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Top Construction Skills in Demand in the UK (Updated 2024)

UK Construction Jobs require the use of a combination of technical skills that the workers should possess and perform properly. They need to be well-versed in the roofing, sheetrock, and measuring tapes, among other instruments. Moreover, they are required to perform heavy machine operation tasks like excavators, dump trucks, and bobcats. The employees must understand how to deal with hazardous materials and also do the physical work by carrying heavy objects up the ladders. They also must measure, cut, and install materials such as siding and caulking.

To find a job in the construction sector requires you to develop the basic skills that are largely valued for being successful in the building and construction field. This article is focused on the essential skills of job seekers required to get a good job. The following are the main skills of construction jobs.

Physical Strength

The best construction worker has to get in good physical shape, be physically strong and have the capacity to withstand the tough on-site working conditions. For the proper operation, you must understand ergonomics and this include setting good safety guidelines and proper lifting posture to avoid accidents, injuries or loss of life. The physical abilities needed by construction workers are strength, stamina, and physical endurance. The ability to hear and see well and the appropriate use of personal protective equipment. Other skills such as good posture, hand-eye coordination, dexterity, fine motor skills, first aid and CPR, balance, motor accuracy, and heavy lifting techniques will also be important for our tasks. 

Trade-Specific Knowledge

For the field be well-served, the person doing the work has to have a great depth of both technical and practical knowledge. Each of these skills is essential in UK construction jobs. They involve all the basic skills which can be used for performing tasks in the job. Carpentry, masonry, woodworking and others trades of the construction industry are a mixture of learned and practical knowledge, and the combination of them is essential. It is even better if a worker has some skills and knowledge that cannot be found in other people, therefore, make themselves the most important person in the company. It is common for construction workers to be able to do several tasks at a time, however, the special skills has the possibility of earning higher salaries and faster promotion.

Familiarity with Building Codes

Building workers have to follow the building codes, labour agreements, environment rules, and safety standards and the green building codes. Despite the fact that entry-level workers are not forced to implement these regulations, lot of employers are committed to employees who have the basic knowledge about the protocol. Moreover, a construction worker needs to be someone who has integrity, is environmentally conscious, is a good problem solver, is attentive to detail, is a good negotiator, and follows all safety information. 

Good Hand-Eye Coordination

Hand-eye coordination skills are often only discussed in terms of child development or with adults that are struggling to recover it during rehabilitation. For most healthy adults, excluding athletes, it doesn't seem to be a problem. In general, this ability, hand to eye coordination can be perfected with practice and lots of physical activities. On the other hand, construction workers have to face that challenge every day, since they use that skill when they are hammering nails, drilling holes, measuring material, and when they are working with the tile, however, some activities outside of the job site can help in developing it. Hand-to-eye coordination is a very necessary skill for construction workers, and they have to stand for long period, lift heavy object and follow the right instructions well.

Design and Planning

To succeed in construction jobs, you need to have some knowledge of blueprints. In fact, you need to know how to read blueprints. You also need to be familiar with design to identify problems that can occur (although very rare) in construction blueprints. Design and planning skills required for construction workers include the ability to read and understand blueprints, project management, flexibility, estimating, identifying material costs, and reading construction reports. Others include the ability to give and follow instructions, knowledge of construction reports, and a general understanding of design.

Management Skills

Having management skills might not be a necessity for entry-level workers but it will give you the chance to move up the career ladder These skills are used to manage the construction sites, prepare the estimates, negotiate the prices, execute quality assurance measures, as well as, communicate with the clients. The management skills include, following leadership, quality assurance, collaboration, project management, problem-solving, and the ability to give as well as follow instructions. 

Project Management

Being aware of the basis of project management, i.e. drafting a plan, developing a budget, and tracking the emerging issues during the project, will make it easier to handle the challenges and focus on the most significant tasks. Regardless if you are not involved in management, developing essential leadership skills will help you prioritize your objectives and in turn help you attain your goals faster. If you really are the person that values structure, order, and productivity, you will have faster advancement and others will follow your lead by learning such awesome skills as you. As a consequence, effective strategic planning and decision-making will build a proper example for the whole team which will result in all of you working together.

Cognitive Skills

Cognition is a concept representing the brain's ability to process information, store data, and remain capable of learning. Both visual and auditory are two keys in safety/efficiency operation. Obstensiblement, also precise attention is fundamental in handling heavy equipment, evaluate plans or blueprints and provide quotes. Each one of them is mandated to make precise and personalized choices. Finally, when looking at cognitive capacity within the construction jobs, it is usually expressed through tasks involving complex math or spatial calculations. This is a part of memory and one's capability to solve the problems in life by using their experiences.

Learning the Essential Skills

In general, it is not necessary for a job seeker to have any specific education to get started in UK construction jobs. New workers usually start as unskilled laborers to acquire basic job principles before going on to advance with a specific skill. People who would like to learn construction skills before entering the profession can choose to take a trade school or complete the job training program by being paid an apprentice. A professional may then achieve a higher education in either construction or engineering after getting skilled experience.