Whether you're a newly qualified tradesman or if you've been in the trades for years, there's no harm in brushing up on your skills. After all, you want to ensure that you do your job to the best of your ability for your customers!

So, what qualities and skills are needed to be a 'good' tradesman? In this blog, we've put together 5 key qualities that we believe make a tradesman stand out from the crowd:

1. Highly punctual and reliable
2. Strong communication skills
3. Comfortable working in a team
4. Up to date with industry knowledge and regulations
5. Resilient

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Mental Health Awareness Week takes place in the UK from Monday 15th May - Sunday 21st May. To raise awareness about mental health issues in the trades, Ironmongery Direct submit a yearly report in collaboration with the mental health charity, Mind, to reveal important and shocking statistics about mental health in the trade industry. 

In this blog, we'll break down the key findings of their insightful report in an attempt to make mental health support more accessible to our students in the trade industry.

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There's nothing quite like coming home and feeling proud of the work you've done for the day. For most tradesmen, this is a daily occurrence! According to multiple studies conducted over the years, workers in the skilled trades tend to have higher levels of job satisfaction in comparison to others. 

In this blog, we'll take a look at why job satisfaction is so high for workers in the skilled trades. From builders and plumbers to electricians and gas engineers, there are many reasons for all tradesmen to be proud of what they do. 

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If you're looking for jobs in renewable energy, we've compiled a list of tips and tricks to land you a perfect role. You will be directly contributing to the production of environmentally-friendly energy sources in no time.

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CSCS Cards are useful tools commonly held by construction workers – but what are CSCS cards? Do you need one? What are CSCS care actually for? If you’ve ever found yourself faced these questions and are looking for some answers, you’re in the right place!

We’ve put together this handy blog to help answer all of your frequently asked questions about CSCS cards, including how you can earn your CSCS cards with Access Training, and how having a CSCS card will advance your career in construction.

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If you're looking to start your career in the skilled trades industry, you've probably come across the term 'NVQ Qualification'. An NVQ qualification is a vocational qualification, providing you with all the practical and physical skills that your future employer will be looking for. Whether you choose to become a gas engineer, an electrician, a plumber, and much more!

An NVQ is different to any other qualification as it is entirely work based (also known as competence-based), as you will be assessed on your ability to perform certain tasks in your chosen field. So, is a NVQ qualification worth it? Let's find out...

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If you are a qualified electrician and you'd like to build up your skills portfolio, our 2-day EV charger installation course is a brilliant way to take your career as an electrician a step further. With 1.1 million electric cars now in use on UK roads, you will receive many benefits for providing customers with this unique and in-demand skill.

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If you're thinking of switching careers, it's helpful to imagine what your day-to-day tasks may look like. To help you get started, we've put together an example of what a day in the life of a gas engineer might look like. 

No two working days are ever the same in the life of a gas engineer, but through our years of expertise, we have a pretty good idea of what to expect. So, without further ado, welcome to a day in the life of a gas engineer!

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A job in the skilled trades sector is a great way to start a rewarding and exciting career. The skilled trades provides essential services for society to run smoothly and effectively - when you start a trade course with Access Training, you could be a part of that!

Without further ado, here's why the skilled trades are important.

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