Shopfitter
Shopfitters make and install fixtures and fittings in offices, restaurants, shops and bars.
- Starter salary£23,000 a year
- Experienced£45,000 a year
- Typical hours42 to 50 a week
What you'll do
As a shopfitter you could:
- mark out and cut wood, metal, glass and plastic to make units and fittings in a workshop
- follow design instructions and measure up jobs on site
- provide estimates for materials, labour and timescales
- install units, counters, panels and frames, using hand and power tools
- fit new shop fronts and signage
- work on site with other tradespeople, like tilers and electricians
- prepare bids and quotes for new work
Working environment
You could work at a client's business or in a workshop.
Your working environment may be physically demanding, cramped, dusty, at height and you'll travel often.
You may need to wear safety clothing and use safety equipment.
Skills and knowledge you'll need
You'll need:
- knowledge of building and construction
- to be thorough and pay attention to detail
- knowledge of maths
- the ability to work well with others
- the ability to work well with your hands
- to be flexible and open to change
- the ability to accept criticism and work well under pressure
- design skills and knowledge
- to be able to use a computer and the main software packages competently
How to become a shopfitter
You can get into this job through:
- a college course
- an apprenticeship
- working towards this role
- applying directly
College
You can take a construction course at college to learn some of the skills needed for this job.
Courses include:
- shopfitting bench joinery
- construction operations
- carpentry and joinery
- T Level in Onsite Construction
Entry requirements
Entry requirements for these courses vary.
Apprenticeship
You can apply to do a Level 2 Intermediate Apprenticeship, such as:
- Fitted Interiors Installer
- Interior Systems Installer
- Carpentry and Joinery
These apprenticeships take around 2 years to complete and are a mix of on-the-job training and learning in the classroom.
Entry requirements
You'll usually need:
- some GCSEs, usually including English and maths, or equivalent, for an intermediate apprenticeship
Work
You may be able to work as a shopfitter's labourer to build up your experience, and apply to join an apprenticeship with your employer's support.
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 look for some GCSEs in subjects like maths, English, and design and technology.
Restrictions and requirements
You'll need to:
- have a good level of fitness
Career path and progression
With experience, you could move into a supervisory role, like chargehand or site foreperson.
You could become a contract manager or shopfitting designer, after further training.
You might also set up your own shopfitting business.
Professional and industry bodies
You could join the National Association of Shopfitters for professional development and to make contacts in the industry.
Registration
- you may need a Shopfitting and Interior Contracting Competency Scheme (SICCS) card to work on some jobs
Guides for this industry
Related roles
- Job roleCarpenter
- Job roleTiler
- Job roleElectrician
- Job roleInterior designer
- Job roleKitchen and bathroom fitter
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0