Builders' merchant
Sell and hire out products for use in DIY and professional building.
Also known as: yard manager, diy store worker, diy sales assistant
About the job
Salary
Source: LMI for All
Weekly
£490
Average
Monthly
£2,123
Average
Yearly
£25,480
Average
21,700
people are currently employed
Low growth
900 fewer jobs in 5 years
These figures refer to this job and similar ones with comparable skills and qualifications. They only apply to Scotland. Source: Oxford Economics
What it's like
You would sell and hire out products for use in DIY and professional building.
You would deal with products such as:
Timber
Bricks
Decorating materials
Plumbing supplies
Tools
Gardening equipment
You would:
Advise customers about products
Load and unload deliveries by hand or with a forklift truck
Process orders and handle payments
Move goods to storage areas
Put orders together and organise deliveries
If you work in a large DIY store you may also assist with general sales.
With experience, you could work as a team leader or yard manager. You would have more responsibilities, such as training staff, ordering stock and enforcing health and safety rules.
Hours
Environment
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Related industries
Many jobs can be done in lots of different industries. We've highlighted the ones we think are most important for this job.
Construction and built environment
Top skills
Skills are things you're good at. Whether you know what yours are or not, everyone has them!
It's useful to learn which ones are important in a job so you know the areas you need to brush up on. It can also help you work out if you're suited to a career.
Here are some of the skills you'll need to do this job:
- taking responsibility
- reliable
- time management
- managing resources
- attention to detail
- working with numbers
- problem solving
- written communication
- verbal communication
- building relationships
Your skills are important
Our unique skillsets are what make us stand out from the crowd. Learn about each skill in depth and discover what employers look for in your applications and interviews.
Getting in
Explore the sections shown for more information about getting into this career.
You might have qualifications which are not shown here but will allow you access to a course. You can compare your qualifications by looking at their SCQF Level. For more information about this, check out the SCQF website.
Always contact the college, university or training provider to check exactly what you'll need.
Colleges and universities will list subjects you'll need for entry to a course. Some useful subjects include:
Business
Practical Craft Skills
Skills for Work: Retailing
You do not need any formal qualifications but employers will look for a good general standard of education.
You may be able to get into this career through a Modern Apprenticeship with a building supplies firm or DIY store and work towards Scottish Vocational Qualification in Warehousing & Storage (SVQ level 2).
Previous experience in construction, warehousing or retail could be helpful although not essential.
A driving licence may be preferred.
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