At Remitly, we know how important it is to have money in your pocket. In the incredibly competitive UK job market, it’s important to have applicable skills. If you’re just settling in the UK, attending a trade college is a great way to lock in your employability.
The courses and training that learning a trade requires often cost less than a traditional university degree. They also take less time to complete. Once you’ve successfully completed training, being qualified in a trade can lead to a fulfilling and financially rewarding career, whether you end up working in electrics, tiling, plastering, joinery, construction, or any other skilled trade.
Why attend trade college?
Learning a trade is an excellent way for adult learners or immigrants to change industries or increase their applicable skills. Trade college is a learning pathway that prepares students for hands-on work in industries like electric, gas, or plumbing. In the UK, learning a trade can fall under further education (FE) if it’s done right after secondary school. You can also become a tradesperson through an apprenticeship or a fast-track course, the latter of which we’ll focus on in this article.
Trade colleges are sometimes referred to as trade schools, vocational schools, technical colleges, or career schools. Regardless of what they’re called, these schools focus on education and job training to teach you the specialized skills needed for your desired career. Like any educational decision, it’s important to consider carefully if trade college is right for you — here, we’ll outline some of the pros and cons of this path.
Less time and less money than university
Overall, trade colleges cost less than attending university. According to the BBC, the average tuition cost per year to attend university in the UK is close to £10,000. Most university degrees require a minimum of three or four years of study. Getting a traditional university education could leave you in debt for years.
On the other hand, trade college is a financially viable option. Many courses cost less than £10,000 for your entire course of study. There are even options that will cost you less than £4,000 total.
Learning a trade will also take you less time. In about 12-18 months, you will have the skills necessary to start making money. Some apprenticeships will take up to four years, but you will earn a modest salary during that time. Many centres have flexible learning options to support trainees who might be working a job alongside their studies or have family commitments. Trade college can provide a learning environment that fits around your life’s demands.
Hands-on work
If a desk job doesn’t sound like your cup of tea, trade college might be for you. Although all trade courses will involve some theoretical learning, hands-on experience with your tutor is invaluable. Your learning in trade college will take a practical approach, leading to an active career. A job in the trades can provide varied and exciting work.
A more fulfilling career
The average salary of a full-time worker in the UK is about £37,000. Working in a trade puts you in a good position to make about £32,000 annually in the UK. Plus, you can earn this salary with less initial investment of time and money.
Working in the trades also puts you in a position to have good job security. Although AI is threatening many corporate jobs, hands-on work is always in demand. Additionally, many people who work in the trades become self-employed, determining their own hours and schedule.
As the UK pushes towards achieving carbon neutrality, the trades are a place where you can make a lasting impact. Training in renewable energy and working as an installer of solar systems or a gas engineer, for example, will allow you to help build a greener future in the UK.
Popular trades in the UK
Here are some of the popular trades you can go into in the UK. All of these industries are projected to grow between 2025 and 2026.
| Job | Average Salary | Cost of Qualification | Tasks | Description |
| Electrician | £47,000 | £3,000 | Installing, maintaining, and repairing electrical power sources | Work in homes, businesses, and factories, ensuring safe and efficient electrical systems |
| Plumber | £48,000 | £4,000 | Installing, repairing, and maintaining water and heating systems | Work in residential, commercial, and industrial settings to ensure proper plumbing infrastructure |
| Carpenter | £33,000 | £3,500 | Building, repairing, and installing wooden frameworks and infrastructure | Long-standing profession that remains essential in construction and furniture-making |
| Heating & ventilation engineer | £32,000 to £37,000 | £4,500 | Installing, repairing, and maintaining heating and ventilation systems | Work across different buildings, with opportunities in green energy and environmental solutions |
| Bricklayer | £31,000 | £3,000 | Laying bricks for functional and decorative structures | Work on foundations, walls, chimneys, and more, in both domestic and commercial settings |
Source: https://www.tradesmansaver.co.uk/tradesman-insights/which-tradesman-trade-should-get-into/
Top Trade Programmes in the UK
If you’ve decided that going into a trade is the right move for you, it’s time to pick a programme. City & Guilds is a Royal Chartered Institute that supports people looking to learn a trade. You can use their website to learn about different trade qualifications. You can also find a nationally accredited facility or provider near you that delivers the appropriate training. Here are our top seven centres for learning a trade in the UK:
- Able Skills Construction Training, Dartford, Kent, England.
If you’re interested in becoming an electrician, this school offers a combined Level 2 and 3 electrical installation course. This course covers all of the information necessary to become a working electrician in the UK in just 13 weeks. By combining the levels, Able Skills saves you time. You can attend the courses in-person or online. Tuition is £5,695 to attend in-person or about £4,000 online.
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- City of Westminster College, London, England.
This school is located in central London and offers City & Guilds-recognised Level 2 plumbing course. You’ll be learning alongside young learners. The training takes 36 weeks and costs £1,359. - City of Bristol College, Bristol, England.
This college offers a course in Level 2 carpentry that is specifically designed for adult learners. The course is offered part-time, so it will fit in with your busy life. We called the college to find out that, at the time of writing this article, the tuition for this course is £1,750.
- City of Westminster College, London, England.
- Skills Training Group, Paisley and Dalgety Bay, Scotland.
This centre in Scotland is vetted and approved by British Gas and committed to teaching about sustainable heating. They offer a comprehensive 29-week course for students looking to learn about gas engineering. You’ll earn an NVQ Level 3 in this course, which costs £7,715 in total.
- South Devon College, Paignton, Devon, England.
This college in the south of England offers a Level 2 course in Bricklaying that will prepare you for employment in the construction industry. We reached out to the school to confirm the tuition cost at £3,571.
How to Enroll
To achieve the NVQ Level 2 certification that’s needed to be a practicing tradesperson in the UK, you will generally need some or all of the following prerequisites:
- An NVQ Level 1 certificate. Lower-level courses can prepare you for the Level 2 courses necessary to become employable in the trades.
- Secondary-level Maths and English proficiency. Oftentimes, you can enroll directly into Level 2 courses if you have demonstrated proficiency in Maths and English.
- Experience in the target field. Another way to skip Level 1 courses and go straight to Level 2 is to have some experience in the field.
- Interest in the target field. Regardless of what your qualifications are, you should have an interest in the industry.
You can find out more about specific requirements and apply for programmes directly through the website of the college you want to enrol in.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to be qualified to work in a trade in the UK?
In order to be a working tradesperson in the UK, you will need qualifications. An NVQ or National Vocational Qualification is a work-based qualification that proves someone has the skills and knowledge necessary to do a certain job. There are seven levels of NVQs. To enter the workforce, most trades require Levels 1 and 2. Completing an apprenticeship is considered a Level 3.
How do I become a tradesperson in the UK?
If you’re an immigrant, you first need to make sure you have the appropriate visa to study a trade. Then, research trade schools near you to see what requirements they have. Finally, complete a course or apprenticeship and earn your NVQ qualification.
What is the best trade for trade school?
It depends mainly on what you are interested in doing, but electricians and plumbers earn well and are generally in high demand in the UK.
Can an apprenticeship replace in-school learning?
Yes. Completing an apprenticeship is one way to gain qualifications while continuing to work. Many tradespeople favour apprenticeships for the hands-on learning opportunities that they provide.
Will a trade provide me with a large enough salary to support my family?
In general, tradespeople in the UK make good salaries that align with the national average income. Tradespeople often start off making more money than university graduates who are just entering the workforce. With qualifications in a specific trade, you should be able to make a living that can support you and your family.
Do self-employed tradespeople have to pay income taxes in the UK?
Yes, self-employed people must file and pay taxes in the UK if they make more than £1,000 per year.