Trade Tips

Every tradesperson faces delays - weather, materials, other trades, customer changes. How you handle them affects your business and relationships. Common Causes of Delay Material supply issues Weather (exterior work) Previous trades running late Customer decisions not made Unexpected problems...

Dust Is Killing Tradesmen - Literally This isn't scaremongering. Silica dust from cutting concrete, brick, and stone causes silicosis and lung cancer. Wood dust causes cancer. Even MDF dust is carcinogenic. Every year, thousands of construction workers develop serious respiratory...

Tax Doesn't Have to Be Scary Most tradesmen I know would rather rewire a house than deal with tax. But ignoring it costs you money - through overpaying, penalties, or nasty surprises. Here's the no-nonsense guide to tax for self-employed...

Hot Weather Isn't Just Uncomfortable - It's Dangerous British summers might not rival Spain, but we're seeing more heatwaves, and construction workers are at serious risk. Heat exhaustion and heatstroke can hit faster than you'd think, especially when you're grafting...

Let's Talk About Protecting Your Livelihood Had your van broken into? Know someone who has? It's not a matter of if, it's when. Tool theft is at epidemic levels, and losing your kit doesn't just cost money - it stops...

Working in a freezing workshop is miserable and can affect your work. Stiff hands make mistakes. Here's how to heat your space effectively. Understanding Workshop Heating Workshops present challenges: Often poorly insulated Large doors lose heat when opened High ceilings...

You Will Get Hurt at Some Point If you work in construction or trades long enough, you'll get injured. Cuts, burns, impacts, strains - they come with the territory. Knowing basic first aid means minor injuries stay minor, and serious...

Batteries Are Expensive - Look After Them Your DeWalt or Makita batteries represent a serious investment. Treat them right and they'll give years of service. Abuse them and you'll be buying replacements far too often. Here's how to maximise battery...

Cash flow kills more trade businesses than lack of work. You can be fully booked and still go bust if money isn't coming in when bills are due. Here's how to keep cash flowing. The Cash Flow Problem Trade work...