With in the fencing industry professional fencers will be required to work in many different situations and will have to have the skill set to carry out the work. As well as the fencer making sure they have the right skill set for the job there are certain things you should look for in a fencer if you are planning on hiring one.

Below are some of the different scenarios a fencer could be required to work in and the types of fencing they may have to work with;

• Domestic gardens; this type of fencing is normally styles such as wooden panelling, closed panelling and some times variations such as picket fencing. They may be required to either repair the fencing if damaged or be asked to install the fence as new.
• Farms; with this kind of industry it will more than likely be either wooden fencing or an electrical fence so the ability to fix both will be necessary.
• Factories and other industrial settings; most fencing on these kind of premises is security fencing so this will mean the fencer will have to have the ability to work with a variety of materials including metal, wood and plastic.

The skills and knowledge that the fencer should have include;

• Regulations – The fencer should have a clear understanding of the building regulations and restrictions in that area. This is especially in the case of where trees have to be cut down to make enough space for the fencing.
• Safety measures – If they are completing a large scale job they should ensure all appropriate signs and warnings are in place before starting the work.
• Ground information – They should have the ability to gain information on the ground levels, under ground utilities and any sub structures. All of this information should be obtained before they even start the work.
• Measuring – They will need a certain degree of mathematical knowledge to have the ability to work out the exact amount of materials they will need for the job they are completing.
• Tools and materials – They should have a practical knowledge of how to use power tools and how to work with the materials they will be required to use, both metal and wood.

Although these are mainly needed by those working in the industrial sector some of the qualifications you can gain whilst working as a fencer include;

• FISS – This makes sure that the fencer has learnt about the health and safety issues even if it is just at a basic level. After this is complete they can go on from this course to develop their skills further.
• NVQ in Fencing – This is mainly for existing fencers to develop their skills more in the subject it goes from a Level 2 to Level 3 NVQ and is mainly for those working in areas such as highway maintenance.