Trades Are Crying Out for Apprentices

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Eighty-five per cent of tradespeople think there is a shortage of apprentices entering construction, according to the latest research from Screwfix.

When it comes to attracting future talent, while nearly all (99%) tradespeople would recommend a career in the trades, 92% believe more can be done to encourage people into the industry.

When quizzed on why they would recommend a career as a tradesperson, 86% said it was the pride in a job well done, while being your own boss (72%) and customer satisfaction (64%) came in second and third respectively.

Barriers

Looking at the support needed to take on an apprentice, just 12% said they knew how to do it, with assistance and advice for hiring (39%) and training (31%) apprentices identified as the biggest barriers.

New initiative

To encourage more apprentices into construction trades and help tackle the ongoing skills shortage, last year Screwfix unveiled a new initiative to fund the training of trade apprentices. Working in partnership with flexi-job apprenticeship agency, TrAC, Screwfix will support both apprentice and employer with financial support to cover the cost of training.

 “We know that there is a shortage of apprentices coming into the trades and our latest research continues to indicate that much more needs to be done to attract future talent.”

– Jack Wallace, 

Marketing director, Screwfix

Support

“The research also shows the rewarding career opportunities on offer to those working in the construction trades, with an overwhelming majority recommending it as a career,” says Screfix’ Wallace. “While some tradespeople consider there to be barriers surrounding hiring and training apprentices, thankfully there is help and support available to overcome these.”

Picture: Tradespeople have called for more to be done to encourage apprenticeships via the Screwfix Trade Apprentice survey which was conducted in January 2023 via an online panel. Insight was gained from 390 UK tradespeople to better understand the need for skilled trade apprentices in the sector.

www.screwfix.com

Article written by Cathryn Ellis
16th March 2023

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