A contractor will coordinate a construction project and organise the process of the build from beginning to end.

General contractors will coordinate construction projects from the development stages. A contractor will begin a job by submitting their bid to an employer, stating how long a project will take to complete and how much it will cost. If selected the contractor will most likely be in charge of employing other sub-contractors to help get the project completed. A sub-contractor could have many different job roles, such as; equipment operators, builders, carpenters, and various forms of manual labour.

Contractors must have extensive knowledge within their field of work. Although there are no formal qualification requirements, contractors can attend courses from institutions such as City and Guilds to help them improve at their craft. Many people get into the contracting business after working on construction sites as a labourer. Contractors must have excellent organisational skills, and must be able to work well under pressure in order to meet deadlines.

There are a lot of contractor jobs available in the UK for a variety of different industries. Some contractors may even find placements abroad. Contractor jobs can often be found through recruitment agencies.

The salary of a contractor can vary according to the number of projects they complete within a year. On average most contractors earn around £30,000. Freelancers who have a solid reputation and steady client base could earn more.