Naturally, we all want to love whatever we do for work and being able to turn a passion into a career is something that many of us dream about.
This is an increasingly common route that leads people to a career in the trades—that desire to turn something they’re good at, and more importantly something they enjoy, into a lucrative profession.
Perhaps you’ve found yourself something of a natural when it comes to decorating? Or you've surprised yourself with your tiling abilities? Whatever your secret DIY talent, 2022 could be the perfect time to begin transforming it into a genuine career path.
One in four tradespeople go on to start their own business, and those currently working within the industry report a significantly higher sense of job satisfaction than the rest of the UK, with 73% saying they were happy with their job compared to somewhere between 41% and 65% for the rest of the nation overall.
Why now?
Right across the board, tradespeople have been in incredibly high demand for years now—a trend that looks certain to continue for the foreseeable future, particularly as the UK struggles to fill huge gaps in the workforce left by Brexit.
With this being said, anyone who holds the relevant qualifications will likely be in an extremely strong position when it comes to both employment opportunities and earning potential.
In fact, according to a forecast by the Construction Skills Network (CSN), 216,800 new construction workers will be required by 2025, and research from Direct Line Business Insurance found that 82% of tradespeople have seen an increase in earnings following the UK lockdown in January 2021.
That salary jump has proved to be a significant one for many too, with 33% seeing their income rise between 11% and 20%. According to CITB’s annual migration report, ONS data shows year-on-year wage rises in the construction industry, peaking in May earlier this year and continuing to record an above average 6% growth in September.
Heading into 2022, almost two in every five firms have named skill shortages as their most urgent business concern, and just over half of respondents from the same survey said they had unfilled vacancies, with a lack of applications and necessary skills being cited as the leading reason.
The ONS also found that a record-breaking number of vacancies went unfilled across construction in September, hitting 43,000, the highest volume for at least 20 years—again pointing towards high levels of employment opportunities heading into the new year.
Making it happen
Enrolling in an introductory course relating to your skillset is a great way to get started on the path towards turning it into a career. From there, you’ll be able to seek the required qualifications to offer your services as a professional tradesperson.
At Able Skills, we have a range of beginners’ courses as well as courses aimed at formalising already-known skills into a suitable qualification across all the major trade industries.
Our Introduction to Painting and Decorating course is a perfect example of an entry-level programme that offers a strong base knowledge of the industry and has been assured by City & Guilds. Over five days of hands-on training, you’ll learn expert tips for preparation, application and finishing as well as essential health and safety guidance.
Want to find out more about how you can turn a passion into a career? Our friendly team would be happy to advise. Give us a call on 01322 280 202, request a brochure or pop into our training centre for a chat.