Every industry and profession has its pros and cons. Challenges are commonplace in every work environment, but few contend with the challenges that those in the trades face on a daily basis.
Demand for tradespeople has risen significantly in the last two years, meaning that it’s a great time for new and established tradespeople to grow their empire. But it’s not all that straightforward.
Below we explore some of the biggest challenges that tradespeople face in and around their work.
Tool theft
One of the biggest worries for many tradespeople especially a plasterer is the safety of their tools and equipment.
Nearly 90% of tradespeople were reported to have experienced tool theft in a study conducted last year, which shows the prevalence of the issue in the industry. It can result in thousands of pounds worth of loss and operational damage which can stop money from coming in.
Tradespeople typically know how to best mitigate these risks, but thieves will often go to extremes to steal equipment and goods for money.
Dealing with tricky customers
Another challenge that is often raised by tradespeople is the process of dealing with difficult customers. Granted, issues can go both ways and it’s not always the customer’s fault, but it can still be frustrating and time-consuming.
Chasing payments, receiving complaints about work and experiencing harassment and abuse are unfortunately all too common in the trades. It certainly helps to be thick-skinned and patient.
Supply chain issues
Challenges that have arisen more recently due to the impacts of the pandemic, Brexit and the war in Ukraine have been supply chain issues.
These have forced tradespeople to reject work or risk not finishing certain projects because of material shortages. This has knock-on effects on their income and increasing material costs are only making the situation more desperate.
There’s been a particular shortage in the supply of certain wood products such as plywood and timber recently. This is due to various factors which have been impacting trades like carpentry, landscaping and joinery.
Stereotypes and misconceptions
Finally, tradespeople often have to contend with stereotypes and misconceptions from customers and other tradespeople.
TV shows like Cowboy Builders and other watchdog-type programs do wonders in raising awareness of scam artists, but some people can take impressions from those examples and apply them to all tradespeople. Clearly, not everyone is a scam artist or bad tradesperson, but preconceptions about the profession can have ramifications across the wider industry.
