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Plumber

This job belongs to job family > Building and Construction

Further details

Plumbers install, service and repair sanitation, heating, and hot and cold water systems in buildings. Some plumbers also work on rainwater systems and sheet lead weathering systems used on the roofs of buildings.

Plumbing work may include:

  • fitting pipework to baths, showers, toilets, sinks, radiators, central heating boilers, solar water heaters, water pumps, hot water storage cylinders and cold water storage cisterns
  • emergency repair work
  • fitting and jointing rainwater, soil and drainage pipes
  • maintenance work
  • sheet leadwork, which involves making and fitting flashings or roof weatherings, to make joints between roof tiles or slates, chimneys and dormer windows.

Plumbers normally work standard hours, Monday to Friday. They may sometimes have to work at weekends and at night. Self-employed plumbers' working hours vary according to their workload.

The job can involve working indoors and outdoors.

Salaries range from just over £10,000 a year for a first-year apprentice to over £30,000 for some experienced plumbers.

A plumber should:

  • be practical and have good hand skills
  • be able to follow technical drawings and building plans
  • be careful, methodical and work safely
  • be able to measure accurately
  • feel comfortable working at heights
  • like maths, science and engineering.

There are around 90,000 plumbers in the UK. Many are self employed, while others are employed by building contractors, plumbing firms and building services contractors.

The plumbing industry requires candidates to achieve NVQ Level 2 or 3 or a Level 2 or 3 Diploma in plumbing in order to have qualified operative status.

Many plumbers enter this work through an Apprenticeship or Advanced Apprenticeship in plumbing. There are no set entry requirements for Apprenticeships. It helps, though, to have at least three GCSEs (A*-C), or equivalent qualifications. The Diploma in construction and the built environment or in engineering may be relevant.

Plumbers train on the job with an employer and off the job at a college or training centre.

Plumbers may be able to progress to technician and supervisory jobs. Some go into design consultancy, estimating, buying, surveying, teaching or management. Self-employed plumbers may run their own specialist firms.

Further details

 
 

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