Covid-19 causes almost 500,000 planned redundancies since the beginning of the crisis

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The BBC recently reported that August has seen British employers plan to make 58,000 redundancies, bringing the total number to 498,000 in the first five months since the pandemic was announced.

In order to avoid a cascade of job losses during the winter amid concerns of a second wave, the Government has implemented various measures including free online courses to those without A-Levels as well as the new Job Support Scheme. In light of this, it appears the construction and the trades sectors, in particular, are fast becoming havens of job creation for Brits seeking new career avenues.

Powered Now has unveiled national research which has shown that 18% of Brits agree that after COVID, they are now considering employment within a trade sector to pick up additional work or to commence a new career in a trade. As many as 3.5 million Brits will commence a career in the trades, proving that even in the wake of a pandemic many of us are still able to learn new skills to continue to make a living.

Key statistics:

  • 18% of Brits agree that after COVID, they are now considering employment within a trade sector to pick up additional work or to commence a new career in a trade
  • 38% of those have commenced a handyman role
  • 21% of people will commence a role in landscaping or gardening
  • 18% of Brits have taken up aesthetics, painting or decorating work

“With the number of planned redundancies reaching 480,000, recent announcements from the Chancellor have gone some way to lessen the impact on both employees and businesses.

However, there still are “unviable jobs” that will go under the radar of the new Jobs Support Scheme, and therefore those employees face a more difficult pathway. For those struggling with employment, many can follow many before them and start a new career in the construction and trade sectors.

The trade industry is traditionally a real mixed bag. Most people with think of the trade as a one-man band that comes to service your boiler or fix your blocked sink. However, there are also thousands of sub-contractors for larger firms that will tend to operate as their own entity. This will provide the perfect opportunity for millions of people looking to find