What does a Glazier Do?

If you’re thinking about pursuing a career in the glazing industry, this is the article for you. Working in the glass and glazing sector is filled with unique benefits and opportunities, including a varied day-to-day routine, continuous learning and personal development, hands-on work, the opportunity to be creative and competitive pay.

Our team of professional glaziers at Stevenage Glass have shared their insights into what it’s like to work in the glazing sector, and the qualifications you need to get there.

What is a glazier, and what does their role involve?

One of the most common examples of specialist tradespeople, glaziers (also known as glass installers) work with glass and glass products. Their service range includes the supply and installation of glass, as well as its repair and replacement.

Glaziers work with a wide range of different glass types and products, these include common products like windows, doors and panels, plus a wide range of other products, such as glass balustrades, skylights, balconies, mirrors and bespoke solutions.

In addition to the wide range of products that they’re working with, glaziers also work in many different environments, including domestic houses, business sites, manufacturing locations, commercial shops and hospitality settings.

What do the standard day-to-day requirements of a glazier look like?

The nature of working as a glazier means no two days will look the same!

Day-to-day, the elements that will vary include the type of glass or glass product that you are working with, the location where you are working, and the service(s) that you need to complete.

But, the key elements of a glazier’s role – and the tasks that you’ll be completing day-to-day – typically include:

• Fitting and installing glass
• Cutting glass
• Shaping glass
• Installing glass windows, doors or other glass products
• Replacing old or damaged glass
• Installing energy-efficient new glass windows or doors
• Installing safety glass
• Repairing broken glass
• Replacing broken glass
• Creating decorative glass
• Planning or preparing a site for glasswork
• Conducting risk assessments
• Bespoke glasswork – including designing and creating bespoke glass products
• Advising clients and recommending them best fit solutions
• Learning about new glazing techniques, materials or solutions

What are the benefits of working as a glazier?

Obviously we’re slightly biased, but working as a glazier offers a wide range of great benefits.

The perks of following a career as a glazier include:

Job security – the world will always need glaziers! Since glass is so commonly used in construction (plus countless other industries), talented glaziers are always in high demand.

Plenty of opportunities for advancement – over time, as you gain experience, you can continue to progress in your career. Common advancement examples include becoming a project manager, or working as a lead installer.

Competitive pay – glaziers are paid well for their specialist skills, particularly as you gain more experience. Wages can also increase if you choose to specialise in specific fields.

Daily variety – this includes working in different environments, on different projects, and with different people!

Practical tasks – glazing work is very hands-on, and also requires glaziers to be good at problem-solving, creative, and able to think on their feet.

Developing various, highly employable skills – these include working with specialist machinery, installing products, completing repairs, conducting risk assessments and supporting or advising customers. In fact, these skills are also highly transferable to other trades.

The chance to be creative – glaziers also often get the opportunity to be creative, designing bespoke glasswork and selecting stylish glass features that complement the specific property they are working with.

What are the educational requirements to become a glazier?

In order to become a glazier, you could follow a number of different potential paths or qualifications.

Check out the options below, and find the best fit for you.

• Completing an apprenticeship – this could be a construction apprenticeship, or either an intermediate or modern apprenticeship in glazing. In the UK, these apprenticeships are available to anyone 16 or over.
• An NVQ Level 2 Glazing (in England or Wales)
• A SVQ at SCQF Level 5 in Glazing (in Scotland)

Completing work experience is also another great way to boost your skills, and make your CV as competitive as possible.

Careers at Stevenage Glass

At Stevenage Glass, we are always looking for glaziers to join our team. These include options for glaziers of all abilities, from newly trained to senior glaziers.

If you would like to find out more about our careers opportunities, or what it’s like to work for Stevenage Glass, speak to a member of our team today.