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Read online at www. proinstaller. co. uk
MARCH 2017 | 17
News
Homeowners turn the tables
WHERE ARE THE WHITE VAN WOMEN?
The building trades maintain their position as the leading source of self-employment in the UK, counting for almost a million businesses. AXA’ s latest figures reveal they are still the best choice for a solid and growing income, but questions why numbers of women in the trades remain miniscule.
The survey found that in 2016 a tradesman’ s takehome pay was typically 15 per cent higher than that of a self-employed professional, and 37 per cent above that in the retail or services industries. Startup tradesmen turn a profit fastest too – within the first three months on average. And seventy-one per cent of tradesmen go full-time within a year, compared to 55 per cent of professionals.
With such good prospects, the study questioned why so few women are taking up the tools of the trade. According to AXA’ s customer data, just 5.2 per cent are women, far fewer than the 1 in 10 commonly quoted. And, for the record, women account for just 1.8 per cent of‘ white van’ drivers on the roads today.
The five‘ men’ s jobs’ that are most in need of female recruits are: stonemason, heating engineer, plasterer, electrician and plumber.
Despite the low numbers, those pioneering women who have entered the building trades are having a busy and prosperous time:
• Average take-home pay for a tradeswoman is £ 1,660( compared to £ 1,030 across professional, retail and service sectors working the same hours).
• Two thirds say they are confident they will see business growth in 2017( compared to 42 per cent average), and nine in ten rate their business as a success.
• Average hours worked by a tradeswoman is 41 per week, compared to the average of 32 hours per week for all other sectors.
Longer hours worked outside the home may make the trades less attractive for younger women who are juggling childcare with their work. Another reason put forward is that the traditional routes into the trades are outside the education system – through apprenticeships, on the job training, or businesses passed from father to son
( ten per cent of tradespeople inherited their firms).
“ This means the trades are rarely promoted to girls when they are making their career choices, even though training to be a plumber or electrician could be as good – if not a better – option than university for many,” says Darrell Sansom, managing director, AXA Business Insurance.
“ There is also the stubborn persistence of the‘ cowboy builder’ headline in the media which is rarely balanced by the many positive stories of decent tradespeople that we see. Seventy-two per cent of women surveyed last year said they thought the‘ cowboy’ stereotype was true of tradespeople. There is definitely an image problem there, and it is deeply unfair.
“ The government pledged a million new homes and £ 500 billion investment in infrastructure projects by 2020 – that’ s a huge part of our economic life for women to miss out on. It is hoped there will be more encouragement for small firms, led by both men and women, to benefit from these opportunities.”
www. axa. co. uk
Today’ s customers know what they want – and the winners will be the installers who can provide it. So says The Glazerite UK Group Ltd in response to the latest installer partner to benefit from the addition of the Halo Flush Sash system. Mark Russell of Northampton-based MG Window Systems explained:“ The customers were looking specifically for a flush sash to replace the existing timber ones in the home. They began by looking online, found our site, we quoted and we got the job. Until taking the Halo Flush Sash from Glazerite, we had been able to imitate a flush window by putting dummy sashes between the real ones but that would not have been enough to win us this job.
“ The customers had first looked at another, much more expensive flush system. They were perfectly happy to go with our Halo product because of the cost saving it gave them but we know they would not even have looked at a dummy system.”
Glazerite added the Halo systems, including the acclaimed flush sash, when it acquired Peterborough-based City Beads Ltd early last year.
Group director Jason Thompson said:“ MG are one of our numerous trade partners that are making good use of it. The tables have turned for many homeowners and rather than finding a company and letting them sell whatever systems they have available, many know exactly what they want and look for a trusted installer who can provide it.
“ The flush sash window is in the ascendancy at the moment and the Halo system is an ideal choice.”
The benefits didn’ t end with the one job, as Mark explained:“ The neighbours liked what they saw and we are already quoting for two more houses nearby.”
www. glazeritewindows. co. uk
Merger will benefit trade customers
Trade windows and doors manufacturer Polyframe Group Limited( Polyframe) has acquired and merged with Customade Group Limited( Customade).
The move has been supported by further investment from Cairngorm Capital Partners LLP( Cairngorm Capital). With revenues in excess of £ 100 million, the enlarged group will trade as Customade and now has a complete and comprehensive product range
across aluminium windows, composite entry doors and PVCu products.
Established in 1980, Customade is a specialist manufacturer of high-quality aluminium and PVCu windows, doors and conservatory roof products. Best known for its REAL, Atlas and Fineline aluminium brands, the company operates from 100,000 square foot facilities near Gloucester, employing 320 people. In 2016 it achieved turnover in excess of £ 35 million.
During 2016, Polyframe acquired the WB Group composite entry door business in Birtley and a 50,000 square foot window manufacturing facility in Livingston from Stevenswood.
The merger with Customade continues the firm’ s strategy to develop the trade fabricator of PVCu, aluminium and composite windows and doors, addressing all trade customers’ fenestration needs.
www. polyframetrade. co. uk www. thecustomadegroup. co. uk