Over one-third of UK employers are planning to make staff redundant, as furlough scheme draws to a close

From bartender to builder: 3.5 million Brits to find jobs in the trades

Ben Dyer, CEO of Powered Now, comments on trades jobs spike in the wake of the pandemic

• 18% of Brits agree that after COVID, they are now considering employment within a trade sector to pick up additional work or to commence a new career in a trade
• 38% of those have commenced a handyman role
• 21% of people have picked up a landscape or gardening career
• 18% of Brits have taken up aesthetics, painting or decorating work

With the furlough scheme ending on October 31st, a recent study conducted by YouGov has found that 37% of more than 2,000 managers have said that they are likely to make staff redundant by the end of the year. Approximately 60% of managers surveyed from businesses with over 250 employees have also echoed this sentiment. 

In order to avoid a cascade of job losses during the winter amid concerns of a second wave, the Government has implemented various measures including free online courses to those without A-Levels as well as the new Job Support Scheme. In light of this, it appears the construction and the trades sectors, in particular, are fast becoming havens of job creation for Brits seeking new career avenues. 

Powered Now has unveiled national research which has shown that 18% of Brits agree that after COVID, they are now considering employment within a trade sector to pick up additional work or to commence a new career in a trade. As many as 3.5 million Brits will commence a career in the trades, proving that even in the wake of a pandemic many of us are still able to learn new skills to continue to make a living. 

Key statistics:

• 18% of Brits agree that after COVID, they are now considering employment within a trade sector to pick up additional work or to commence a new career in a trade
• 38% of those have commenced a handyman role
• 21% of people will commence a role in landscaping or gardening
• 18% of Brits have taken up aesthetics, painting or decorating work 

Ben Dyer, CEO of Powered Now – a mobile-based billing, invoicing and quotation application which specialises in trades – has provided a comment on the welcome spike in jobs in the trades and construction sector. 

“With public spending still busting government limits and the deficit on course to hit £400bn this year, a record amount in peacetime, the country cannot simply carry on spending its way out of trouble. Announcements from the Chancellor have at least gone some way to lessen the impact on both employees and businesses.

However, there still are “unviable jobs” that will go under the radar of the new Jobs Support Scheme, and therefore those employees face a more difficult pathway. For those struggling with employment, many can follow many before them and start a new career in the construction and trade sectors.

The trade industry is traditionally a real mixed bag. Most people with think of the trade as a one-man band that comes to service your boiler or fix your blocked sink. However, there are also thousands of sub-contractors for larger firms that will tend to operate as their own entity. This will provide the perfect opportunity for millions of people looking to find work in a sector that is strongly bouncing back following the lockdown.”