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- Make and install fixtures and fittings in offices, restaurants, shops and bars
- You'll need practical skills for using tools and the ability to work quickly
- You could move into a supervisory role or become a works manager
As a shopfitter you'll make and install fixtures and fittings in shops, bars and other premises. You might also build and refurbish shop fronts and doorways. You'll work with other tradespeople like tilers, electricians and plumbers.
DAY-TO-DAY DUTIES
- Marking out and cutting wood, metal, glass and plastic to make units and fittings in a workshop
- Estimating material quantities and costs
- Preparing tenders and quotes for jobs
- Preparing design plans
- Measuring and setting out jobs on site
- Paint spraying timber products
DAY-TO-DAY ENVIRONMENT
You could work at a client's business or in a workshop. You may have to work through the night, so you don't disrupt the client's business. You'll spend most of your time indoors, in a construction workshop or on site. Your working environment may be physically demanding, cramped, outdoors some of the time, dusty, noisy and at height.
You'll usually wear protective clothing like safety footwear, goggles and ear defenders. You may need to stay overnight on some contracts.
You'll need
This role would be ideal for someone with practical skills for using tools, the ability to work quickly and pay close attention to detail, maths skills, the ability to follow technical drawings, plans and written or spoken instructions, draughting and IT skills.
You'll usually need a background in a construction trade, like carpentry and joinery. Employers may also want you to have some GCSEs in subjects like maths, English, and design and technology.
You can take a construction course at college to learn some of the skills needed for this job, such as, Level 1 Certificate in Construction Crafts, Level 2 Diploma in Construction Skills Bench Joinery or Level 2 Extended Diploma In Site Carpentry.
You can also start as a junior shopfitter through an intermediate or advanced apprenticeship in construction building wood occupations, or in construction specialist interior systems.
You may need a Shopfitting and Interior Contracting Competency Scheme (SICCS) card or equivalent to work on some jobs.
CAREER PROSPECTS
With experience, you could move into a supervisory role, like chargehand or foreperson. With further training, you could become a works manager, contracts manager or shopfitting designer. With the right experience and contacts, you could also set up your own shopfitting business.