A painter has won hearts across the UK by leaving a thoughtful ‘pay packet’ for a customer’s three-year-old son who helped him on the job.
James Noll of Expressions, a vetted tradesperson on Checkatrade, met an unexpected helper – 3-year-old, Bobi Williams – while decorating a client’s home. Bobi’s mother, Michelle Williams, who had hired James, shared the touching moment on X alongside the caption, “Bobi was super helpful while we had the painters in this week! He even earned himself a mini ‘pay packet’ from the painter for all his hard work—how thoughtful! Bobi is so chuffed”.
Michelle’s post showed Bobi helping with the painting, alongside a personalised ‘pay packet’ detailing how the toddler had tackled tasks like rubbish clearance and quality control checks. The hard work earned the 3 year old £10 (minus tax) with a final note praising him as an ‘excellent tiny tradesperson!’.
The painter’s thoughtful gesture gained attention online, sparking numerous likes and comments praising his kindness. One commenter wrote “Ohh this is so cute! If you zoom in you can see that the jobs he did include ‘asking lots of questions’ and ‘being a legend'”.
The painter, James from Expressions, commented, “Seeing kids like Bobi getting so curious and being eager to get involved is incredibly rewarding. It’s not just about the work we do, but about inspiring the next generation to appreciate the creativity and skill in trades. Bobi’s enthusiasm reminded me why I love what I do—it’s about building more than just homes, but also future passions.”
Three-year-old Bobi WIlliams commented: “I loved painting, and I got paint on my finger. I liked helping, and being a builder!”
Michelle Williams, Bobi’s mother, commented: “Bobi was so excited to receive his pay packet—he really enjoyed helping out. It’s such a thoughtful gesture, and he’s already asking when he can help again!”
Inspired by James’ gesture, Checkatrade have launched a ‘Tiny Tradespeople’ initiative to encourage children to explore careers in the industry. The cute program allows Checkatrade members to reward young helpers with a £10 book voucher and their own mocked up ‘pay packet’ for tasks like painting or showing enthusiasm.
The programme will run for two weeks in the run up to Christmas, from Monday 9th December – Monday 23rd November, encouraging tradespeople to recognise and appreciate the next generation of budding tradespeople. To apply, tradespeople need to fill out this simple form.
Jambu Palaniappan, CEO at Checkatrade, commented: “We’ve taken inspiration from James’s thoughtful gesture to launch our ‘Tiny Tradespeople’ initiative ahead of Christmas. Encouraging curiosity about trade professions from an early age is crucial, especially as the UK faces a critical shortage of skilled tradespeople.
“The Trade Skills Index 2024 revealed a need for 1.3 million skilled workers and 350,000 apprentices over the next decade to meet government targets and growing industry demands. The ‘Tiny Tradespeople’ initiative aims to inspire young people to explore trade careers while highlighting the value and craftsmanship of the sector.”
For more information, visit the website or email: tinytradespeople@checkatrade.com
