National Tradesmen Day was started in the USA in 2011 to celebrate the hardworking people who form the backbone of society. We love this idea so much that we want to bring it over to the UK too! We’ve renamed it ‘National Tradespeople Day’ as we want to recognise the skills of everybody in our industry. These skilled tradespeople build, fix and maintain the infrastructure that we rely on every day. Their dedication ensures that our homes are safe, our buildings are sturdy and our communities thrive. Tradies, we love you!
Celebrating National Tradespeople Day
Celebrating National Tradespeople Day is simple but powerful. Here are some of the ways you can show your appreciation:
- Thank a tradesperson: Whether it's a plumber fixing a leak in your own home, or an electrician ensuring the site is safe, take a moment to thank them for their hard work.
- Support local tradespeople: Hire local tradespeople for your next project or recommend their services to friends, family and other contractors.
- Share your appreciation online: Use social media platforms to share stories of exceptional tradespeople. You could also share a positive review to help them win more work. A little recognition goes a long way.
Today is all about acknowledging these unsung heroes whose skills and hard work keep our society running smoothly. We appreciate you!
Addressing Tradespeople Shortages
While we celebrate tradespeople today, it’s also important to address some of the challenges they face. They struggle with labour shortages, which have been made worse by Brexit and the COVID pandemic.
Facts & figures around labour shortages in the UK today:
- According to recent data from Construction News, there were approximately 217,000 EU nationals working in UK construction before Brexit; this number has dropped significantly post-Brexit.
- The Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) reported that an additional 217,000 new workers will be needed by 2025 just to meet current demand levels.
- A survey carried out by Federation of Master Builders found that nearly two-thirds (61%) of small building firms have had difficulty hiring carpenters/joiners since Brexit.
- The Office for National Statistics (ONS) highlighted that vacancies within construction hit record highs in mid-2021 with over 43,000 unfilled positions.
However, there is hope on the horizon as new solutions are released, and changes are made to the way we build, which could help. Check out our blog on Modern Methods of Construction in the UK.
Social Media's Influence on Young Tradespeople
Surprisingly, social media has helped massively in reducing these shortages. According to an article published by DEWALT in partnership with WorldSkills International, nearly half of young tradespeople say social media inspired them to choose a career in the trades. Platforms like Instagram, YouTube and TikTok have shown various aspects of the different trades. They highlight not only technical skills but also creativity involved in these careers. This has made them more appealing than ever before.
Introducing Trade Jobs: A Game Changer for the Construction Industry
To further reduce the gap between contractors needing skilled tradies and tradespeople looking for work, comes the Trade Jobs app. This innovative platform has been designed specifically for the construction industry, connecting contractors and tradespeople.
Key features of the Trade Jobs App:
- Advertise jobs: It’s the go-to place for contractors to post jobs quickly and easily, and for tradespeople to find jobs matching their skills, within their working area.
- Instant notifications: Tradespeople receive real-time alerts when jobs matching their skills become available.
- Work diary management: Tradespeople can advertise any days they’re without work, ensuring they maximise their work opportunities. Equally, contractors can find available tradespeople on a day they need more labour. They can also advertise their own labour when they have too much.
- Subscription benefits: Download the app for free and enjoy the first 3 months free. After this, users can continue to PAYG, or they can subscribe.
When contractors subscribe for as little as £25 a month, they will save money on job adverts. They will also enjoy unlimited tradespeople searches, as well as unlimited posts to advertise their own available labour.
Tradespeople can always search for jobs for free on the app, by trade and location. Alternatively, they can subscribe for as little as £12 a month and enjoy unlimited posts to advertise any free days, and unlimited tradespeople searches.
This must-have app ensures both contractors and tradespeople are always on top of their game. Managing their ever-fluctuating labour requirements has never been so easy, or fast! Say goodbye to wasting time ringing round on the phone!
You can download the Trade Jobs app free today on both iOS and Android, and start making the most of the apps unmissable benefits straight way!
In Summary
On this National Tradespeople Day, let's take a moment to recognise and celebrate the invaluable work tradies carry out on a daily basis. They keep the world running smoothly, despite the everyday challenges they face. Social media is helping attract more apprentices to the industry. And up and coming solutions, like the Trade Jobs app help both contractors find skilled workers quickly and at the same time, help tradespeople to keep their work diaries full too! Join us in celebrating our hero’s today!
