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- Install wooden or metal fences for homeowners or businesses
- Practical, outdoor work, often as part of a team
- Progress into managing a team of workers or running your own business
As a fence installer you'll usually work as part of a team under the supervision of a lead installer or foreperson. You might work on any of the following: boundary fencing for homes and farms, vehicle barriers for roads and motorways, soundproof barriers for places like airports parapets and bridges, security fencing for prisons and airports, or electric fencing and gates. You or your foreperson will discuss with the customer what type of fence they need and give them an estimate.
DAY-TO-DAY DUTIES
- Removing old fencing
- Measuring and laying out new fence lines
- Levelling the ground
- Using hand tools or mechanical diggers
- Positioning wooden, concrete or metal posts
- Fixing them to a base
- Cutting panels to size and fixing them to the posts
- Painting and weatherproofing fences
DAY-TO-DAY ENVIRONMENT
You'll use a range of fencing materials, like timber, concrete, wire and metal.
If you're self-employed, you'll negotiate your own rates. You may work overtime and at weekends when it's busy and you'll usually need a driving licence.
The job is physically demanding. You'll spend most of your time working outside, in all weathers.
You'll need
This role would be ideal for someone with the ability to communicate clearly with customers, practical skills for using hand and power tools, the ability to understand and work to plans, basic maths skills, and practical ability in wood and metalwork.
There are no set entry requirements, but you can start by doing a college course, for example a Level 1 Award in Construction Skills or a Level 2 Diploma in Carpentry and Joinery. This would teach you some of the skills needed for the job. You could then look for a trainee job with a fencing company.
You can apply directly to employers if you have some experience in a practical job like landscape gardening or construction or you can also do a fencing installer intermediate apprenticeship.
You'll need to have a good level of fitness and a Fencing Industry Skills Scheme/Construction Skills Certification Scheme (FISS/CSCS) card before you can work on construction sites or Highways Agency contracts.
You may also need a driving licence for some jobs.
CAREER PROSPECTS
With experience, you could become a lead installer, foreperson, or move into contract management, quantity surveying, health and safety management, or sales. You could also set up your own business.