Tracking the Trades: Home | News Release
News release
Friday 29 April 2005
THE NATION’S TRADESMEN GET THE THUMBS UP
Cowboy builders, bungling plumbers and decorators with a thirst for tea breaks every five minutes may be a thing of the past.
According to Skipton Building Society’s first ever Tradesman Index, while these skilled workers have traditionally suffered from a poor image, the reality is a lot more positive.
The Index reveals that two in three (63%) Britons who have used a tradesman* in the last three years were very satisfied with the work carried out, giving their hired help the highest scores on the satisfaction scale.
And those looking to improve their home have a lot to look forward to - nearly half (49%) of the respondents found their tradesman extremely reliable and more than a third (39%) claim that they worked solidly throughout the day. Such is the extent of their diligence, stereotypical tea-swilling workers could become a distant memory, with only seven per cent taking regular breaks on the job.
Despite these reports of good behaviour, over charging and fluctuating costs continue to be a bone of contention for many homeowners. Londoners’ wallets are hit the hardest - the average hourly rate for a plumber in the capital costs £68, far exceeding the rest of the country. In stark contrast, people in Yorkshire can expect to pay £12, in Wales £19 and in the Midlands £28.
Contrary to popular belief, it does seem that these high costs are being matched by equally high standards. More than half (59%) of respondents reported that their tradesman always cleaned up after themselves and a further 68% reported that their home improvement project was a stress free experience.
Jennifer Holloway, head of media relations at Skipton Building Society, said, “Spring is traditionally house hunting season but for many, bad news could be on the horizon, asthey find they can’t afford to climb to the next rung of the property ladder. However, the good news for those who decide to improve and not move is that they can expect an excellent service from their tradesmen. While there is no doubt ‘cowboys’ still exist, it’s heartening to hear they’re being run out of town by more professional plumbers, electricians, builders and the like.”
Ends
Editor's Notes
- The research was conducted in April 2005 by YouGov. In total, 1,409 homeowners were questioned.
- Desk research was carried out to ascertain the average hourly rates for tradesmen across the country. A representative sample of plumbers, builders, electricians, painter/decorators and heating engineers were selected and asked how much they charged per hour.
Average hourly rate of tradesman across the UK :
| |
Plumber |
Heating Engineers |
Electricians |
Builders |
Painters |
| London |
£68 |
£66 |
£65 |
£69 |
£57 |
| Midlands |
£28 |
£28 |
£27 |
£33 |
£20 |
| North East |
£24 |
£18 |
£20 |
£18 |
£73 |
| South East |
£20 |
£27 |
£17 |
£16 |
£14 |
| East |
£20 |
£27 |
£17 |
£16 |
£14 |
| North West |
£16 |
£18 |
£18 |
£20 |
– |
| N.Ireland |
€22 |
€25 |
€20 |
€19 |
€12 |
| Scotland |
£31 |
£25 |
£18 |
£25 |
£24 |
| South West |
£39 |
£37 |
£39 |
£22 |
– |
| Wales |
£19 |
£19 |
£20 |
£22 |
£17 |
| Yorkshire |
£12 |
£19 |
£18 |
£15 |
£14 |
- Skipton is the UK ’s seventh largest building society, with a national presence represented by its 79 branches, covering the country from Aberdeen to Plymouth . An innovator in the field of mortgage and investment products, the Society stands apart from its counterparts as the parent to 15 subsidiary companies, many of which operate in the financial market.
* Plumber, heating engineer, electrician, builder or painter/decorator
For further information journalists should contact the Skipton Press Office.