Earlier this year in January, The House of Commons had their initial debate over the skills and labour shortages that were apparent within the UK economy.

Previous research conducted by the ONS in late 2022 revealed that 13.3% of businesses currently have a shortage of workers. One of the industries that has been effected most by the skills shortage is the construction industry, with 20.7% of all construction businesses being impacted by the current skills shortages.

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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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Skilled trade jobs are in more demand than ever due to multiple societal issues, such as the UK housing crisis and a nationwide skills shortage due to the after-effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Read on to find out what trade is most in demand in the UK, and why.

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How to become a plumber

The traditional route to becoming a plumber in the UK is through a plumbing apprenticeship, typically straight after completing your secondary education, although it’s never too late to retrain as a plumber! This is of course a brilliant option, but there are actually several paths available to prospective plumbers. These include:

• Enrolling at a technical university or trade school
• Taking a fast-track course
• Working as a plumber’s assistant

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With winter in full swing, you may be wondering whether it is time to turn your heating on. With the current economic crisis doing homeowners no favours, it's natural to be apprehensive about putting on your heating for the first time this year. In 2021, the average gas and electric bill in the UK totalled £111.60 per month, equating to £1,339 per year!

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