INDUSTRY NEWS


New support tools for Checkatrade members through COVID crisis


Checkatrade, one of the UK’s leading directories of recommended, vetted and monitored trade experts, has announced a number of new initiatives designed to support its trade members during this unprecedented period of lockdown.


It has promoted a new video calling function on its website - a first within the online trade directory market - enabling tradespeople and potential clients to more easily ‘meet’, discuss jobs and obtain quotes from the comfort of their own homes. This means jobs can be safely scoped in advance or booked-in ready for when restrictions are lifted.


Checkatrade has also partnered with Claritas Tax, an accountancy firm specialising in tax advisory and compliance services, to offer trade members practical advice on accessing the financial support available at this time. The guidance, available on the Checkatrade blog, covers three main areas; help for the self-employed, the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme and VAT deferment.


Dickies finds that tradespeople are bracing themselves for DIY disasters


According to a survey by global workwear brand Dickies, over the coming months nearly three-quarters of tradespeople expect to be fixing botched DIY jobs carried out by people at home during the lockdown imposed in response to the coronavirus outbreak.


The poll, carried out through Dickies Workwear’s Twitter feed , revealed that 72.9% of respondents anticipated spending some of their time fixing DIY disasters over the next few months.


“If the queues outside B&Q's recently reopened stores were anything to go by, many people will have been using their time during the lockdown to attempt home improvements – including the kind of jobs they’d usually rely on a tradesperson to complete for them,” said James Whitaker, marketing director for Dickies.


“It’s very likely that tradespeople will be busy over the coming months putting right the efforts of those who haven’t


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been able to match the skill that’s often required to do those jobs well. While our poll has been a fun way of looking at this, it does serve as a reminder of how much we rely on the expertise of trained and experienced tradespeople in our day to day lives.”


Are you a tradesperson who is spending some of your time fixing DIY disasters? Tell


us about it on social media, using the hashtag #DickiesDIYfix and tagging Dickies using the following details:


On Twitter: @DickiesEurope


On Instagram: @dickiesworkwearofficial On Facebook: @DickiesWorkwear


www.dickiesworkwear.com


Checkatrade is offering its members financial support and new affiliate packages for the duration of lockdown to allow them to maintain or build their online profile at a fraction of the usual cost.


Mike Fairman, CEO at Checkatrade, said: “Our members work across a broad spectrum of industries. For some it’s business as usual, for others their pipeline ofwork has collapsed overnight, leading to


huge financial uncertainty and untold stress.


"We’re committed to doing all we can to support them. With our members ranging from sole traders through to limited companies, it’s important that everyone has access to the best tools and sound advice so that risks are minimised and opportunities maximised.”

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