According to research carried out by AA Home Rescue, the level of trade skills amongst homeowners is rapidly dwindling, resulting in fewer and fewer individuals willing to try their hand at DIY projects.

This trend is being attributed to the fact that young people seem less and less concerned with the development of the practical skills required for DIY projects.

The survey concluded that in order to carry out even basic DIY tasks, many people would require the services of a professional with the relevant trade skills to be able to carry out the work. 32% of individuals under the age of 25 said they would be able to complete a DIY or home improvement task, compared with 73% percent of people aged between 55 and 65.

A Spokesperson for AA Home Rescue, stated: “There seems to be a developing mind-set amongst young people that if something goes wrong, then I’ll get someone in to fix it”.

AA Home Rescue went on to suggest that it believes many young people are becoming more and more occupied with emerging technologies and are spending far much more of their time on computers, leaving little time to learn practical skills or carry out DIY tasks.

It is also suggested that over the next few decades, home improvement, DIY and basic trade skills will diminish further, eventually to the extent that very few people can carry out even the most basic of tasks.

For further information regarding trade skills and the training on offer here at Access, browse our comprehensive list of courses, including DIY and home improvement courses and see just how much money you can save by carrying out odd jobs yourself.

Recent research reported by Wickes’ website shows that homeowners are spending nearly double the amount of money on improvements to their kitchen compared to any other area of their home. On average, out of every £100 spent on DIY and home improvements, £33 is spent directly or indirectly on the kitchen.

So why is this the case? Well, it could be attributed to the modern perception that the kitchen is the new centre point of the home. Many properties are now open plan in layout with most new apartment designs plan focusing around the kitchen as the social centre. With the use of the appropriate trade skills older houses such as the Victorian Terraces have also been adapted over the years to reflect the prominence of the kitchen. Traditionally the kitchen was hidden away at the back of the house, with separate reception rooms and dining rooms. Now these spaces have been knocked through, revealing the kitchen as the jewel in the crown. Kitchen designs have now become a statement area for home owners, encouraging an element of creativity to show off to family and friends.

Persimmon Homes believe they understand exactly what the modern homeowner is looking for:

“At Persimmon, we invest a great deal of time and effort into designing each and every room to ensure it suits the most demanding of lifestyles. Take our kitchens for example – the household appliances we include as standard, such as the fridge/freezer, dishwasher and washing machine, are becoming less about functionality and more about chic contemporary style. Along with the tough economic climate, as well as the rising popularity of shows such as Come Dine With Me, people’s desire to create the perfect ambience for dining at home is at the forefront of their minds.

Kitchen improvements can be a daunting prospect to individuals without the necessary trade skills. Those without the required knowhow should call upon expert trained kitchen fitters to carry out the work, as the fitting of units and worktops can become an expensive mistake if attempted without prior training. Access Training offer professional kitchen courses for individuals looking to increase their trade skills. Our range of DIY kitchen fitting courses will teach you everything you need to know to be able make all the improvements you require. Click on the links below to view our comprehensive kitchen fitting courses.

To improve your trade skills and learn all the necessary steps required to successfully improve or fit your own kitchen, contact Access Training today.