difficulty finding tradespeople

DCFC79

I'm finding a similar issue, I've emailed various self employed people about redoing a garden and not many have replied back, did have 1 quote back and it was high which could be cost of materials or they just didn't want the job and some are fully booked up till next year.

MaryNB

Checkatrade boss warns of shortage of skilled trade workers (BBC News)

Eldi_Dos

robatwork said:

shinytop said:

It's just supply and demand.  At the moment there is too much demand and not enough supply.  It's cyclical though; remember in the early days of EU expansion you could get a good Polish or similar tradesman who was good value, skilled, turned up when they said they would and finished the job.  All the locals complained they were being undercut, which they were. They then had to compete and customers (usually) benefitted. Nowadays, post Brexit and Covid, anyone with a van and the mandatory visible ar5ecrack calls themself a tradesman and can pick and choose jobs.  It won't last forever.  

So true.

I had an amazing Polish builder who would do everything really well for a decent but not high price - and work incredibly long hours. Over the following few years he became increasingly difficult to get hold of and got a little more expensive, as he got very busy. A year ago he went back to Poland as he could get a better standard of living there!

I have found a superb electrician who could probably clone himself twice and still have enough work - very hard to get hold of.

Sounds like builder had reached his target and the went back home to carry out his plan.

eastmidsaver

maybe it's time to retrain!