You could take a construction or engineering qualification like construction skills. This could help you to find a trainee job with a company when you finish your course.

Entry requirements

Entry requirements for these courses vary.

You can apply to do a Steel Fixer Level 2 Intermediate Apprenticeship.

This can take up to 2 years to complete.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

• some GCSEs, usually including English and maths, or equivalent, for an intermediate apprenticeship

You could apply directly to work as a steel fixer. To do this, you'll usually need work-based qualifications in construction or engineering, or on-site experience.

Employers may also want you to have some GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C).

You'll need:

• knowledge of building and construction
• to be thorough and pay attention to detail
• patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
• the ability to work well with others
• the ability to use your initiative
• physical skills like strength, balance and co-ordination
• the ability to work well with your hands
• knowledge of public safety and security
• to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device

You'll need to:

• be able to cope with working at height

As a steel fixer, you could:

• create structures and components from plans
• use hand and power tools to cut and bend bars or mesh
• tie reinforcement bars and mesh together with wire, clips or welds to build up sections
• secure steel to concrete bases
• install beams and pre-cast slabs
• work closely with engineering designers, steel erectors and other construction workers

We've identified this as a potential green job

For a steel fixer to be a green job, you could:

• use recycled steel
• work on projects like wind farms, which support the move to cleaner energy
• follow the company sustainability policies

Find out more about green careers

You could work on high rise buildings, on a construction site or on other structures.

Your working environment may be at height, physically demanding, outdoors in all weathers and cramped.

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