How to Become a Builder

Being a builder and working in construction can cover many aspects of the trade – from developing a housing estate to building a groundbreaking national project; as well as contracting for and supervising the construction or repair of buildings.

A building contractor may perform the following tasks:

• Undertake the building work personally
• Assist clients with arranging the drawing of plans so as to meet building regulations, as well as submission of plans to local authorities for approval
• Estimate quantities of material needed for building projects and order from suppliers
• Submit tenders, quotes or prices to clients
• Organise the delivery of materials, making sure timings match with the many stages of the building development
• Over-look any work of subcontractors to ensure the schedule is being stuck to and to check for an adequate standard of work
• Manage the activities of the staff involved
• Talk to lawyers and financial institutions on matters relating to loans and contracts for building projects
• Making sure you maintain communication with the client through-out the project will mean that they will have trust in you and will also be vital for becoming a successful freelancer - a strong client base is important for both building and sustaining a good reputation.

Qualifications to become a builder

A modern apprenticeship is the most common way of gaining both the experience and qualifications needed for skill-based trades.  This way you can get the on-site practice as well as a college education, where you will work to achieve NVQs/SVQs, Key Skills/Core Skills and a Technical Certificate.

For help and information on construction apprenticeships have a look on:

• The Apprenticeship Guide – An online resource that complements the printed edition, which is updated annually.  It’s full of information on what you can study, how you apply, who offers the schemes etc.
• Building Engineering Services Training (BEST) – A leading UK training provider for the Building Services Engineering sector.  BEST matches apprentices with suitable employers and vice versa, acting as a mediator between learner, employer and college.

For the majority of apprenticeships, applicants (in England and Wales) should have GCSE grades A-C in Maths, English Language or Literature and a science resistant materials technology or equivalent to GCSE or GNVQ intermediate.      

The benefits of becoming a self employed builder

There are many benefits of becoming a self employed builder, for example, you can often have more income than what you would expect from a full time salary as you can work on more than one project at a time. 

You can use our Freelancer Calculator to work out exactly how much you could potentially take home as a sole trader.  There is also the fact that you will be your own boss, meaning flexible hours to suit yourself.

Finding work as a self employed builder

 A good way of starting a freelancing career is to build a strong client base.  This can be achieved by having introductory offers, providing discounted work to friends and family – anything that may spread a positive word of mouth, showing how you provide a good customer service.

Self promotion is also a brilliant way of attracting new clients, as well as getting your name out there for everyone to see.  Advertising your business through a website, business cards and door-to-door flyers will all help toward building a wider range of clients.  Social networking sites such as Twitter, Linked In and Facebook are also useful – setting up a separate account for your business with links from your personal page may generate more posts as well as making potential or existing clients aware of any promotions etc. 

Here are some suggestions on how to market yourself:

• Set up a professional website. The internet is one the easiest and most efficient ways of advertising yourself.  If you’re not an expert on creating them, using a website builder such as Namesco Sit Maker or Webs can make it both simple and quicker.  The website needs to be information rich about the services you offer, a price list, the areas you cover and contact details.
• Advertise your business through free directory websites such as Yellow Pages or FreeIndex.  This ensures many people actively looking for your trade can easily come across it.
• Place an advert in your local newspapers, newsagents, shops etc.  This way you’re able to target specific areas and increase the amount of people who see your business without spending too much money.
• Give your business cards to friends and family to hand out.  This way they can hand them out to their friends; knowing that they know you personally will perhaps make them have more trust in you and your business.  
• Having made the decision to give it a go, whether full or part time and whether to set up as a sole trader or limited company, you’re going to need a wide range of tax and accountancy advice and support in the early days when setting up as a freelancer. 

You may also find the following pages helpful:

• Completing Your Self Assessment Tax Return for Builders

• How to Become a Plumber 

• How to Become a Landscape Gardener

• How to Become a Carpenter

• How to Become a Chef