Shopfitter

Shopfitters make and install fixtures and fittings in offices, restaurants, shops and bars.

Salary Range: £13,000 to £30,000

How to become a shopfitter

You can get into this job through:

• a college course
• an apprenticeship
• applying directly

College

You can take a construction course at college to learn some of the skills needed for this job. Relevant courses include:

• Level 1 Certificate in Construction Crafts
• Level 2 Diploma in Construction Skills Bench Joinery
• Level 2 Extended Diploma In Site Carpentry

Entry requirements

You may need:

• 2 or fewer GCSEs at grades 3 to 1 (D to G), or equivalent, for a level 1 course
• 2 or more GCSEs at grades 9 to 3 (A* to D), or equivalent, for a level 2 course

More information

• equivalent entry requirements
• funding advice
• search for courses

Apprenticeship

You can start as a junior shopfitter through an intermediate or advanced apprenticeship in construction building wood occupations, or in construction specialist interior systems.

Entry requirements

You’ll usually need:

• some GCSEs, usually including English and maths, or equivalent, for an intermediate apprenticeship
• 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths, for an advanced apprenticeship

More information

• equivalent entry requirements
• guide to apprenticeships

Direct application

You may be able to apply directly for a job as a shopfitter if you’ve got experience in one of the construction trades, for example tiling or carpentry and joinery.

Employers may also want you to have some GCSEs in subjects like maths, English, and design and technology.

More information

Registration

• you may need a Shopfitting and Interior Contracting Competency Scheme (SICCS) card to work on some jobs

Professional and industry bodies

You could become a member of the National Association of Shopfitters.

Further information

You can find out more about careers in shopfitting from Go Construct.

What it takes

Skills and knowledge

You’ll need:

• to be thorough and pay attention to detail
• knowledge of maths
• knowledge of building and construction
• the ability to work well with others
• the ability to work well with your hands
• the ability to accept criticism and work well under pressure
• knowledge of manufacturing production and processes
• design skills and knowledge
• to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device

Restrictions and requirements

You’ll need to:

• have a good level of fitness

What you’ll do

Day-to-day tasks

Your day-to-day duties could include:

• marking out and cutting wood, metal, glass and plastic to make units and fittings in a workshop
• estimating material quantities and costs, and preparing tenders and quotes for jobs
• preparing design plans
• measuring and setting out jobs on site
• paint spraying timber products

Working environment

You could work at a client’s business or in a workshop.

Your working environment may be physically demanding, cramped, you’ll travel often, outdoors some of the time, dusty, noisy and at height.

You may need to wear safety clothing and use safety equipment.

Career path and progression

With experience, you could move into a supervisory role, like chargehand or foreperson.

You could become a works manager, contract manager or shopfitting designer after further training, or set up your own shopfitting business.