Labouring Jobs
- Which occupations are discussed in this section?
- What is the outlook for labourers in the UK?
- Where can labouring jobs be found in the UK?
- What type of employment exists for labouring jobs in the UK?
- Who employs people for labouring jobs in the UK?
- What qualifications do you need for labouring jobs in the UK?
- What other experience is advantageous?
- How much can you expect to earn for labouring jobs in the UK?
- What is the best way to get a labouring job in the UK?
- How should you prepare your CV for the UK?
Which occupations are discussed in this section?
Labourers are also known as Construction Site Operatives or groundworkers in the UK.
What is the outlook for labourers in the UK?
The UK's construction industry is in a very healthy state and the outlook for anyone wanting to find a labouring job is very good.
Fuelled by a strong economy and the demands of an expanding population, there is a constant need to maintain old and develop new infrastructure within the UK. And, of course, there is also the incredibly large task of preparing for the 2012 Olympic games in London.
This means that there are a great variety of construction projects being undertaken across the UK and there is a strong demand for workers to help with their completion.
Where can labouring jobs be found in the UK?
Labouring jobs are available UK-wide, though the majority exist in large towns and cities. The biggest example of this is in London. The size of the city and the enormous demands placed on its infrastructure means that there is huge demand for workers within the construction industry.
Part time constructiuon jobs in the UK can offer you a very flexible mode of employment — whether you are looking for a labouring job in the UK or or a labouring job in London specifically.
Areas just outside of London also have a strong demand for labourers. Within the wider area of South East England, plumber jobs may be found in such places as:
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Other areas throughout the UK which you might consider, include:
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Tip: If you have a particular desire to live and work in a specific UK location, then make this intention clear to your recruitment agent from the outset.
What type of employment exists for labouring jobs in the UK?
As a rule, labourers are employed in a short-term contract capacity and are paid on an hourly basis. Contracting jobs in the UK can offer you the flexibility to split your time between work and travel.
Who employs people for labouring jobs in the UK?
There are a whole range of private sector companies involved in the construction industry and a good chance that you could end up working for any and all of them. Obviously, individual building contractors are a large source of employment.
As a construction industry UK subcontractor, you will also find that labour or recruitment agencies can provide you with much work - especially labouring jobs in London. Often, such agencies may act as your direct employer.
What qualifications do you need for labouring jobs in the UK?
Essentially, you do not need any qualifications to work as a labourer in the UK — it is basically a ‘no experience needed’ job.
Despite this, construction industry occupational, health and safety training is becoming increasingly important in the UK — even with regard to non–skilled construction jobs. The construction industry uses a self–certification system to try to ensure that all workers on a construction site have an appropriate level of certification and sufficient knowledge of health and safety issues.
To this end, a number of certification schemes have been developed to provide all construction site workers with an official ID card which provides proof of their level of qualification. While it is not currently a legal requirement to belong to a certification scheme, it may be required for you to work on some construction sites.
There are a number of different certification schemes for different occupations. The largest of these schemes is the Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS), which is appliciable to 220 different occupations.
Labourers can apply for the CSCS Construction Site Operative (Labourer) card, which is valid for England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. To qualify for this card you must have industry accreditation (which is simply a statement of competence from your employer) and you must pass a UK Health and Safety assessment. Application for the card costs £25 plus an additional £17.50 for the Health and Safety assessment.
What other experience is advantageous?
Labouring is one of the few types of ‘no experience needed’ jobs available in the UK. However, if you do have previous experience labouring, then you will probably find that this helps you to find work more quickly.
Having detailed information regarding your previous experience, such as the size and scope of projects you have been involved in, will make you a more attractive prospect to employers.
How much can you expect to earn for labouring jobs in the UK?
The basic wage for labouring in the UK is £7 — £8 per hour — you can expect to work 38 hours a week, plus overtime. With added qualifications, construction site operatives can earn £17 — £20 K per annum.
Labouring jobs in London almost always pay more than those based in other parts of the UK. This is due to the the associated costs of living in London, as well as the fact that many largrer (and richer) companies and many of the bigger and more expensive projects are based in London.
Other factors which will effect your pay packet include:
- The size of the organisation you work for.
- The amount of responsibility you have in your role.
- The amount of previous experience you possess.
What is the best way to get a labouring job in the UK?
There are plenty of jobs in the UK for experienced candidates but finding the right job can be a daunting task.
Whether you are applying for a specific job or simply looking for anything which matches your skills and experience, your first point of contact will probably be a recruitment agency.
Recruitment agencies are heavily involved in the UK job market — it is their business to find quality candidates for employers while simultaneously helping candidates to develop and progress their careers.
WORKgateways manages a network of the best Trades and Labour recruiters to help you reach your potential.
Register with recruitment agencies up to 2 weeks before your arrival in the UK. Your recruitment consultant will then begin the process of finding you a suitable position, giving you a great headstart to your working life in the UK.
If your travel plans or arrival date changes, make sure you inform your recruitment consultant immediately.
Learn how to get the most out of your WORKgateways UK job search in our FAQs.
How should you prepare your CV for the UK?
Your CV for the UK should be short — 1 to 2 pages should be enough. Recruiters and employers see hundreds of CVs at a time, so it's important to make sure that the important information on your CV is obvious.
Your CV should include a list of the projects you have worked on, including specific details on your personal requirements and responsibilities.
Be sure to list your experience in reverse–chronological order (i.e. most recent experience first).
Use lists and bullet points to enable the reader to quickly scan and understand your experience and abilities.
Example
| Mar 2006 — Present | Company Name, Country Construction Site Operative |
| Projects: |
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| Responsibilities: |
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