Imagine you need to lift something really, really heavy or put something very high up, like a giant crane part or a big stage light for a concert. That is where a rigger comes in! Riggers are super important people who know how to safely move and lift heavy things. They use special ropes, chains, slings, and cranes to make sure everything is secure and does not fall down. They work on lots of different exciting projects, from building tall buildings and bridges to setting up amazing shows and events. It is a job that needs a lot of careful planning, strength, and teamwork to make sure everyone is safe and the job gets done right. To be a rigger, you need to be good at following instructions and working with others. You also need to be very aware of safety, as lifting heavy objects can be dangerous if not done correctly. Riggers have special training to learn how to check all their equipment, understand different types of knots and hitches, and communicate clearly with crane operators and other team members. They often work outdoors, sometimes at heights, so they need to be fit and not afraid of being up high. It is a rewarding job for someone who likes practical work and seeing big projects come to life!
In the UK, a rigger can expect to earn between 25,000 and 45,000 pounds a year, depending on their experience and the type of work they do.
While there isnt a precise number for just riggers, the broader construction and engineering sectors employ hundreds of thousands of people across the UK. Riggers are a vital part of many projects within these industries.
Riggers often work full-time hours, around 40 hours a week. Sometimes, they might need to work extra hours, like evenings or weekends, especially when a big project needs to be finished.
Imagine you are helping to build amazing sets and make sure everything is safe for a play or a concert. You'd be pulling ropes and moving things around behind the scenes!
This is like being a helpful grown-up who teaches people how to safely climb high ropes or go on ziplines at an adventure park. You'd make sure all the harnesses and ropes are super secure.
You could help a tree surgeon by making sure their ropes and harnesses are ready when they climb big trees to trim branches, keeping everyone safe and the trees healthy.
Rigging is all about being super careful. You need to learn how to keep yourself and others safe when working with big, heavy things. This means understanding rules and wearing special safety gear.
When you're a rigger, safety is the most important thing. You'll learn about 'risk assessments' which is like planning ahead to spot any wobbly bits or dangers before you start. You'll also learn about different types of 'Personal Protective Equipment' (PPE) like hard hats to protect your head, safety boots for your feet, gloves to protect your hands, and sometimes even special glasses or high-visibility jackets so everyone can see you clearly. Knowing how to use these things properly helps keep everyone safe.
Riggers use lots of cool tools like different kinds of ropes, chains, hooks, and pulleys. You'll learn what each tool is for and how to use them correctly to lift and move heavy objects.
A rigger's toolkit is full of exciting gear! You'll discover different types of 'slings' made from wire, chain, or strong fabric, and learn which one is best for different jobs. You'll also get to grips with 'shackles' (like super strong clips), 'hoists' (machines that lift things up and down), and 'pulleys' (wheels with grooves for ropes to make lifting easier). Understanding how each of these tools works and knowing their 'weight limits' (how much they can safely lift) is really important to prevent accidents and make sure the job gets done right.
Learning to tie special knots is super important for riggers! These aren't just any knots, they're strong and secure ones that hold heavy loads safely. You'll practice tying them until you're an expert.
Knots are like secret codes for riggers! You'll learn specific knots like the 'bowline knot' which creates a loop that won't slip, or the 'clove hitch' which is great for tying things to poles. You'll also learn about 'hitches' and 'bends' which are different ways of securing ropes. Practice is key here, so you'll spend time tying and untying these knots until you can do them quickly and perfectly, ensuring that whatever you're lifting stays put and doesn't tumble down.
The best way to learn is by helping experienced riggers! You can start as an apprentice, which means you learn by watching and helping them with their daily tasks, always under their watchful eye.
An 'apprenticeship' is a fantastic way to become a rigger. You'd work alongside experienced riggers, often called 'mentors', who will show you the ropes (literally!). You'll start by helping with simpler tasks, like inspecting equipment, setting up small lifts, or tidying up the work area. This hands-on experience is invaluable because you get to see how everything works in real life, ask lots of questions, and slowly build up your own skills while earning a bit of pocket money too. It's like going to a special school where you learn by doing!
Riggers work on many different types of projects, like building sites, concerts, or even ships. You'll get to see how rigging changes depending on what you're lifting and where.
Rigging isn't just one job; it's many different exciting jobs! You might work in 'construction rigging', helping to lift steel beams for new buildings. Or perhaps 'entertainment rigging', setting up lights and speakers for big music concerts or theatre shows. There's also 'marine rigging' for ships, or 'industrial rigging' for moving heavy machinery in factories. Each type of rigging has its own special challenges and equipment, so you'll learn to adapt your skills and knowledge to suit the specific environment and the unique things you need to lift.
As you get older, you'll go to special courses to get official certificates. These show everyone that you know all the important rigging rules and how to use big equipment safely.
To become a professional rigger in the UK, you'll need to gain recognised 'qualifications' and 'certifications'. These often involve attending specialist training courses where you learn about advanced rigging techniques, 'load calculations' (working out how heavy things are and how to lift them safely), and the legal rules and standards for rigging. You might get certificates like an 'NVQ in rigging' or specific 'LOLER' (Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations) training. These certificates are super important because they prove you have the knowledge and skills to work safely and effectively, and they'll help you get better rigging jobs in the future.
Once you're super experienced, you might get to lead your own team of riggers. You'll be in charge of planning the lifts, making sure everyone is safe, and teaching new riggers the ropes.
With lots of experience and advanced training, you could become a 'lead rigger' or a 'rigging supervisor'. This means you're no longer just doing the lifting, but also planning the entire lifting operation. You'll be responsible for making 'method statements' (detailed plans for how a lift will be done), ensuring all the equipment is checked and safe, and managing a team of other riggers. It's a big responsibility, but also very rewarding as you get to guide projects from start to finish and ensure everything runs smoothly and safely.
You could even become an inspector, checking all the rigging gear to make sure it's super strong and safe for everyone to use. This job helps prevent accidents before they happen!
An experienced rigger can specialise in 'rigging inspection'. This role involves regularly examining all the lifting equipment, such as cranes, hoists, slings, and shackles, to ensure they are in perfect working condition and meet all safety standards. You'd look for any signs of wear, damage, or defects that could make the equipment unsafe. Inspectors play a crucial role in preventing accidents by making sure only safe and reliable gear is used on a job site. It requires a keen eye for detail and extensive knowledge of all rigging components.
After many years, you could become a teacher for future riggers! You'd share all your amazing knowledge and help new people learn how to be super safe and skilled riggers.
As a 'rigging trainer' or 'assessor', you would take your vast experience and knowledge to help educate the next generation of riggers. This could involve working for a training provider, teaching in classrooms or practical workshops. You'd design and deliver courses, demonstrating proper techniques, explaining safety regulations, and assessing students' skills. It's a chance to pass on your expertise, mentor new talent, and contribute to maintaining high safety standards across the industry, ensuring that the future of rigging is in skilled and safe hands.
A person who controls large cranes to lift and move heavy materials on construction sites or in factories.
Someone who builds temporary metal structures, called scaffolding, around buildings to help other workers reach high places safely.
A person who helps build or repair buildings, roads, and other structures. They do many different jobs on a building site.
Explore relevant apprenticeships that can help you kickstart your career in Rigger. Apprenticeships offer hands-on experience and training while earning a wage.
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A Rigger's primary duties involve the assembly, positioning, and securing of structural steel, heavy equipment, and components, which aligns directly with the responsibilities of a Steel Erector.
You can get into this job through:
You could take a construction or engineering course at college. This could help you to find a trainee job with a building company.
Courses include:
Entry requirements for these courses vary.
You could apply for a place on an Engineering Construction Erector Rigger Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship.
This takes around 3 years to complete and is a mix of on-the-job training and off-site study.
To get onto an apprenticeship, you'll find it useful to have:
You can apply directly for jobs if you have relevant experience, qualifications and industry safety cards in construction or engineering.
You'll have an advantage if you've got a powered access licence to work with mobile elevated work platforms.
You can get more details about working and training as a steel erector from Go Construct and the Engineering Construction Industry Training Board (ECITB).
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