Glazier

Glaziers cut and fit glass in a range of buildings from houses to large office blocks.

Work activities

Glaziers cut and fit glass and other clear materials. They may specialise in window fixing, double glazing, glass cutting, roof glazing or all of these. Glaziers work on a variety of buildings from houses and flats to office blocks, shop fronts and large buildings. They often work at height from a suspended cradle or scaffolding.

Being able to read, write and speak Welsh may be an advantage when you’re looking for work in Wales.

Personal qualities and skills

As a glazier, you’ll need:

• Good practical skills.
• To be fit, as you will have to carry heavy glass.
• The ability to take accurate measurements.
• To feel comfortable working at heights, as some of the work you do will be on suspended cradles or scaffolding.
• Maths skills.
• To be aware of the safety issues involved in this job.
• As you may have to travel around locally, a driving licence would be useful for this job.
• This job might not be suitable for people who have skin conditions, such as eczema, or breathing complaints, such as asthma.

The following skills shortages have been identified within the industry:

• Job-related technical skills, including glass cutting, laminating, and computer aided design.
• Teamworking skills.
• Management and leadership skills.

Pay and opportunities

The pay rates given are approximate. Salaried glaziers earn in the range of £14,000 - £27,000.

Glaziers work a 43-45-hour week, though some need to be on-call outside of normal working hours. Overtime, including Saturday working, may also be available.

Employers are specialist glazing firms. Opportunities for glaziers occur with glazing firms in towns and cities throughout the UK.

What’s happening in this work area?

Employment levels in the glass industry have remained steady for many years   this situation is expected to continue over the next few years. It has been widely predicted that many technical skills will, in time, become automated.

Where are vacancies advertised?

Vacancies are advertised on all the major job boards, and on the Government’s Find a Job service.

Entry routes and training

A level 2 (intermediate) apprenticeship in the role of fenestration installer or fenestration fabricator is a great way into this profession. Apprenticeships will usually involve work- and college-based training. You will also receive training in subjects like health and safety.

There are also various relevant qualifications available from organisations like City & Guilds and Edexcel. These courses may be in a more general subject area, such as construction.

Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS): For most building companies, you’ll need a CSCS card to work on site. These cards show that you are qualified to do the work you’ve been employed for. Go to the CSCS website for more details.

In the construction industry, it is possible to work up from craft-level positions to managerial roles, such as construction site manager.

Qualifications

Entry requirements vary. You do not always need educational qualifications to enter this type of work. For an intermediate apprenticeship, you will need GCSEs in English and maths. If you don’t have these, you may be able to complete them alongside your apprenticeship programme.

To enter a City & Guilds or Edexcel level 2 course in construction, you’ll usually need at least four GCSEs at grade 4 or below. However, individual centres may have different entry requirements.

Adult opportunities

Age limits: It is illegal for any organisation to set age limits for entry to employment, education or training, unless they can show there is a real need to have these limits.

Related skills, for example, in building operative work or woodworking, are useful.

Colleges will usually consider applications from candidates who do not meet their usual entry requirements. You should check the admissions policy of individual colleges.

Related careers

• Bricklayer
• Carpenter/joiner
• Construction labourer
• Floor layer
• Glassmaker
• Plasterer
• Shopfitter
• Wall and floor tiler
• Window fitter