Kitchen and bathroom fitters assemble and install kitchens and bathroom suites in domestic and commercial premises. They fit cupboards, worktops, appliances, flooring and fittings during kitchen installations. In bathrooms they install baths, shower units, sinks, toilets and storage cabinets.

The work of kitchen and bathroom fitters varies according to the job, but usually involves:

• measuring and marking out work areas in line with layout and design plans
• dismantling and disposing of old units and suites
• checking for and marking off concealed pipes and cables
• filling cracks, and levelling walls and floors
• relocating sockets and plumbing points where necessary
• assembling cabinets, base units and shower units
• measuring and cutting worktops, recesses and joints
• fitting appliances
• tiling walls and laying flooring
• clearing away debris at the end of the job.

Kitchen and bathroom fitters work alone or in small teams. They may need a qualified electrician, plumber or CORGI-registered gas technician to complete parts of their work, for example reconnecting a gas supply.

Health and safety is an important aspect of this work, and kitchen and bathroom fitters must comply with Building Regulations.

Hours and Environment

Kitchen and bathroom fitters work 37 to 40 hours a week. They sometimes have to work overtime to meet deadlines.

As a kitchen and bathroom fitter you will spend some of your time travelling between your clients' houses or premises. You may travel locally or regionally, depending on the size of the contract.

You will use a range of hand and power tools, and wear appropriate safety clothing on all jobs. Conditions are likely to be dusty, especially when ripping out existing fittings.

Skills and Interests

To be a kitchen or bathroom fitter, you need:

• excellent practical skills
• the ability to follow technical drawings 
• the ability to mark out accurate measurements
• good problem-solving skills
• creative flair
• good customer care skills
• the ability to complete work to deadlines
• the ability to work alone or as part of a team
• an understanding of Building Regulations and health and safety guidelines.

Entry

To work as a kitchen or bathroom fitter, you normally have to be a qualified tradesperson. This means you need qualifications and experience in joinery, plumbing or electrics. You may be able to do this job if you have experience in a related area, such as cabinet making, plastering or tiling.

For more detailed information about entry routes into these construction trades, please see the profiles for Carpenter / Joiner, Electrician, Plasterer, Plumber and Tiler.

You may be able to start as an apprentice tradesperson with a building company and then progress into kitchen and bathroom fitting. Funding for apprenticeships is available for 16-24 year olds and some over-25s. To find out more, visit www.apprenticeships.org.uk. For information about apprenticeships in other parts of the UK, see Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

There is also a limited number of kitchen installer apprenticeships available. The Kitchens Bedrooms Bathrooms National Training Group (KBBNTG) has details about these on their website in Further Information.

You will need a Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) card to work with a contractor or to get on a building site if you are self-employed. See Training below for more details about how to obtain a CSCS card.

You normally need to provide your own tools and transport for most jobs.

ConstructionSkills has information on construction careers and qualifications in Further Information; and the Equal Opportunities Commission is promoting the construction trades as a career option for women through its Know Your Place campaign.

Training

The KBBNTG offers a range of short training courses for those already empoyed in the industry. These include:

• a kitchen installation programme
• the application of Building Regulations
• aspects of supervisory management
• the principles of kitchen design.

You can also take the NVQ/SVQ qualification related to your particular trade if you do not already have them, for instance Wood Occupations.

Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS)
By 2010, workers within the construction sector must hold a CSCS card or be registered with an affiliated scheme. Many construction firms and their clients already insist that workers hold a relevant CSCS card to work on site. To receive a card, you must hold an NVQ/SVQ or acceptable equivalent and pass a health and safety assessment.

Your card is graded according to your qualifications and experience. If you have experience without formal qualifications, you can use On-Site Assessment and Training (OSAT) or the Experienced Worker Practical Assessment (EWPA) scheme to achieve a qualification. See ConstructionSkills in Further Information for more details.

Part P
You will need Part P certification to satisfy Building Regulations if you want to carry out certain electrical work, for example, adding new circuitry for a shower or lighting. You can gain certification by completing a recognised training course. The following organisations offer this course: NICEIC, BRE Certification, ELECSA, British Standards Institution (BSI), the National Association of Inspectors & Testers and the Electrical Contractor's Association.

CORGI
You must be CORGI-registered to connect and disconnect gas supplies to appliances. If you want to carry out this type of work yourself, contact CORGI about registration requirements, as you may have to take further training before you can register.

Opportunities

Kitchen and bathroom fitters work for building companies, design agencies, kitchen and bathroom manufacturers and retailers. Permanent positions offer prospects for promotion within a company, although many kitchen and bathroom fitters set up as self-employed, with some offering their own design service.

With experience and the right training, for instance computer aided design, you can move into surveying, planning and installation design. You can also become a business development manager, area sales coordinator or project manager, leading a team of designers and installers.

Annual Income

This section is intended as a guideline only.

Starting salaries are between £13,500 and £16,000 a year.
Experienced kitchen fitters can earn between £17,000 and £24,500 a year.

Self-employed fitters set their own rates.

Further information

Bircham Newton
King's Lynn
Norfolk
PE31 6RH
Tel: 01485 577577