Glazier

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Construction and building
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Career outlook for glazier

UK Salary Ranges

Entry-level

£14,000

Experienced

£27,000


Currently employed in Scotland

500

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 fit glass in people’s windows and doors and replace broken glass panes.

You could fit double glazing at a house, install windows at a new office development or carry out glass repairs.

You’d need to be able to follow technical drawings and plans. Accurate measurements will be important for cutting the glass to size and you’d need to work carefully and precisely.

On a glass replacement job, you would

  • Select the correct glass for the job, for example safety glass to go in a shop front or security glass for a bank
  • Remove the old or broken panes, using tools like suction pads (for larger pieces), chisels and pliers
  • Remove the beading or putty from frames
  • Fit the new glass
  • Make the fitting watertight using sealants, rubber strips, or lead and aluminium flashing

You would normally use made-to-measure glass panes that have been cut to size in a workshop beforehand. You may need to make some small adjustments to shape pieces on site using diamond- or wheel-cutting tools.

As well as fitting glass, you could be involved in the manufacture of glazed units, such as timber or UPVC-framed windows and doors.

With experience, you may be able to use your skills on specialist projects, for example on churches or restoring listed buildings.

Some jobs involve working at heights from ladders, scaffolding or suspended cradles.

Working conditions

Hours

You would work 37 to 40 hours a week, which could include out-of-hours duties for emergency replacement of broken glass.

Travel

You would travel from job to job, and some contracts may involve working away from home for periods of time. You would need to drive to transport your equipment.

Environment

You would work both indoors and outdoors, depending on each job.

UK employment status

Full-time

68%

Part-time

0%

Self employed

32%

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  • Cooperating
  • Working with numbers
  • Observation
  • Attention to detail
  • Taking initiative
  • Taking responsibility
  • Analysing

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Getting in

Entry requirements for courses can change. Always contact the college, university or training provider to check exactly what you'll need.

Qualifications

You could do a Modern Apprenticeship leading to a relevant Scottish Vocational Qualifications in Glass Industry Occupations (SVQ level 3) and registration with the Scottish Building Apprenticeship Training Council (SBATC).

You don't always need any qualifications to get into a Modern Apprenticeship but but some employers will look for qualifications at SCQF level 4/5.

 

Useful subjects

  • English
  • Maths
  • Science
  • Technologies subjects 

You will also need

You must hold a Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) card or equivalent and pass a health and safety test to train or work on construction sites.

A driving licence is required for most jobs.

Helpful to have

  • Qualifications that show understanding of the industry and practical skills such as Skills for Work Construction Crafts (SCFQ level 4/5).
  • Women and Work Sector Pathways initiative (W&WSPI)
  • Skills for Work Construction Crafts courses
  • National Progression Award (prevocational or pre-apprenticeship courses) at college
  • Employability Fund projects (like Youthbuild which support young people's journey to work)