If you are a hands-on, practical person and like to work with other people, then you might find yourself working in this broad-ranging but very necessary career sector.

Work ranges from providing services for others or helping to keep the environment clean to making sure we all live and work in safe and healthy conditions.

What areas can I work in?

You could work in general services within environmental or public health, such as pest control, waste disposal and recycling, including cemetery and crematorium work. 

If you prefer to work directly with people, you could work in personal services, which range from clothes alterations, dry cleaning and laundry work, photograph processing, shoe, clocks or watch repair to funeral services.

To see the routes to getting into each of these sectors, take a look at our Career Areas.

What kind of companies can I work for?

There is a wide range of organisations you can work for, including:  

• local authorities, environmental or civic amenity departments 
• specialist recycling or waste disposal companies 
• private burial and cremation companies 
• retail outlets such as jewellery shops, shoe repair shops or dry cleaners 
• supermarkets and pharmacy outlets 
• private pest control companies 
• small and large chain funeral director services.