INDUSTRY NEWS NINE IN 10 UK TRADESPEOPLE INCREASING PRICES DUE TO RISING FUEL COSTS Rising fuel costs are hitting UK tradespeople hard, and nine in 10 (90%) say they are being forced to increase their prices to keep their businesses alive. With petrol and diesel reaching record levels and topping £2 per litre in some areas, IronmongeryDirect surveyed 500 tradespeople to reveal the impact this is having on the industry. Almost every respondent (96%) said that their livelihood is reliant on their vehicle, and workers drive over 5,000 miles a year for jobs, on average. This annual mileage will now cost individuals almost £500 more for diesel vehicles, and over £450 for petrol users, than it did this time 12 months ago.
Almost half (47%) of tradespeople say that their profits are being affected by the fuel crisis, and a third (33%) say that their company is struggling to cope. Understandably, many are increasing their prices to keep up. Nine in 10 (90%) tradespeople say they will up their quotes as a direct result of the fuel costs, with the average increase standing at 24%. Some trades are increasing them more than others, and scaffolders are planning the most significant hike (39%). The trades planning on increasing their prices the most because of rising fuel costs are:
VOLUNTEERS WALK ALONG HADRIAN’S WALL TO RAISE £20,000 FOR CONSTRUCTION CHARITY A group of 13 volunteers have taken on and completed the iconic Hadrian’s Wall Walk to raise money for UK construction charity Band of Builders. The team tackled the Hadrian’s Wall Path (an 84 mile walk) from Wallsend, Newcastle upon Tyne in the east to Bowness-on-Solway in Cumbria on the west coast, adding on a few miles along the way to hit a total of 90 miles across four days. The team, backed by two support drivers, walked over 20 miles a day, braving sweltering heat, downpours, blisters and injuries to raise more than £20,000 for Band of Builders, a registered charity set up to help members of the UK construction industry battling illness or injury. The charity is about to start work on its 26th project, which takes place in Northern Ireland, and has more in the pipeline throughout 2022, plus a mental health initiative dubbed The Big Brew. Martin O’Donnell, Fundraising Coordinator at Band of Builders, led the team on the challenge. He says: “Most people take on Hadrian’s Wall across six or seven days, so to complete it in four days was no mean feat. We had plenty of highs and lows along the way, but everyone agreed that blisters, injuries and long days are worth it to do our bit to help others when they need it. There’s still time to sponsor us as we aim to make this the biggest fundraiser from BoB to date.” Band of Builders, bandofbuilders.org
• Scaffolder 39% • Roofer 35% • Bricklayer 34% • Building surveyor 30% • Electrician 28% • Plasterer 27% • Carpenter 26% • Joiner 25% • Builder 22% • Plumber 22% • Painter decorator 16% • Landscaper 16% Some tradespeople plan to stop driving altogether, and one in seven (14%) say that they are now using public transport to get to jobs, because they can’t afford the fuel. IronmongeryDirect, ironmongerydirect.co.uk
UK ELECTRICIANS REVEAL THE 10 MOST DANGEROUS ELECTRICAL MISTAKES THEY SEE IN HOMES
ECA ASKS: WHY ARE ELECTRICITY PRICES FOUR TIMES MORE EXPENSIVE THAN GAS? ECA has called for the next leader of the Conservative Party to transform the way energy is taxed, to make sure net zero energy sources are incentivised, and consumers’ bills are reduced. ECA has made three immediate proposals for the next Prime Minister: • Transparency on the use of ‘green’ taxes from our fuel bills, to demonstrate fair investment in net zero infrastructure • Parity between gas and electricity taxes in fuel bills • In the longer term, moving incentives for low carbon energy into general taxation “ECA has been championing the vital role of the electrical sector in the transition to net zero for many years now,” says ECA Director of Workforce and Public Affairs, Andrew Eldred. “In light of the recent leadership debate, where energy bills and net zero were at the fore, we want to remind the two remaining candidates that now is the time to refresh outdated energy policies, incentivise renewable energy generation, and ultimately bring down the skyrocketing cost of energy for Britain’s homes and businesses.” In 2021, 40% of the UK’s electricity was generated from renewable energy sources. However, fuel taxes on domestic electricity bills are 20% higher than on gas, meaning renewable energy is more heavily taxed. Research shows that rebalancing ‘green’ taxes, called levies, on electricity and gas will help to drive down the cost of electricity and reduce customers’ bills. Eon says this policy could see £100 saved per year for up to 70% of households.
Electricians have revealed the 10 most dangerous mistakes that Brits make when attempting electrical DIY at home, with some possibly leading to serious injuries or worse. Almost half (49%) of Brits have meddled with their home’s electrics, so ElectricalDirect asked hundreds of electricians to reveal the most common errors people make, and then rank them in terms of severity. The most dangerous mistake is not protecting plastic-sheathed cable. John McCallister, electrical expert at MyJobQuote.co.uk, explains why this is problematic: “Leaving plastic-sheathed cables unprotected exposes them to snagging and cuts, which could lead to fires or lethal shocks. Running them through a conduit minimises this risk.” People living in Northern Ireland are most guilty of making this top mistake, with 40% of electricians in the country saying they see it regularly. The 10 most dangerous electrical mistakes Brits make at home are: 1 Leaving plastic-sheathed cable unprotected 2 Leaving switches or outlets loosely connected 3 Cutting wires too short 4 Recessing boxes behind the wall surface 5 Installing cable without a clamp 6 Connecting wires outside of electrical boxes 7 Overfilling electrical boxes 8 Reversing hot and neutral wires 9 Wiring a ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) backwards 10 Installing electrical outlets close to water ElectricalDirect, electricaldirect.co.uk
ECA, eca.co.uk
6 | August 2022
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