HARDWARE & SECURITY
Revealed :
LOCKSMITHS SPEND £ 380 ON TOOLS EACH YEAR
» NEW RESEARCH HAS REVEALED that UK locksmiths spend an average of £ 380 on tools each year .
The study , conducted by ElectricalDirect , asked tradespeople about their outgoings on tools , maintenance and repairs , and found that 43 % of locksmiths can ’ t afford the new tools they need .
Furthermore , 36 % keep their tools for longer than they used to , and 43 % are now more likely to repair their own equipment .
Worryingly , 14 % are even using damaged tools as they can ’ t afford replacements .
Across all trades , workers spend £ 1,110 on tools each year .
The amount spent on such costs varies significantly by trade . Caretakers and maintenance workers spend the most (£ 1,753 per year ), followed by electricians (£ 1,546 ) and plasterers (£ 1,502 ).
The trades that spend the most and least on tools each year , on average , are shown in the table .
Almost a quarter of these costs ( 22 %) are spent on maintenance and repairs (£ 246 ), but the research suggests that an increasing number of tradespeople are tackling these jobs themselves to reduce outgoings .
Compared to before the cost-of-living crisis , around one in six ( 16 %) are now more likely to repair their own tools , rather than paying to get them fixed . Scaffolders are most likely to fix their own kit , with a third ( 33 %) doing it themselves .
Furthermore , more than a quarter of tradespeople ( 27 %) now keep their tools for longer to avoid paying for new ones , and one in seven ( 13 %) even continue using damaged tools because they can ’ t afford replacements .
Other cost cutting measures include reducing usage of power tools to lower
• Due to the cost of living crisis , 43 % of locksmiths can ’ t afford the new tools they need
• 14 % use damaged tools because they can ’ t afford replacements
fuel costs ( 30 %), and buying secondhand equipment instead of new ( 42 %).
Dominick Sandford , Managing Director at ElectricalDirect , said : “ The cost-ofliving crisis has affected tradespeople in many ways , and workers have had to adjust long-standing habits in order to reduce bills .
“ However , it ’ s important that people don ’ t take any potentially dangerous risks , and using damaged or partially repaired tools can lead to major problems . There are many far safer ways to cut day-to-day outgoings , and that ’ s why we ’ ve partnered with experts to share practical advice .”
For expert advice on how tradespeople can reduce their business costs , visit : https :// www . electricaldirect . co . uk / blog / 10-ways-tradespeople-can-reducetheir-day-to-day-business-costs
# Trade
1
Caretaker / Maintenance
Av annual spend on tools
£ 1,753
2 Electrician £ 1,546 3 Plasterer £ 1,502 4 Builder £ 1,318 5 Joiner £ 1,247 6 Roofer £ 1,212 7 Building Surveyor £ 1,022 8 Bricklayer £ 964 9 Landscaper £ 948 10 Carpenter £ 804 11 Plumber £ 769 12 Painter Decorator £ 755 13 Locksmith £ 608 14 Window Fabricator £ 514 15 Scaffolder £ 367
8
JULY 2023
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