Builders' Yard Assistant

Introduction

Builders' yard assistants handle building materials, ranging from sand and cement to bathroom fittings. They may deal with customers and take money. They load, unload, move and display goods, and measure, weigh and cut goods for sale.

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Work Activities

Builders' yards are attached to the premises of builders' merchants and supply the public and building craftspeople such as plumbers, electricians and builders with the items they need to do their jobs.

An assistant's duties may vary slightly according to the type of goods that the builders' merchant sells. The 'heavy side' of the industry deals with bricks, cement, timber etc, for the construction trade. The 'light side' covers painting and decorating, bathroom fittings etc.

Yard assistants mainly work outside, helping to check in goods, move, display and load them, and keep the yard clean and safe.

When they open up the yard each morning, assistants usually have to display the products and materials outside so that the customers have a chance to see what they are buying. They move goods in and out of store, sometimes using trolleys, ladders, forklift trucks and other aids. They also have to handle and store goods in the right way such as stacking wood so that it stays dry and does not warp.

Meeting customers is another part of yard assistants' work. They show them which goods are available and may also have to measure, weigh or cut articles to the size or quantity that the customer wants. After this, they may help package the order and load it onto a van, a lorry or the customers' own transport.

Builders' yard assistants are also responsible for making sure that the area is regularly swept, cleaned and, if necessary, washed.

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Personal Qualities and Skills

You must be fit and strong as the work involves a lot of standing and heavy lifting. Some yards can be dusty and may not be suitable if you have asthma or chest complaints.

Taking orders and working under supervision is a vital part of the job and you should be prepared to do this. You must also be prepared to do some repetitive, dirty tasks.

A builder's yard can sometimes be a dangerous place, so you must use common sense and be sensible about safety precautions, especially when moving heavy loads or using equipment. Basic English and legible handwriting are needed to make out receipts and invoices or assist with stock control. A reasonable standard of arithmetic is also needed for these tasks and for estimating and calculating sizes and weights.

Customer contact means that you'll need to talk to people in a polite and helpful way.

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Pay and Opportunities

The pay rates given below are approximate.

Builders' yard assistants earn in the range of £220 - £250 a week, rising to £300 - £330 a week.

Staff usually work a basic 40-hour week, usually including Saturdays, with time off in the week in lieu. Early starts are common.

Employers throughout the UK are locally and nationally based builders' merchant companies.

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Adult Opportunities

It is now 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.

A background in the building trade is useful. Some entrants have developed relevant skills by working as a warehouse or stores assistant.

Modern Apprenticeships may be available in some areas.

• 6% of people in occupations such as builders' yard assistant work part-time.
• 1% have flexible hours.
• 14% of employees work on a temporary basis.

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