Plans for the future of the domestic Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) have been unveiled by the Department for Energy and Climate Change (DECC), spelling a new wave of opportunities for plumbers and gas fitters across the UK. The Domestic RHI will support the installation of ground and air source heat pumps, biomass boilers and solar […]
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has said that tradesmen such as plumbers, builders and carpenters are among those most likely to benefit from automatic enrolment into workplace pensions. The new system is being phased in starting from this October, and Pensions Minister, Steve Webb, MP, said that construction industries have historically had poor […]
A young female bricklayer has said she feels she has made her late sister proud in becoming one of the army of construction professionals who helped raise up the Olympic Village. 23-year-old Kerri Chambers, from Woodford Green, North East London, told The Mirror newspaper that she didn’t know what to do when she left school. […]
The building standards not-for-profit organisation, TrustMark, has called on the government to establish a system that will help homeowners to find reputable tradesmen for home extension projects. TrustMark has made the call in advanced of a planned relaxing of the rules governing homes extensions, which is likely to see a surge in the number of […]
The number of women considering turning to careers in construction trades is surging, according to DIY retailer, B&Q. The retailer has said that the number of women taking up their DIY workshops across the county has increased five-fold over the last year, with many using them as stepping stones to enrolling on more intensive training […]
The Association of Plumbing & Heating Contractors (APHC) has voiced its support for the environmentally-focused trade qualifications offered by the City & Guilds. APHC has said that the organisation’s Environmental Technology qualifications will provide trainee technicians and people with years of experience with the environmental knowledge that is likely to become a crucial part of […]
The UK’s best trainee tradesmen and women will converge on Preston this week to take part in the finals of the annual SkillBuild competition. Thousands of trainee construction industry professionals across a range of ten disciplines will compete at the Fulwood campus of Preston College to be named the best young practitioner of their trade. […]
Following recent news regarding the easing of planning regulations for residential extensions, carpenters could be more in demand than ever. David Cameron and Nick Clegg have announced that property owners will now be able to construct extensions of up to six or eight metres from the rear wall of a home, depending on whether it […]
Thanks to a new national scheme, tracking down a tradesman you can trust is easier than ever. The government’s ‘Buy With Confidence’ scheme allows those hunting for a tradesman to pick from a selection of traders that have been certified as reliable and trustworthy by Trading Standards. Prior to being enrolled on the scheme, the […]
A successful professional rugby player has returned to his carpentry roots following his retirement from the game, brushing up the joinery skills he learned to see him through his time as an amateur. Chris Fortey has been played for Gloucester and Worcester Warriors since he embarked on his rugby career in 1996, but prior to […]
A successful career as a plumber can take years to cultivate but, once it is off the ground, reputation and referrals are key to sustaining a livelihood as a plumber. So what can a plumber do to establish and maintain his or her reputation? Evidence of dedication to high-quality training and education is generally a […]
Half-completed DIY projects in Britain’s homes are an untapped goldmine of opportunities for the country’s tradesmen it seems, after research revealed that there are unfinished home improvements currently blighting nearly two-thirds of the country’s homes. A poll of more than 3,200 families carried out by RatedPeople.com, the online trade recommendation service, found that around 14 […]