Trades are a popular career avenue for a multitude of reasons – but which one is right for you?
If you’re interested in pursuing a trade career but aren’t sure which is best suited to you, we’ve put together this blog post to help run through the pros and cons of each trade to help you decide which trade is best suited to you.
Before we get into the unique benefits of each trade career, there are a few benefits that are generally true for all trade careers that are worth noting;
1) Flexible training opportunities
when learning a trade, there are various training options available. For those with time constraints, you could opt for a fast track option, or for those who have other commitments, part time training is available. If you’re not currently in a position to enter full time education, you can benefit from an earn-while-you-learn scheme like those offered by Access Training. These type of schemes allow you to train and get qualified in your chosen trade, all while gaining valuable work experience and earning a salary.
Earn While You Learn
2) Opportunities for self-employment
Once you’ve achieved your qualifications and have a bit of work experience under your belt, many tradespeople make the decision to start their own business.
3) Diverse work days
If the thought of the boredom and monotony of a traditional office job makes you want to tear your own hair out, you may very well be suited to working in a trade! Trade work can take you to various locations, and every day you will be faced with new challenges and problems to solve.
4) No degree needed
Trade careers are also a popular choice with those who are not well suited to or have no interest in pursuing traditional education avenues.
5) Lucrative salaries
Trades traditionally pay pretty well straight out of the gate, and with more experience you can potentially earn very impressive salaries.
Selecting the Right Trade
Electrician
Pro: Electricians are one of the most well paid tradespeople! While salaries are largely dependent on a variety of factors including your experience and location, an experienced electrician working in an expensive area like London can earn around £61,981!
Con: As an electrician, you would be regularly working around electrical hazards. If you want to be an electrician, it’s important to be aware that you would regularly be working in potentially dangerous work environments.
Pro: Once you’ve gained your qualifications and work experience as an electrician, you can take your work around the world! Electricity is universal and works the same no matter where you are. Australia is a popular choice for travelling electricians since Australia recognises many of the qualifications we use here in the UK.
Con: Depending on where you end up working, electricians are sometimes required to work unusual and unsociable hours. This can make it difficult to maintain regular schedules, and you might see an impact on your social life outside of work.
If you’re interested in training as an electrician, why not train with Access Training? We offer a wide range of training options and offer full support to our trainees both during their training and for years after they graduate.
Electrician Courses
Gas Engineer
Pro: When working as a gas engineer, you will benefit from a good job security since gas engineers will always be in demand. In fact, the need for gas safe engineers is even expected to rise by 35% by 2030.
Con: The work that comes with being a gas engineer can sometimes be very physically difficult. You can often find yourself cramped into dark, dusty, and uncomfortable places trying to gain access to a boiler or pipes.
Pro: Gas engineers are one of the higher paying trade careers, so if you’re largely motivated by salary, gas engineer might be a good trade for you.
If you’re interested in learning more about becoming a trained gas engineer with Access Training, check out the link below.
Gas Engineer Courses
Plumber
Pro: When working as a plumber, you can rely on having good job security. Plumbers are very high in demand, and they always will be.
Con: Plumbing can be a physically demanding career, with it often requiring you to squeeze yourself into uncomfortable spaces and sometimes work with unpleasant waste.
Pro: Plumbing is a popular trade for self-employment – there are multiple opportunities for qualified and experience plumbers to start their own business, and there is no shortage of work available, so it shouldn’t be a problem to find work to help get your business off the ground.
Access Training offer a wide variety of different plumbing training courses to account for the different schedules and requirements of our trainees, so you’re sure you find a programme that suits you and your needs. If you’d like to learn more about our plumber training courses, check out our plumbing training page by clicking the link below.
Plumbing Courses
Carpenter
Pro: Carpentry is a great career option for those who enjoy working with their hands. Working with your hands in this way is considered to be good for your physical health.
Cons: Unfortunately, carpentry has limited career growth opportunities when compared to the other trades. The skills that you learn with carpentry are not particularly transferrable to other fields.
Pro: Not everyone has a learning style that’s compatible with traditional education systems. If you didn’t do too well in school and are lacking certain qualifications, a career in carpentry may still be in the cards for you yet! There are very minimal educational requirements to pursue a career in carpentry.
Did you know that a third of carpenters are self-employed? If you’re interested in learning more about the carpentry training courses offered by Access Training, check out our informational page today.
Carpentry Courses
Plasterer
Pro: Out of all the trades, plasterers are perhaps one of the most in demand. This means that plasterers enjoy a level of job security even higher than that of the other trades.
Con: Plastering can be a very physically exerting career, and can often leave you exhausted by the end of the day. Unfortunately, over time you may experience issues like sore knees or a bad back from working in hard-to-reach places.
Pro: Once you’ve worked as a plasterer, there are many opportunities for career progression that you might not expect. For example, many site work plasterers go on to become site managers or construction managers.
If you’re interested in getting trained as a plasterer, or would just like to learn a bit more about it, click the link below to read more about the plastering courses offered by Access Training!
Plastering Courses
We hope this blog has helped you get a better idea as to what type of trade career might be the best fit for you and your unique skills. If you have any questions about anything you’ve read or about any of our training courses, feel free to reach out and contact Access Training today. We will be more than happy to answer any questions you may have, and get you kick-started on your new career today!
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Read More: What Trade Should I Learn? Factors to Consider