Howe Tools has carried out a survey into the life of a tradesperson including the costs of training, the impact of tool theft, views on apprenticeships and technology in the trades.
Over the last two years, reports have suggested a 54 per cent increase in tool thefts, which leave tradespeople not only without their essential tools, but unable to continue generating an income. But it’s not just theft that can cost tradespeople, with the initial outlay on tools and training also factors that any worker must consider.
What does it cost to get started in a trade?
According to the survey, electricians have the highest costs at just under £2,700 (£2,697.70), with the £1,624.96 spent on training and £1,072.72 investment in a starter tool kit. However, electricians have also been reported to have the highest salary of any trade. Plasterers who participated in the survey have the lowest barrier to entry, spending £714.50 on average.
The cost of theft
With over £83,500 worth of equipment going missing every day across the UK, tool thefts have a significant impact on any tradesperson. Along with the highest startup costs, the survey has shown that electricians are also the hardest hit by tool thefts which cost them an average of £1,401 per year, with £299 of this resulting from loss of work, the highest of any trade. In comparison, plumbers have the lowest losses of those surveyed, at an annual average of £551, or around half of the average cost of £1.100 across all trades.
The UK’s tool theft hotspots according to the survey:
Rank | City | Tradespeople surveyed who have experienced tool theft (%) |
1 | Glasgow | 83% |
2 | Brighton | 60% |
3 | Leeds | 50% |
4 | Birmingham | 43% |
5 | Sheffield | 43% |
6 | Newcastle | 42% |
7 | Bristol | 40% |
8 | Liverpool | 36% |
9 | London | 36% |
10 | Cardiff | 29% |
Across the UK, tool thefts have increased but theft rates do vary depending on location. According to the survey, Cardiff comes in as the safest place for tradespeople with 29 per cent having experienced tool thefts in the city. In contrast, Glasgow has a theft rate almost three times higher, with 4 in 5 tradespeople (83 per cent) surveyed from the city having experienced thefts. London scores relatively well, with just over 1 in 3 tradespeople (36 per cent) experiencing theft, putting them on par with Liverpool (36 per cent).
Views of tradespeople
When looking to the future of the trades, it’s likely that technology will play an increasingly important role, with 1 in 3 tradespeople surveyed indicating that they are concerned about being replaced by technology, such as drones or robots which are becoming an ever more common sight in the construction industry. However, these new technologies also pose an opportunity for future generations, who will be growing up as users of such devices. According to the survey data, 35 per cent of tradespeople also think that they need additional training, but whether this is focused on using new technology or honing their skills, continuous development is always beneficial.
Tim Howe, MD at Howe Tools, commented: “There are many elements involved in being a successful tradesperson, with workers needing to have both the correct equipment and strong skills in their profession. With the ever changing nature of the industry it’s key for tradespeople to constantly develop these skills in order to continue delivering high quality work, so it’s encouraging to see so many workers looking to have more training in the future.
“There will always be a demand for tradespeople within our society, whether we need a plumber to fix a leak, or a builder to work on an extension, so the opportunities for apprenticeships and recruitment that have been suggested by the tradespeople surveyed are very encouraging.”
