New research from Checkatrade reveals the nation’s tea etiquette with tradespeople being offered a hot drink on average, every 2 hours 50 minutes.
Despite plumbers (72%) and electricians being offered a cup of tea most regularly, those cleaning our windows (28%) or connecting our broadband (27%) are the thirstiest with fewer homeowners offering them a cuppa
And whilst the humble biscuit is the most popular accompanying snack (48%), 40% admit to not offering anything at all.
To celebrate International Tea Day, new research from Checkatrade has revealed the nation’s tea etiquette with nearly three quarters (73%) of UK adults offering a tradesperson a cuppa.
The study1 of 2,000 British homeowners found that plumbers (72%) and electricians (72%) are the most likely to be offered a cup of tea, followed by builders (70%) and painter/decorators (69%). Meanwhile, those cleaning our windows (28%) or connecting our broadband (27%) miss out the most with fewer Brits offering them a hot drink.
Trades who are offered a cuppa:
Plumber – 72%
Electrician – 72%
Builder – 70%
Painter & Decorator – 69%
Handyperson – 62%
Gardener/landscaper – 59%
Roofer – 53%
Cleaner – 47%
Window Cleaner – 28%
Utilities worker – 27%
And whilst 73% of people feel offering a cuppa is a good way of showing appreciation to our trades, a further 23% would still offer a council worker or tradesperson on the street a cuppa even though they hadn’t hired them to complete the work.
Table Manners
When it comes to tradespeople conducting work in and around the home, people will offer a hot drink on average, every 2 hours 50 minutes. Those from the North East are the most attentive, pouring a cuppa on average, every 2 hours and 20 minutes whilst, people aged 18-34 were least likely to offer a tradesperson a cup of tea at all.
The humble biscuit is also the most popular accompanying snack people will give their tradesperson with nearly half of UK adults (48%) likely to do so. But for four in ten of us, that’s where our hospitality ends, with people not offering anything to accompany a cup of tea at all.
Tea Tactics
Finally, a third (32%) of homeowners would offer a cup of tea to a tradesperson before work commences on a job, with one in ten (12%) also happy for a tradesperson to make their own before they got the work started. The biggest reason for this is so trades can make a hot drink how they like it (44%) and so people don’t have to feel awkward by asking a tradesperson what they would like (39%).
Meanwhile, a further 37% admit to deploying ‘tea tactics’ and will make a cup of tea for their tradesperson so they can build a good relationship to ensure a job well done.
On the other hand, those who said they did not offer a cup of tea to a tradesperson said they did so to keep their distance so as not to blur the employer/employee relationship (22%) with a further 21% believing tradespeople should bring their own drinks to a job.
‘’With an overwhelming 76%2 of homeowners believing their homes have room for improvement, we can expect to see a lot more tradespeople in and around our homes conducting work,‘’ said Mike Fairman, CEO of Checkatrade. ’’Offering a tradesperson a hot drink is all part of homeowner etiquette, and we hope when you next put the kettle on, you extend a cuppa to your tradesperson too.’’
To find a verified tradesperson for your next home improvement or renovation visit Checkatrade.com.
