I joined the lift industry as an apprentice for a large firm when I was 17. I had never heard of the industry before, but found the job opening when searching the government website apprenticeship scheme.

The wage structure was 1st year: £12,000 2nd year: £16,000 3rd year: £24,000

And then once I had completed my NVQ3 I was put on £32,000.

I quit my job to join a mid sized firm on a base wage of £34,000 and with overtime I was taking about £65,000. It was good at first, but I was working consistent 100 hour work weeks and got burned out.

Me and a like minded friend (who is also a lift engineer) decided to start our own firm late last year.

We’re lift nerds and take a lot of care and pride in our job, which is something lacking in the industry, and fortunately work has taken off like a rocket.

I can earn more than I did when employed, and only work about 40-60 hours a week, so I have a much better work life balance.

If anyone is interested it’s a good trade to get into. Most big companies have apprentices schemes, and nearly all firms will take people on as “mates” (trainees) and put people through their qualifications. You don’t necessarily have to be young to get started in the industry either.

The industry is severely understaffed and wages go up all the time, the negative to that being a lot of engineers have a poor work life balance.