Tradespeople losing more than £1,000 per year from withheld payments
UK tradespeople are seeing over £1,000 of payments per year withheld by customers following a completed job. The research, conducted by IronmongeryDirect, found that an average £1,062 is owed to tradies across the UK. A third (33%) said they were waiting for over £1,000 from customers for completed jobs, whilst nearly one in 10 (7%) are owed over £3,000. Nearly two thirds […]
Toolstation launches campaign to locate the nation’s heroes
Toolstation has launched a competition to locate the nation’s unsung heroes and give tradespeople back the ‘credit’ they deserve, both through recognition and up to £5,000 worth of prizes. The COVID-19 pandemic has been a tough year for many, but tradespeople have continued to provide essential services and keep us safe and comfortable at home. […]
Study reveals a 366% increase in females becoming tradeswomen in the UK
A new study by GoCompare Van has found a growing increase in the number of females taking on ‘trade jobs’ in the UK – a space usually dominated by males. The study which analysed the biggest trade jobs women are stepping into identified a rise in the number of women learning the trade younger. Results found there […]
A third of tradespeople have found themselves in an unexpected situation
New research from Toolstation customers has found that 37% of tradespeople and 41% of DIYer’s have found themselves in an unexpected, difficult, challenging, or funny situation either related to a DIY or work-related job, and almost half of trades (46%) explained the most challenging aspects of their work life is unexpected problems. When working with […]
First fully mobile business app launches for trade professionals
A mobile app called Timter has been launched – the first tool specifically developed to enable self-employed tradespeople to run their business entirely via their smartphones. It can free up a typical trade professional to spend four more hours a week earning – potentially adding £6,000 or more to their annual income. Timter is designed […]
Duped tradespeople taken for up to £1.7 billion last year
The work of rogue traders and cowboy builders is infamous in the UK, with TV shows and newspaper stories regularly covering the shady dealings of tradespeople trying to take unsuspecting customers for a ride. According to new research however, 2020 was the year of the ‘Cowboy Customer’, as home improvements customers across Britain screwed tradespeople […]
Bridging the skills gap: training guide for tradespeople launched
A new guide providing tradespeople with training tips and practical business advice has been created to help those who are out of work or are looking to develop their existing skills set over lockdown. The resource has been published by heating and utilities training provider Skills Training Group and also contains a detailed breakdown of […]
Late night orders for next day delivery are no problem for tradespeople
IronmongeryDirect and ElectricalDirect are offering tradespeople more flexibility by extending their online order cut-off for next day delivery to 9pm. The new cut-off time allows customers an extra hour to purchase what they need, further supporting tradespeople who need large orders in a short space of time. Customers placing orders over £45 ex VAT are […]
Which tradespeople were the busiest in 2020?
Vanarama has surveyed 1,000 Brits, teaming up with Rated People to find out what 2020 looked like for tradespeople and who were the busiest. According to Rated People CEO Adrienne Minster: “People have turned to professional tradespeople this year to help them turn their visions into reality. We’ve seen an increase of 7% more jobs being […]
81% of UK electricians aren’t sure how to use social media effectively
Social media has transformed businesses in all industries, but despite helping many tradespeople get more work, a staggering 85% say they don’t know how to use it effectively. New research by IronmongeryDirect has explored how trade businesses currently use social media and how many are currently missing out on its benefits. Almost half (47%) of tradespeople […]