A GROUNDBREAKING new collaboration aimed at transforming the future of the UK’s construction industry can be unveiled today. National framework provider Pagabo has forged a research agreement with the University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC), aiming to together challenge current methods in the construction sector, and pioneer fresh
Employee-owned business Kite Packaging are one of the UK’s largest packaging distributors offering a range of solutions suited to all industries. Often the hub of many businesses, warehouses commonly see an increase in activity at this time of year. To support operations, Kite take a brief look at some of
If you have a wealth of experience as a full time employee in the construction sector, the chances are you have contacts across the industry. This could enable you to break free from your employer to set up on your own. Launching a business within the construction sector can be
Housing developments can be a significant attention-grabber for most campers and caravanners, among many others. There are several strategies that can help promote new housing developments for people clinging to the old ways. These strategies are the following. 1. Utilizing Available Audiences Perhaps the most crucial step to this is
FOLLOWING a highly successful period of growth, national framework provider Pagabo has announced a number of additions to its team, including the appointment of Charley Wainwright as its ‘The Future of Construction Lead’. The role has been created to lead on the organisation’s The Future of Construction initiative, which aims
Employee-owned packaging company, Kite Packaging, has recently expanded two of its popular pack room products, their dynamic gummed paper tape machine and glue gun bundles. Efficiency in your pack room is essential to ensure the smooth running of your operation, along with high-quality equipment at your disposal. Kites new gummed
Construction workers’ safety must be prioritised in the fight against COVID-19 but firms need to accelerate their adoption of technology to make this happen. These are the words of Cardo Crew’s senior leader Shachar Harari who is also urging manufacturers of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to invest in technology that will help these
In recent times, manufacturing industries are embracing non-destructive non-package testing. A defective package makes the product loos sterility. Contamination of manufactured due to leakage can be catastrophic in pharmaceutical products. The physical method of testing packages is reliable and verifiable, unlike biological tests. With package leak detectors like FlexPax, businesses
There are a few businesses that are pretty much recession proof. Though the construction business can slow down considerably during a financial downturn, the paving business is usually still going strong even in the worst situations. Roads need to be paved to keep traffic moving. Not only that, but generally
Joinery businesses are the cheapest trade to set up, costing around £6,600 Self-employed plumbers recover their start-up costs the quickest – under six weeks Joinery businesses are among the cheapest trade companies to set up in the UK, averaging nearly £2,500 less than other sectors, new research has revealed. With
A GROUNDBREAKING new collaboration aimed at transforming the future of the UK’s construction industry can be unveiled today. National framework provider Pagabo has forged a research agreement with the University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC), aiming to together challenge current methods in the construction sector, and pioneer fresh ideas and innovations that embrace new technology and advanced manufacturing methods. Joining them in the venture are C4DI, the Hull-based incubator company that promotes growth in tech businesses, specialist data centre company Yondr and industry leader Lord Bob Kerslake. Just a few weeks into the new relationship, vital research into harnessing technology to streamline health and safety methods on construction sites is already under way. Gerard Toplass, executive chairman of Pagabo, said: “Everyone agrees that construction is a sector that has been left behind in terms of new ways of working and innovation. Many methods in construction have been used for decades. “What we want to do as a group is to totally shake up the construction sector – and create real change to drive economic growth and establish the UK as a global innovator.” He said that Hull-based Pagabo was so committed to the use of new methods that it had created The Future of Construction (TFOC) initiative to drive industry-wide collaboration to shape the sector’s future. “It’s vital that we think about the industry as a whole and how we can promote new technologies to improve how we do things,” he explained. “The construction sector needs a revolutionary moment – similar to the aerospace industry when it created the ‘black box’. “This new collaboration between Pagabo and the AMRC will bring the sector together, unify common objectives and drive forward real change. We will be building an enterprise that seeks to leverage new techniques, innovation and automation. “We intend to build on the government’s agenda for value, procuring for value and its ‘build, build, build’ initiative. But we also want to foster a new way of doing this that future-proofs the construction sector, secures jobs and builds sustainably – with economic, social and environmental processes in mind.” The University of Sheffield AMRC is a network of world-leading research and innovation centres that work with manufacturing companies of all sizes around the globe. It has particular strengths in the automotive and aerospace industries. Its pioneering research develops innovative methods that are of practical use to the manufacturing industry. The organisation transforms industrial and economic performance by making step changes in productivity, increasing competitiveness, developing new products and processes and training new talent and skills. Steve Foxley, CEO of the University of Sheffield AMRC, said: “We see construction as a wildly exciting and opportunity-filled industry to benefit from our learnings over the past 20 years. “We want to work closely with Pagabo to create a real catalyst for change. Pagabo has a unique and important role within the industry as a framework provider and has influence across a wider portion of the industry via its ecosystem of contractors and supply chain partners. “We will be learning from the automotive and aerospace industries and seeing where we can adapt methods and innovations that would work in the construction sector. “We want to look at areas like enterprise architecture, the future of buildings in a digital world, and how standards and interfaces will enable the digital world in construction.” Lord Kerslake, the former head of the civil service, is a non-executive chairman of Pagabo who helped forge its relationship with the AMRC, seeing an opportunity to transform the construction sector through the sharing of expertise and collaboration. “Research and development remains low in construction,” he said. “And there is very little collaboration on this among key players in the industry. Combined, we want to make a real and transformational difference in construction within the next ten years.” He said one of the biggest objectives was to feed into the government’s levelling up agenda to create a more level economic playing field across the UK. “This is a project which sees innovation and development and research in the construction sector happening up north, in Sheffield and in Hull, with a huge focus and drive for economic growth. This new collaboration between Pagabo and the AMRC is hugely powerful.” John Connolly, managing director of C4Di, said the research agreement is powerful because of the way it will accelerate new ways of partnering on innovation. He said: “There are interesting models of innovation happening around the country, but the AMRC is the exemplar of how to bring large industry bodies together. Their experience harnessing the mental horsepower of large academic institutions and collaborating with industry to drive change is incredibly exciting. “This new research agreement benefits everyone. Leveraging learning and experience from the AMRC, and Pagabo’s connections within construction is a formidable force. The AMRC brought large industry players together to solve their challenges and Pagabo and its TFOC model builds on that; this is an exciting next step to extend the work of both organisations through collaboration.” Dave Newitt, CEO of Yondr, the specialist data centre operator, is involved with Pagabo and its TFOC initiative. He said: “We believe that construction has a great deal to learn from manufacturing,” he said. “We want to look at modularisation and taking works off-site – so, building off site rather than on site. It’s how the manufacturing world operates, and we want to emulate that to improve productivity.” Professor Rab Scott, head of digital at the AMRC, said that in just four weeks, the new collaboration had already created change. “We have already started working with Pagabo on health and safety on site and looking at ways of using digital technologies to streamline processes. In terms of results, if we can prevent one accident or one hour’s lost time, it has an immediate benefit, and our work is immediately scalable. “The diversity in the team is one of the great things that makes me get up in the morning. We are proud of what we are
Employee-owned business Kite Packaging are one of the UK’s largest packaging distributors offering a range of solutions suited to all industries. Often the hub of many businesses, warehouses commonly see an increase in activity at this time of year. To support operations, Kite take a brief look at some of the benefits of pallet wrap and pallet wrap systems and remind businesses of the importance of applying and using pallet wrap correctly. Not only do Kite have a vast range of solutions, they also have specialist pallet wrap engineers that are on hand to offer support and advice and have access to manual pull plate tests, electronic force/puncture tests and technology lab testing. Some key benefits of using pallet wrap and pallet wrap systems Secure palletised products during transit Protection from dust, dirt, and moisture Prevent damage to goods Improving pallet stability Reduce the risk of injury Increase efficiency and speed Reduce waste Save money Support towards best practice and quality Prevent accidents during transportation and storage For more information, please refer to Kites whitepaper on the brochure section of their website, or give them a call on 02476 420065.
If you have a wealth of experience as a full time employee in the construction sector, the chances are you have contacts across the industry. This could enable you to break free from your employer to set up on your own. Launching a business within the construction sector can be lucrative. The industry is booming even during these surreal global pandemic days and you could be the master of your own professional destiny. However, there are pitfalls that you need to avoid to make a success of your construction startup. Take a look at these three things that you should do to ensure business success. Pixabay – CC0 License Legal Stuff In the construction industry, you need to adhere to a whole host of legislation and regulations. As the industry is a little more dangerous than the usual office-based working, you have to look after your staff and protect them from accidents. This is why it is vital that you find professional indemnity insurance with the right business coverage for your industry. It’s crucial that you can find the right representation should you discover a negligence claim being made against you. Seek out professional advice to ensure that all of your documentation is above board. File it away and keep it safe so should any audit take place, you have the information to hand and can demonstrate your compliance. Funding To ensure that your cash flow remains buoyant at all times, you need to have funding avenues available to you. Think about seeking advice and money from an angel investor. You could choose to use a well-designed business plan to pitch to a business angel. These individuals have a lifetime of experience and are at the top of their game within the construction sector. You might want to start a bricklaying business, an office interiors outfit, or an insulation company. Find the business angel with the relevant experience. They will have money to invest in what they see as profitable ventures. Get suited and booted, know your gross from your net, and have your financial figures to hand. Your business plan needs to show off just how appealing your venture is. With any luck, they will invest time and money, and experience in your startup. Pixabay – CC0 License Staffing Working out the sort of staff you need for your startup is necessary to ensure its success. Hire too many people and you waste money. Think about how you will recruit. You could choose to go down the recruitment agency route. These companies have an excellent caliber of candidates on their books and are industry-specific. Alternatively, you could recruit on your own. Advertise in relevant publications and online before longlisting, shortlisting, and interviewing. Start slowly and only recruit the members of staff that you need. Anything else can be outsourced as and when you need a business function fulfilling. This can save you money, secure your cash flow, and keep your business financially efficient. If you are eager to start a business within the construction industry, follow this guide to ensure success.
Housing developments can be a significant attention-grabber for most campers and caravanners, among many others. There are several strategies that can help promote new housing developments for people clinging to the old ways. These strategies are the following. 1. Utilizing Available Audiences Perhaps the most crucial step to this is to grab the attention of the people that will be facilitating the housing developments–the residents. Marketing to the residents is the quickest way to push products and the housing development, especially if the development process is eco-friendly. Marketing to these people may also help spread the word or inspire other residents to embrace the new housing developments. With time, there could be development because of this method. 2. Promotion and Advertising There are several ways to promote and advertise products and services that can facilitate new housing development, one of which is through the use of websites and blogs. Utilizing Websites and Blogs Websites can be great spaces to advertise products that can facilitate new housing developments. Websites with a lot of traffic could showcase advertisements that promote new housing developments. A website that is wholly committed to the promotion of new housing development projects, especially if it has a lot of projects, could be a lot more promising. Blogs can work in similar ways. But blogs can be useful in getting to the chief details on why embracing new housing developments might be the right way to go. 3. Promotional Events Promotional events don’t need to be luxurious. Something nice would work well, too. Perhaps, the thing to focus on with promotional events is to attract customers. In doing so, they can get exposure to much of the product and services they wish to sell. As a straight-forward way to advertise a product, promotional events could utilize custom banners. Anyone can get custom fence banners that would air the benefits of the new housing benefits while allowing the attendees to enjoy the rest of the event. Thus, defeating the need to having too much promotion, and opening the chance for more fun and entertainment. 4. Branding Branding usually involves having certain ideologies that make customers flock to it. The beliefs and standards of certain brands help facilitate new housing developments. The customers who flocked to the brand can help the brand amass large audiences that can grow the brand, as well as forward the development of new housing. Branding can help create recognition, increases an enterprise’s value, generate new customers, realize trust between multiple parties, facilitates the promotion, and improves employee loyalty. All these qualities make this an important thing to embrace. 5. Utilizing SEO Understanding what customers in a local area draw them is crucial. It is important because it can help design the best ways to approach the marketing and production of new housing products and services in general. Search engine optimization (SEO) can help in the research process, which can provide enough information to help fabricate projects of new housing developments fail-proof. SEO can also help promote better utilization of other strategies, which makes this strategy one of the most cardinal schemes on this list. 6. Considering the Resident’s Frame of Mind People usually have opinions on everything. Some of those opinions can be destructive, but others can be constructive that they can help sky-rocket things to maximum success. Listening to customers is perhaps one of the most mentioned business strategies of all time, but in no way is it considered a cliché. The customers can provide information that includes the best ways on how to approach promotion, the products and services they want to see in the market, and why they choose certain products over others. All this can help make all the right moves in all the right places. This ‘overstated’ advice is still king because business is a marriage in so many ways, and not considering the views of the significant other is plain ludicrousness. 7. Working With the Experts Not knowing what a person is doing while taking on a project could be the quickest way to failure. Experts can help shake things up for the better or fix problems before they become business-ending problems. With the end of the business, so becomes the end of the project to promote new housing development. 8. Sponsorships From Related Business Businesses who share similar ideals as to those that are looking to promote new housing development can provide sponsorships, which can be beneficial in several ways. Related enterprises can help other related businesses grow, which can help business transactions happen more readily. In this case, those business transactions can help promote new housing developments. Sponsorships from related corporations can be cardinal, and should not experience overlooking when there’s no better move left to play. 9. Inspiration From the Competition Beyond acknowledging all this, it is critical to take this information with a grain of salt. Outright stealing a business’s idea is not the way to go. Though the competition can’t copyright an idea, they might have a tangible project that they can copyright. Taking inspiration from practised ideas could be the beginning of the end for some businesses. Facing a damaging lawsuit is a possibility that can end all things for the company. Caution is crucial. In Conclusion Exercising those strategies in all the right places can promise great success in promoting new housing development. Just as plans are vital for the success of an intricate project, schemes are just as paramount for the success of promoting the development of new housing.
FOLLOWING a highly successful period of growth, national framework provider Pagabo has announced a number of additions to its team, including the appointment of Charley Wainwright as its ‘The Future of Construction Lead’. The role has been created to lead on the organisation’s The Future of Construction initiative, which aims to shape the future of the construction sector through industry-wide collaboration. It will see former geo-environmental engineer Charley – who has spent ten years working for Ramboll, WSP and JNP Group – focusing on new ways of working, and how to implement them for the betterment of the whole sector. Charley is an expert in implementing environmental solutions that benefit a range of stakeholders, as well as driving wellbeing change within the workplace, which are just two of the areas that The Future of Construction initiative aims to drive positive change in. He said: “I’m thrilled to have joined Pagabo at a really exciting time for the business. It has been great to see that the rest of the team share my passion for finding better ways of doing things within construction – both from an environmental and wellbeing perspective. “Everything the team has been working on – particularly since the launch of the Future of Construction initiative earlier this year – is completely aligned with my passions and experiences. For example, the work being done with Moodbeam in regard to tackling the stigma and issues around mental wellbeing within construction is an area that I am very excited to be working closely on moving forwards. “Another area we’ll be examining is how we can adapt and bring industry qualifications to make them future-ready. We know that a great deal of technology is changing how things are done within construction, and as such the necessary skills required across the board are also changing. “I am determined to spearhead collaborative working among industry leaders in the hope of creating a better, more cooperative future for our industry. I think the industry is heading to some great places, but the only way we will truly drive permanent positive change is through industry-wide effort, and I’m really looking forward to getting stuck in and making a real difference.” Also joining the Pagabo ranks is Sam Schofield, who joins in a new position as procurement administrator and will be responsible for the day-to-day support of all Pagabo’s frameworks and the daily operations of the business. Originally from an accounting background, Sam holds an Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT) level 3 qualification, as well as previous experience working in B2B sales within the e-commerce industry. Sam said: “I’m really pleased to have joined Pagabo as I applied for the procurement administrator vacancy as soon as it became available. It’s testament to the great work the business is doing that it’s enjoying a successful period of growth, even with everything that’s happening with COVID. I’m really looking forward to challenging myself in a new area and working with and getting to know their clients.” Simon Toplass, chief executive officer at Pagabo, said: “With the rapid changes going on in the world in terms of technology-driven practices and changing attitudes to work-life balance, it’s really important that our industry keeps up. The workforce of tomorrow needs to see construction not just as a job, but an enticing career option, which is why we embarked on The Future of Construction initiative and created Charley’s new role. “Creating a better future for the construction industry is at the heart of everything that we do and with his vast experience, we’re confident that Charley and Sam will help us make the necessary connections across the sector to lead the way on the changes needed to make the future of construction happen now.” Charley and Sam are joined by two new members of Pagabo’s marketing team. Rachel Jessop has joined as the company’s marketing assistant, and Charlotte Andrews, a University of Hull student, will be undertaking her placement year, continuing the organisation’s close relationship with the university. For more information, please visit https://www.pagabo.co.uk/
Employee-owned packaging company, Kite Packaging, has recently expanded two of its popular pack room products, their dynamic gummed paper tape machine and glue gun bundles. Efficiency in your pack room is essential to ensure the smooth running of your operation, along with high-quality equipment at your disposal. Kites new gummed paper tape dispenser is suitable for medium to large sized operations and has an array of benefits to improve speed and efficiency within your operation. One of the most dynamic gummed paper tape machines on the market, it is ideal for those looking for an automated solution, with the flexibility of a portable machine. With over 20 pre-set length and an auto-repeat, the ability to electronically provide any tape length between 150mm-2200mm in length, a guillotine blade and much more, it is sure to increase efficiency. Their new glue gun bundles are the perfect cost-saving addition to any company requiring glue guns with hot melt adhesive glue sticks. Commonly used to firmly bond a variety of materials such as wood, paper card, fabrics, foam, glass, plastics, corrugated cartons and much more, the glue gun works by melting the stick of glue at a high temperature. For more information on Kite Packaging, please visit kitepackaging.co.uk.
Construction workers’ safety must be prioritised in the fight against COVID-19 but firms need to accelerate their adoption of technology to make this happen. These are the words of Cardo Crew’s senior leader Shachar Harari who is also urging manufacturers of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to invest in technology that will help these firms create a safer and more secure environment. Shachar Harari, Chief Business Officer & Head of Cardo Crew, comments: “Workers have already had to adapt to social distancing and new ways of working but, with cases rising, we need to see more stringent health and safety measures. The top priority for construction sites should be to make the work environment safer for employees because, if staff get sick, they could face delays and extra costs. Now is the time for sites to re-examine working practices and favour manufacturers that are upgrading their existing equipment to increase safety even further. “However, this shouldn’t be at the expense of increased productivity. Equipment also needs to be higher in quality and more effective in helping workers get the job done.” Wireless mesh communications technology specifically can help teams exchange complex information quickly, reliably and securely. It operates as a self-sufficient standalone network, is voice-activated and enables two-way conversation at a range of up to 3,000 metres, making it ideal for COVID-secure work environments. Shachar adds: “By implementing robust and efficient comms technology, construction firms can increase efficiencies and improve on-site safety. Manufacturers now have the opportunity to integrate wireless comms into PPE to enable workers to adapt to the new socially distant, hands-free, COVID-secure working environment, while enhancing productivity.” Cardo Crew is also urging construction firms to join the conversations taking place during Construction Week, which runs from 5-9th October, and learn more about the digital opportunities for the construction industry. The event offers the chance for firms across the UK to share their experiences of the tools that can help them adapt to the changes in how we work. Shachar concludes: “The construction industry will only recover from the pandemic if businesses join together in a collaborative effort. It is all about using our experiences to learn from one another and understanding our technology can help firms adapt to ensure work environments are as safe as possible for employees. This week’s online event will be a fantastic platform for those discussions to take place and we highly encourage firms to take part.”
In recent times, manufacturing industries are embracing non-destructive non-package testing. A defective package makes the product loos sterility. Contamination of manufactured due to leakage can be catastrophic in pharmaceutical products. The physical method of testing packages is reliable and verifiable, unlike biological tests. With package leak detectors like FlexPax, businesses can detect leakages in packages before shipping the products. Let us look at the importance of package Integrity. What is package Integrity? Package integrity entails maintaining the exact configuration of products for the consumption of users. Manufactured food products need to keep their nutrients and quality. For pharmaceutical products, packaging will affect the safety and shelf life of the product. Reasons why Package Integrity matters Testing for leakage is a continuous process during the manufacturing process. Businesses must pay attention to the packaging needs of their products. The package leak detector is a tool for manufacturing industries to maintain integrity in their packaging. Excellent and efficient packaging will increase the customer base and appeal to potential consumers. It offers a competitive advantage over companies offering similar products. Let us look into some of the reasons why package integrity matters; It portrays the product quality Packaging offers the first impression for every potential client. A well-packaged item will appeal to a customer and prompt him/her to purchase the item. The packaging of food products needs to be secure from contamination. It is also the case of pharmaceutical products that are tight-packaged. A leakage in the packaging system will reduce the shelf life of such products. Offers protection to the product One of the primary purposes of packaging items is for product protection. The product must remain safe from the moment the manufacturers dispatch the item until it reaches the consumer. An ideal package should be resistant to damage while on the shelves. Package testing ensures that businesses find reliable methods to prevent tampering of the product. Specialized packages and seals help to discourage the sale of counterfeits. Is part of pharmaceuticals protocol Design The package design for pharmaceutical products needs testing before being qualified for selling. An accurate result in the testing process ensures that the product reaches the required specifications. The testing methods enhance the sterility and shelf life of the products. Testing using physical techniques is essential for package integrity. It prevents deterioration of the manufactured items during the transportation and storage process. Ensures the Safety of the Products Proper packaging ensures that manufactured products withstand forces that may cause damage. Businesses can show care about their customers by offering tamper proof products. It is critical for food items to maintain their nutritional value and taste. Checking against damage to the package ensures that the item reaches the client to enjoy as intended. There should be a minimal distortion to the product through leakage, compression, or impact. Instructions and user Information Package integrity also includes the ability to communicate with consumers. It is a way of offering consumers with safety and precaution measures. The package contains instructions about the product and shows the tests that the products go through in the production process. Customers will know if the product package is damaged or not. Testing ensures high-quality Packaging Solutions The choice of packaging material should not react with the components in a product. It is critical to consider the effect of moisture and water to the product. A damaged product makes the manufacturers lose money. With the right testing technique, you can be sure that; External components such as moisture, air, and light do not penetrate the package. The product will maintain its quality and sterility. No physical damage happens during the shipping process. There is no contamination of the product. Conclusion It is bad for business when products are damaged and catastrophic when it poses a health risk to the consumer. Companies need to utilize the modern package testing techniques available.
There are a few businesses that are pretty much recession proof. Though the construction business can slow down considerably during a financial downturn, the paving business is usually still going strong even in the worst situations. Roads need to be paved to keep traffic moving. Not only that, but generally cities and towns have their paving projects budgeted from the year before so the money is already there even if there is a crisis happening. If you’re trying to decide on a business with lots of upside then read on for the tips on how to start your own paving business. 1 – Have your equipment ready Your biggest expense is going to be your machinery to do the work. From the trucks to bring the machines to the site, to the pavers themselves. It is a huge expense to buy them and also to maintain them. You can buy some of these at auction to get you started if you are on a budget, but make sure that you have a plan to replace them once the jobs are coming in regularly. After all, older equipment will cost you more in the long run through maintenance and also in terms of lost work if they don’t perform well. You’ll need to shop around for the best insurance plans to save money and look for the best red diesel suppliers that will give you the best price on your fuel for the machines. 2 – Create a business plan Whether you plan to open a paving business or a lemonade stand, a business plan is essential. A business plan not only will help you secure loans from a bank but it serves as your roadmap to success. It will provide you with a step by step guide on running your business. Each section is essentially a milestone that lets you know what to do after having surpassed each one. Without a business plan, you are simply flying by the seat of your pants and taking things as they come. 3 – Start small Your ultimate prize should be getting contracts for city and state projects that pay a lot of money and usually last for years. This is the ideal situation, but don’t expect these huge contracts off the bat. First, you’ll need to start out doing smaller jobs like driveways and patios for residential projects. Then, you can gain a reputation and start going for bigger commercial jobs like a restaurant or store parking lot. Then, later on you can start bidding on larger projects. 4 – Be insured Construction is a dangerous job for you, your staff and even the general public. And you need to cover yourself against any injury claims. Have good liability insurance that covers an injury and even damage to property. There is always the possibility that your equipment or workers damage somebody’s lawn or home and you don’t want to pay out of pocket for that.
Joinery businesses are the cheapest trade to set up, costing around £6,600 Self-employed plumbers recover their start-up costs the quickest – under six weeks Joinery businesses are among the cheapest trade companies to set up in the UK, averaging nearly £2,500 less than other sectors, new research has revealed. With over 40% of construction firms expected to make redundancies due to the virus[1], tradespeople may be considering going self-employed. IronmongeryDirect, the UK’s largest supplier of specialist ironmongery, has identified the cheapest industries in which to do so. The study added up the typical costs people pay when entering the UK’s four most popular trades[2] (joinery, building, electrical, plumbing), with everything from insurance to marketing. Joiners pay the least, with the average set-up fee totalling £6,642. With the typical daily rate for joiners around £150[3], these initial costs could be repaid within nine, five-day weeks. Despite being the most expensive businesses to set up, plumbers can expect to earn back their investment quickest, as they are able to charge the highest daily rates. Averaging nearly £350 a day[4], the £9,124 start-up cost could be repaid within six working weeks. The trade businesses which are the cheapest to set up in the UK are: 1) Joinery – £6,642 (repaid in nine weeks, £150 a day) 2) Building – £6,791 (nine weeks, £160 a day[5]) 3) Electrical – £6,873 (six weeks, £245 a day[6]) 4) Plumbing – £9,124 (six weeks, £347.50 a day) One of the most significant outgoings is accreditation. New plumbing companies pay the most in this department, with organisations like HETAS and OFTEC charging substantial sums for membership. Such credentials, combined with the cost of other important courses, like First Aid at Work, the Gas Safe Register and Asbestos Awareness, can set you back over £3,000, which is significantly more than other trades. Some expenses, however, are necessary across all sectors, such as insurance, marketing, company registration and van hire. A new trade business can expect to pay over £600 a year to completely cover themselves with insurance. Contractors All Risk insurance is one of the most costly forms of protection, starting at £298 a year, but includes cover against both property damage and third-party injury, so is worth the investment. Marketing is another significant outlay, but an important one nonetheless. Paying out for business cards, flyers, logo design and a new website usually costs at least £600 pounds. However, such costs will pay for themselves if they lead to a surge in new clients. Finally, there’s the crucial cost of equipment. A tradesperson may have accumulated tools during their career, but if they are new to the industry, there are tools they will need before taking on work. Joiners pay the most here, with key equipment adding up to £600. Circular and table saws are the biggest outlays, so it could be worth looking for second-hand retailers, whilst ensuring the products are high quality, as income will depend on their performance. The full breakdown of costs per trade is as follows: Type of Cost Joiner Builder Electrician Plumber Accreditation £1,005.00 £1,041.00 £1,005.00 £3,481.00 Trade Association £117.00 £472.80 £585.00 £231.00 Marketing £610.54 £610.54 £610.54 £610.54 Insurance £638.21 £638.21 £638.21 £638.21 Equipment £599.38 £355.97 £361.87 £490.98 Other (storage, van hire, business registration) £3,672.00 £3,672.00 £3,672.00 £3,672.00 Total £6,642 £6,791 £6,873 £9,124 Andy Porter, a self-employed carpenter from Southampton, has given his three top tips for people looking to set up their own trade business: 1) Look at local adverts and see what similar trades are doing (e.g. services, pricing) 2) Get quote and invoice terms and conditions in place early and make sure they are watertight 3) Make sure you have plenty of money saved up as cash flow is incredibly important Marco Verdonkschot, Managing Director at IronmongeryDirect and ElectricalDirect, said: “Many tradespeople will aim to run their own businesses one day, so it’s useful to get an idea of how much it would cost to do so. While these sums can appear quite daunting, most of the expenses will directly improve your service or help you win more work, so are worth the investment in the long run. “Owning your own business can be incredibly satisfying, so to help those who are considering going it alone, we’ve compiled a list of tips on how to do so effectively.” For eight pieces of advice from tradespeople who have set up their own business, visit: https://www.ironmongerydirect.co.uk/blog/eight-top-tips-for-setting-up-your-own-trades-business