Fence installer
Career outlook for fence installer
UK Salary Ranges
Entry-level
£18,000
£18,000
Experienced
£30,000
£30,000
Currently employed in Scotland
9,100
Salary information is provided by the "National Careers Service". "Oxford Economics" supplies job forecasts and employment figures. Due to COVID-19 the jobs market is constantly changing. Some of the information may not reflect the current situation.
What's it like?
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.
Working conditions
Hours
Environment
Travel
UK employment status
Full-time
29%
Part-time
3%
Self employed
68%
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- Cooperating
- Listening
- Verbal communication
- Working with numbers
- Observation
- Attention to detail
- Developing a plan
- Time management
- Taking responsibility
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Qualifications
There are no set qualifications to entry this job, however if you are applying to a Modern Apprenticeship in Fencing, the employer may ask for National Qualifications.
Fencing Apprenticeships are available through Lantra Apprenticeship Scheme.
Useful subjects
- Maths
- Practical technologies subjects, such as practical wood or metalwork
You will also need
- A Fencing Industry Skills Scheme (FISS) card
- A Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) card to work on a construction site
A driving licence will be required by some employers.
Helpful to have
Relevant work experience can be very useful or qualifications that offer work experience such as Skills for Work Construction Engineering (SCQF level 3) or Construction Crafts (SCQF level 4/5).