Teachers and Parents

Why house building

House building has changed

The housing shortage has risen to the top of the political agenda for the first time in a generation. There’s a lot of arguments around what to do and why we’re here, but what everyone agrees on is the need to build more houses. Unfortunately at a time when we need to build houses more than ever, the UK faces a skills shortage that is inhibiting our ability to provide the necessary housing stock for future generations.

The Home Building Skills Partnership is a collaboration of over 70 of the biggest house builders in the country to tackle this issue. Young people have a lot of misconceptions around the home building industry despite it being a stable, rewarding and well-paid career for all kinds of people.

The industry has moved on in the past 20 years and we need a huge variety of talent to ensure future families can enjoy high quality homes. Building these homes is increasingly complex and the range of roles reflects this. From site managers and quantity surveyors to plumbers and sales assistants, there are careers for every young person.

It’s a fantastic time to join the industry. The sector is growing and is one of the few that can offer stability and good pay alongside the opportunity to get recognised qualifications while learning a trade that will last a lifetime. You could play an instrumental and influential role in helping young people match their talents to the wide-ranging needs and this site offers resources to help you do that. 

Key job roles

A few (of many) jobs which we are looking to recruit in the home building industry.

Bricklayer

Bricklayers are responsible for setting out buildings by laying bricks, and pre-cut stone, concrete blocks and other types of building blocks in mo...
Find out more

Carpenter

Carpenters build and install the timber structural elements of a new home and the wooden interior fittings. They also install and remove temporary ...
Find out more

Dry liner

A dry liner creates the walls and rooms in a building using stud partitioning and plasterboard sheets. They also hide pipes and wires, create space...
Find out more

Engineer

Key repsonsibilities include in-depth knowledge of the technical engineering function within a housing development. Understanding the structural a...
Find out more

Groundworker

Groundworkers and plant operators prepare a site prior to and during the building process. They ensure that the infrastructure to a building site i...
Find out more

Site Manager

Site managers run a new home building development. They are responsible for the houses being built safely, on time, on budget and to the highest qu...
Find out more

Plasterer

The plasterer makes walls and ceilings smooth and ready for decorating. They are skilled in applying different kinds of plaster to inside walls and...
Find out more

Plumber

Plumbers are predominantly responsible for the heating and water connections to a new house during its construction.
Find out more

Quantity Surveyor

A quantity surveyor works out exactly how much a house costs to construct and keeps a close eye on finances - from the first budget to the final bi...
Find out more

Roofer

Roofers ensure that a house is water tight and work at all heights and in all weather conditions. There are various roles within roofing, including...
Find out more

Sales Advisor

From customer-facing negotiations to the completion of administration work, sales advisors are responsible for the on-site property sales process. ...
Find out more

Tiler

Tilers cover walls or floors with tiles, in areas like kitchens and bathrooms.
Find out more

Bricklayer

Bricklayers are responsible for setting out buildings by laying bricks, and pre-cut stone, concrete blocks and other types of building blocks in mo...
Find out more

Carpenter

Carpenters build and install the timber structural elements of a new home and the wooden interior fittings. They also install and remove temporary ...
Find out more

Dry liner

A dry liner creates the walls and rooms in a building using stud partitioning and plasterboard sheets. They also hide pipes and wires, create space...
Find out more

Engineer

Key repsonsibilities include in-depth knowledge of the technical engineering function within a housing development. Understanding the structural a...
Find out more

Groundworker

Groundworkers and plant operators prepare a site prior to and during the building process. They ensure that the infrastructure to a building site i...
Find out more

Site Manager

Site managers run a new home building development. They are responsible for the houses being built safely, on time, on budget and to the highest qu...
Find out more

Plasterer

The plasterer makes walls and ceilings smooth and ready for decorating. They are skilled in applying different kinds of plaster to inside walls and...
Find out more

Plumber

Plumbers are predominantly responsible for the heating and water connections to a new house during its construction.
Find out more

Quantity Surveyor

A quantity surveyor works out exactly how much a house costs to construct and keeps a close eye on finances - from the first budget to the final bi...
Find out more

Roofer

Roofers ensure that a house is water tight and work at all heights and in all weather conditions. There are various roles within roofing, including...
Find out more

Sales Advisor

From customer-facing negotiations to the completion of administration work, sales advisors are responsible for the on-site property sales process. ...
Find out more

Tiler

Tilers cover walls or floors with tiles, in areas like kitchens and bathrooms.
Find out more

Bricklayer

Bricklayers are responsible for setting out buildings by laying bricks, and pre-cut stone, concrete blocks and other types of building blocks in mo...
Find out more

Carpenter

Carpenters build and install the timber structural elements of a new home and the wooden interior fittings. They also install and remove temporary ...
Find out more

Dry liner

A dry liner creates the walls and rooms in a building using stud partitioning and plasterboard sheets. They also hide pipes and wires, create space...
Find out more

Engineer

Key repsonsibilities include in-depth knowledge of the technical engineering function within a housing development. Understanding the structural a...
Find out more

Groundworker

Groundworkers and plant operators prepare a site prior to and during the building process. They ensure that the infrastructure to a building site i...
Find out more

Site Manager

Site managers run a new home building development. They are responsible for the houses being built safely, on time, on budget and to the highest qu...
Find out more

Plasterer

The plasterer makes walls and ceilings smooth and ready for decorating. They are skilled in applying different kinds of plaster to inside walls and...
Find out more

Plumber

Plumbers are predominantly responsible for the heating and water connections to a new house during its construction.
Find out more

Quantity Surveyor

A quantity surveyor works out exactly how much a house costs to construct and keeps a close eye on finances - from the first budget to the final bi...
Find out more

Roofer

Roofers ensure that a house is water tight and work at all heights and in all weather conditions. There are various roles within roofing, including...
Find out more

Sales Advisor

From customer-facing negotiations to the completion of administration work, sales advisors are responsible for the on-site property sales process. ...
Find out more

Tiler

Tilers cover walls or floors with tiles, in areas like kitchens and bathrooms.
Find out more

Job locations

Find opportunities in your region

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Job locations

Find opportunities in your region

To find opportunities available in your region, click a region to the left and then click one of the home builder logos below to be taken to their careers website.

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Why not come and see what we do?

Interested? Want to find out more about what a house builder does and talk to the people building our homes? Why not ask your teacher to fill in the form below and send it back to us, so we can arrange a visit to your school!

Arrange a visit

Explore a modern day building site

Have a look around our interactive building site and see what jobs you could do…

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Earn as you learn

Interested in getting a qualification, but want to start earning a wage?

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Getting into house building

Find out about the different ways that you can start a career in house building….

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