Engineering Construction Craft Worker
The Work
Engineering construction craft workers work in a variety of sectors within the engineering construction industry. These include: oil and gas refineries, pipelines and offshore rigs, water collection, treatment and distribution, environmental waste disposal and recycling, food production, storage and distribution, power generation, pharmaceutical
products and hospital equipment, industrial chemicals for water treatment
and other processing.
Practical skills required for these areas include:
Hours and Conditions
The basic working week is 38 hours, but this varies depending on the type of work and deadlines. Overtime may be available. On offshore rigs, shiftwork is common involving twelve hours on and twelve hours off for two weeks, followed by a two or three-week rest period ashore.
Skills and Interests
As a craft worker in engineering construction, you should:
Training
Most of your training will be done on the job. For jobs such as fitting
or erecting there may be initial training in a training workshop,
in reading technical drawings or using machine tools. You may also
be given short courses away from the workplace, for instance to learn
how to use a specific machine or a fork-lift truck.
As an apprentice, you would follow the National Apprenticeship Scheme for Engineering Construction (NASEC). At a training centre you would begin by learning general engineering skills: health and safety, using and interpreting mechanical engineering drawings, measuring and marking out, identifying engineering materials, cutting and shaping materials, and mechanical assembly. You would then go on to specialised study.
Once on a scheme you will be able to work towards a vocational qualification - an NVQ / SVQ level 3 - in your specialist skill. You could also study for a City & Guilds or BTEC / SQA certificate.
Foundation and Advanced Modern Apprenticeships (MAPPs) may be available for people aged 16-24. For details see:
MAPPs
(England)
Skillseekers
(Scotland)
National
Traineeships MAPPs (Wales) and
MAPPs
(Northern Ireland).
Opportunities
The engineering construction industry employs thousands of people
and employment opportunities are good.
Once you have become a skilled craft worker, you can study further
to go on to become a site foreman / woman, designer or technician.
From there, you can progress further into management.
Salary
The annual income section is intended as a guideline only.
There are no set salary rates for engineering craft workers.
You are likely to start on about £12,000 a year.
Experienced craft workers earn around £18,000 a year.
Senior workers can earn up to £20,000 a year.
Further Information
Channel 4 is not responsible for the content of third party websites.
SEMTA (Science Engineering and Manufacturing Technologies Alliance)
Tel: 0808 100 3682
www.semta.org.uk
The Institution of Incorporated Engineers
Tel: 020 7836 3357
www.iie.org.uk
NASEC Administration, Engineering Construction Industry Training Board
Tel: 01923 402111
www.ecitb.org.uk
The Welding Institute
Tel: 01223 891162
www.twi.co.uk
