4 | JANUARY 2020
News
Read online at www.proinstaller.co.uk
TOP THREE
THREATS TO A
TRADEPERSON’S
WELLBEING
REVEALED
Too much work, time pressures and
unprepared customers – these are
the top three causes of stress at work,
according to a new survey of almost 600
tradespeople by IronmongeryDirect.
Work-related stress and
mental illness now account for
over half of all lost work days in
the UK*. However, despite this,
the survey found that only 11% of
tradespeople have taken any time
off work in the last year because
of mental ill-health. With over a
third (34%) reporting regularly
feeling stressed, this research
paints a worrying picture.
Almost half of the 587 respond-
ents (43%) also believe there
is still a stigma in the trades
surrounding mental health, with
respondents citing a ‘macho
culture’, embarrassment, weak-
ness and pressure to ‘get the job
done’ as some of the contributing
factors.
The survey also revealed some
generational differences, with
tradespeople aged 18 to 30 being
20% more likely to talk about
their mental health at work than
their peers in the 50 plus age
group.
IronmongeryDirect has released the results of a new
survey which looks at the wellbeing of tradespeople
Despite the pressures of the day
job, over half (56%) still feel that
they have a good work/life bal-
ance, which is significantly higher
than the national average of 33%**
for all working people. The most
commonly reported ways to relax
when off the job include watching
TV, walking the dog, and spend-
ing time with friends and family.
Commenting on the survey
findings, Marco Verdonkschot,
Managing Director of Ironmon-
geryDirect, said: “This survey has
revealed an interesting insight
into the physical and mental well-
being of people working in the
trades. Although great progress
has been made across the sector
when it comes to talking about
workplace mental illness, it is
clear that there is still a way to
go and it’s vital that employers
spot the signs of mental ill-health
and create the right environment
where staff feel they can speak
up.
“It is very positive, however,
to see that despite working in a
demanding industry, many trades-
people still have a high level of
job satisfaction and feel that their
employer cares about their gener-
al wellbeing.”
IronmongeryDirect.com
* www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/11/01/work-related-stress-mental-illness-now-accounts-half-work-absences/
** www.independent.co.uk/news/health/uk-employees-work-life-balance-happy-third-pressure-sleep-loss-impacts-a8387546.html
QUICKSLIDE INVESTS IN FUTURE-PROOF MACHINERY
Quickslide’s Brighouse
factory has recently seen
the addition of two URBAN
corner cleaning machines
and two quad welders
following an investment
of £350,000 in its factory
infrastructure.
A leading manufacturer
of made-to-measure sliding
sash windows, bi-folding
doors, casement windows
and doors in PVCu and
aluminium, Quickslide says
the spend is part of a £2m
investment plan which
spans 12 months.
Chairman Adrian
Barraclough added: “Our
investment reinforces
our belief that British
manufacturing is some of
the best in the world. By
ensuring that we continue
with regular investments
in high quality, modern
machinery means that our
customers will always be
able to expect the finest
quality products, for the
right price, delivered
within a sensible time-
frame.”
URBAN machines are
known for their machin-
ing quality and excellent
precision and, says Quick-
slide Managing Director
Ben Weber, will increase
throughput at key points
of the company’s fabrica-
tion process. The robust
quad welders ensure re-
liability and repeatability
while the corner cleaning
machines allow efficient
processing and cleaning
of window profile after
the welding cycle.
Ben affirmed how much
Quickslide has grown
over the last decade and
how the fabricator is now
manufacturing close to
1,000 windows a week.
He explained: “We have
installed the Schirmer ‘Rolls
Royce’ of cutting centres
and machinery like this is
certainly something that we
needed to make the appro-
priate level of investment
in. We have already made
huge strides in system and
product innovation and
this latest step is all about
future-proofing the busi-
ness for the next five to ten
years.”
www.quickslide.co.uk