hands-on job with a good level of diversity, then becoming a carpenter may be just the job for you. Carpentry includes a range of things such as repairing timber frames, installing staircases, installing doors, and building window frames.

Carpenters are one of the most in demand trades in the UK, and qualified carpenters can usually earn more than those who don't have a qualification.

What Qualifications Does a Carpenter Need?

Although you don't necessarily need a formal qualification in the UK to become a basic carpenter, it can certainly help.

There are several carpentry courses such as a Level 2 Diploma in Bench Joinery or a Level 2 or 3 Diploma in Carpentry and Joinery. Alternatively, an apprenticeship is another option for becoming a qualified carpenter.

How Much Does a Carpenter Earn in the UK?

The average carpenter salary is between £17,000 and £38,000 per year. However, tradespeople with more experience will be able to command higher rates than this.

Tiler

Tilers, like many other trades, are currently in high demand. If you like attention to detail, if you're creative-minded, and if you're organised, then tiling may be the right line of work for you. Tiling gives you the opportunity to work with different materials such as ceramics, granite, marble, slate, and more.

Tilers must have amazing attention to detail as some jobs such as tiling a floor can be very intricate. You will also need to have some knowledge about building and construction, stress points, waterproofing, and you must have the ability to work independently.

What Qualifications Does a Tiler Need?

You do not need any particular qualifications to be a tiler. However, it usually looks much better if you do - the options available in the UK are a Level 1 Certificate in Wall and Floor Tiling and a Level 2 Diploma. Alternatively, you may prefer to train as a tiler through an apprenticeship.

How Much Does a Tiler Earn in the UK?

Beginners usually start at around £18,000 per year, and experienced professionals can earn up to around £36,000.

Structural Engineer

A structural engineer will usually design structures that withstand stresses and pressures due to environmental conditions and human use. The work involves ensuring that structures do not rotate, deflect, vibrate excessively, or collapse. The job will focus on ensuring the structures remain stable and secure throughout their use. It will also include examining existing buildings and structures to ensure they are structurally sound and still safe.

Structural engineering involves working with architects and other professional engineers to help design structures such as houses, hospitals, bridges, office blocks, ships, oil rigs, aircrafts and more. A structural engineer will also be responsible for choosing appropriate materials for jobs such as steel, concrete, timber, and other materials.

What Qualifications Does a Structural Engineer Need?

The majority of structural engineers in the UK will enter the field with a degree in civil or structural engineering.

How Much Does a Structural Engineer Earn in the UK?

Entry level will usually earn around £24,000 on average, whereas a professional with experience can earn upwards of £40,000.

Plasterer

Plastering is a job that requires a lot of skill and speed. It involves coating internal walls and ceilings with various types of plaster so that they are ready to be decorated. It also involves coating external surfaces with appropriate materials such as sand or cement.

The work of a plasterer involves a good level of maths knowledge so that you know how much plaster to mix up and to maintain the correct levels of work for various projects.

What Qualifications Does a Plasterer Need?

You don't need any formal qualifications to become a plasterer. However, on-site experience is usually the key to landing a job. You can gain this knowledge by shadowing a local plasterer. Alternatively, you can do an apprenticeship in plastering to gain training alongside on-the-job experience.

How Much Does a Plasterer Earn in the UK?

Trainee plasterers will start on around £15,000 per year, and professionals with experience will earn around £25,000+. Note that plasterers in London may earn more due to the higher cost of living.

Painter and Decorator

One of the easiest trades to learn in the UK is to become a painter and decorator, often working alongside a plasterer in order to complete the job. They're an equally important role within any home renovation, from bedrooms to bathrooms and available to help with almost any area within your property.

What Qualifications Does a Painter and Decorator Need?

Although it is possible to gain a Level 2 or 3 NVQ in painting and decorating, or the more detailed City & Guilds Advanced Decorating Certifications, essentially you can also learn as you go.

How Much Does a Painter and Decorator Earn in the UK?

The average decorator salary is between £24,000 and £35,000 although this can fluctuate depending on where in the UK you are located.

Likewise, as it's one of the quickest trade to learn there's a difference between being entry level on £18,000 to £22,000 per year and that of someone with several years of experience.

Bricklayers

If the increase in volume of online searches is anything to go by, then one of the most in demand trades for the UK is currently bricklayers. Whether it's putting up a basic garden wall or working on a construction site to build a house, there's certainly scope for a bricklayer as being one of the best trades to learn.

What Qualifications Does a Bricklayer Need?

There are apprenticeships to help you become a bricklayer, plus you can gain a Level 1 Certificate in Construction Skills or a Level 2 Diploma in Bricklaying before going out to work on site.

How Much Does a Bricklayer Earn in the UK?

The average bricklayer salary is £32,000 per year for a newly-qualified bricklayer, but rises to £40,000 per year (or more) as you get more experience.

Gardener

One of the best trades to learn in the UK if you love the outdoors is that of a gardener. During the Covid-19 pandemic, gardening became increasingly popular and it's fast become one of the most in demand trades in the UK.

What Qualifications Does a Gardener Need?

Often becoming an experienced gardener is about hands-on experience, and delivering the job with a passion and understanding for plants.

It is, however, advisable to take a course in horticulture or for a more specialised area Forestry and Arboriculture. Alternatively, you can become a landscape gardener specialising in design or study Environmental Conservation.

How Much Does a Gardener Earn in the UK?

The average gardener salary in the UK is between £18,000 and £29,500. However, more experienced gardeners who are self-employed or run a limited business can earn more than this.

How to Choose the Right Trade

If you are considering a job in the trade industry, then you can use the following tips to help you decide which is the best trade to learn for you:

Think About Your Interests

A major benefit of choosing a trade job is that you can earn a living doing something you're interested in.

For example, the easiest trades to learn in the UK if you enjoy doing things hands-on, include becoming a carpenter or joiner. If you are very creative-minded and interested in art and colours, tiling may be a great choice.

Take a moment to consider which is the best trade to learn based on what you are interested in. Once you have acknowledged your interests, you can then research jobs that align with your interests.

Consider Your Talents

Many trade jobs require you to be particularly skilled in a certain thing. You can develop a lot of these skills during your training and work experience.

However, in order to decide upon the quickest trade to learn it can prove beneficial for you to go into a line of work that you are already good at.

Think about your existings skills and how you could bring those talents into the workplace. This may help you decide which trade is best suited to you.

Speak to a Careers Counsellor

Speaking to a career counsellor is a great way to help you figure out which trade is right for you. During a meeting with a career counsellor, they will go over your career options. They will also go over your personality, skills, and everything else about you to determine which trade is best for you.

Take a Career Quiz

A career quiz will present you with a list of questions to help you determine the best career path for you. There are many personality tests that you can find online to help you determine which jobs match up with your personality.

The information you get from these quizzes can help you figure out which trade may suit you best.

Speak to Tradespeople

If you are seriously considering a job in the trade industry, then one of the best things you can do is get out there and speak to people who are already working within the industry.

Ask them questions about how they go into the career, what qualifications they have, what they do on a day-to-day basis, their favourite part of the job, and the least part of the job.

Gathering this information from someone who is actually doing the job can be a big eye-opener as to whether that particular trade is the right career choice for you.

Research Various Jobs

As well as speaking to a career counsellor and speaking to people within the industry, you can also do your own research into the different jobs within the trade industry. There is a lot of information online about all of the different trade jobs.

You may also want to consider the different salaries that you can expect for various jobs. Find out how in-demand each trade is in your area and how much these trades pay where you are.

It may also be a good idea to look at the benefits and perks that come with each trade.

Doing your own research on each trade to learn in the UK may give you some insight into which job may be best for you.

Conclusion

As you can see, there are many different trade jobs for you to choose from, and it may be confusing for someone interested in a career in the trade industry.

If you are seriously considering a job in the trade industry, you should take the information in this article to help you determine which trade is the right trade for you.