Fence installer

You would put up and fix fences and gates to keep people protected. You could work on fences for important transport links like airports and roads, for secure buildings like prisons or around private gardens and farms.

You’d use a range of hand and power tools to build wooden and metal fences. You’d usually work as part of a team under the supervision of a lead installer or foreperson.

You might work on:

• Boundary fencing for homes and farms

• Vehicle crash barriers for roads and motorways

• Sound proof barriers for places like airports

• Parapets and bridges

• Security fencing for prisons and airports

• Electric fencing and gates

You’d discuss the requirements with the customer. You'd give them an estimate of the costs and the time it will take to do the work.

Once the work was agreed you would:

• Remove the old fencing if necessary

• Measure and lay out the lines of the new fence according to the plan

• Level the ground

• Use hand tools or mechanical diggers to dig foundations for fence posts

• Position wooden, concrete or metal posts, and fix them to a concrete base

• Cut panels to size and fix them to the posts

• Paint and weatherproof the finished fence

You’d use different fencing materials, including timber, concrete, wire and metal. You will need to make sure that you always follow health and safety regulations in your work.

• Lantra Scotland - Training and skills for the land-based, aquaculture and environmental sector

• Lantra Fencing Industry Skills Scheme/Construction Skills Certification Scheme