Teachers and Parents
Why house building
House building has changed
The housing shortage has risen to the top of the political agenda for the first time in a generation. There’s a lot of arguments around what to do and why we’re here, but what everyone agrees on is the need to build more houses. Unfortunately at a time when we need to build houses more than ever, the UK faces a skills shortage that is inhibiting our ability to provide the necessary housing stock for future generations.
The Home Building Skills Partnership is a collaboration of over 70 of the biggest house builders in the country to tackle this issue. Young people have a lot of misconceptions around the house building industry despite it being a stable, rewarding and well-paid career for all kinds of people.
The industry has moved on in the past 20 years and we need a huge variety of talent to ensure future families can enjoy high quality homes. Building these homes is increasingly complex and the range of roles reflects this. From site managers and quantity surveyors to plumbers and sales assistants, there are careers for every young person.
It’s a fantastic time to join the industry. The sector is growing and is one of the few that can offer stability and good pay alongside the opportunity to get recognised qualifications while learning a trade that will last a lifetime. You could play an instrumental and influential role in helping young people match their talents to the wide-ranging needs and this site offers resources to help you do that.
Key job roles
A few (of many) jobs which we are looking to recruit in the house building industry.
Bricklayer
Bricklayers play a hands-on role in turning house plans into new homes. They build walls and other brickwork accurately, safely and to the required standard, working as part of the wider construction team on a residential development.
Carpenter
Carpenters help turn the structure of a new house into a safe, practical home. They fit timber components at different stages of construction, from floor structures and roof timbers to doors, stairs and skirting boards. Their measurements and workmanship affect how well later trades can do their job
Dry Liner
Dry liners create internal walls, linings and ceilings using plasterboard and framing systems. On new housing developments, their work helps turn the shell of a house into recognisable rooms and creates spaces for insulation, services and performance systems.
Engineer
Engineers help turn plans for new homes into practical, buildable developments. In house building, they solve technical problems around structures, levels, drainage, roads, utilities and site infrastructure, working with teams from the earliest design stages through to construction.
Groundworker
Groundworkers prepare the land and infrastructure that new homes depend on. Before walls rise, they help establish safe working areas, drainage, foundations and access routes; their work continues as the development takes shape.
Site Manager
Site managers bring the different parts of a new-home development together on site. They coordinate people, programmes, quality and safety so houses can be built in the right order and to the required standard.
Plasterer
Plasterers give the walls and ceilings of new homes the smooth, durable surfaces needed for decorating. Their work makes a visible difference to the finish of each room and helps bring a development closer to handover.
Plumber
Plumbers install the water, drainage and often heating systems that make new homes comfortable and practical. Their work is essential from the early installation of pipework to the final testing of bathrooms, kitchens and other fittings.
Quantity Surveyor
Quantity surveyors help house builders understand and control the cost of building new houses and residential developments. They combine financial thinking with construction knowledge, following costs from early budgets through the build and into final accounts.
Roof Slater and Tiler
Roof slaters and tilers install the pitched roof coverings that protect new homes from the weather. Their work combines precise setting out, careful fixing and strong safety awareness, often in exposed conditions high above the site.
Sales Advisor
Sales advisors are often the first people customers meet when they consider buying a new home. They explain the development of the construction site and available homes, guide buyers through the sales process and help keep reservations moving towards completion.
Wall and Floor Tiler
Wall and floor tilers create durable, accurate finishes in kitchens, bathrooms and other tiled areas of new houses. They prepare surfaces, set out patterns, cut and fix tiles, grout joints and check that the finished work meets the required standard.
Why not come and see what we do?
Interested? Want to find out more about what a house builder does and talk to the people building our homes? Why not ask your teacher to get in touch with us, so we can arrange a visit to your school!
