A job full of ups and downs.

What does a career as a lift engineer involve? Lift engineers, also known as lift technicians, install, refurbish, service and repair electrical and hydraulic lifts and escalators. They also work on stairlifts, vehicle mounted lifts, restaurant 'dumb waiters' and patient hoists such as those found in hospitals and nursing homes.

As a lift engineer, your day-to-day duties could include making routine checks on gears, motors, overload detection devices, brakes, doors and locks, plus carrying out minor repairs or isolating problems until a fuller service can be done.

You would also respond to emergency breakdown call-outs, installing and fitting out lifts, lifting gear and lift wells as well as demonstrating new equipment to clients.

Part of your work would be to inspect lift equipment to make sure that it meets relevant health and safety regulations, and to produce risk assessment reports and documentation for insurance and legal purposes.

What personal skills do you need? You need skills in electrical and/or mechanical work, excellent problemsolving skills and an understanding of engineering drawings and principles.

Good communication and customer care skills are needed and the ability to work without close supervision, IT skills for updating records and writing reports, plus an awareness of health and safety.

What training do you need? You normally need experience and/or qualifications in mechanical or electrical engineering to get into this kind of work.

Relevant courses include BTEC National Certificate and Diploma in Mechanical, Electrical, Electronic, or Operations and Maintenance Engineering; BTEC National Certificate and Diploma in Building Services Engineering; City & Guilds awards in Electrotechnical Technology, and Certificate in Engineering.

You may be able to get into this job by starting as an engineering apprentice.

What are the opportunities for career progression? Once you start working, you will do most of your training on the job. You can work towards a range of NVQ awards, including Installation and Commissioning, and Engineering Maintenance and Installation. These have options in lift (traction and hydraulic), escalator installation, repair and servicing.

You would also have to keep up-todate with health and safety, and legal guidelines covering the industry.

What is the salary? (Guideline only) Starting between pounds 14,000 and pounds 18,000; experienced engineers between pounds 19,000 and pounds 26,000; senior engineers can earn up to pounds 30,000..

Careers in lift engineering If you have a technical mind and good problem-solving skills, a career as a lift engineer may appeal. Emma Thompson pushed the button to find out more

More information . Lift & Escalator Industry Association, www. leia. co. uk . SEMTA ( Science, Engineering and Manufacturing Technologies Alliance), www. semta. org. uk . www. careersadvice. direct. gov. uk . Details provided for information only. Jobs not necessarily available..