May 2015

8 Items
  1. How much can you expect to earn as a self employed tradesperson?

    How much can you expect to earn as a self employed tradesperson?

    Becoming self employed can be a daunting prospect. Will you be able to grow your client base? Will you be able to develop a good reputation in your area? What will you be able to bring home in terms of salary? When you’re just starting out, your professional life can feel very uncertain. But, with a […]

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  2. Hot Courses Interview Able Skills Plasterer & Carpenter

    Hot Courses Interview Able Skills Plasterer & Carpenter

    It’s as true for trades as it is for any line of work: you can never truly appreciate a profession until you’ve tried your hand at it yourself. A task a seasoned professional makes look blissfully easy can take novices years to master. This month, Hot Courses caught up with two experienced members of the Able Skills […]

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  3. Subcontractors lose £39m in GB Building collapse

    Subcontractors lose £39m in GB Building collapse

    The collapse of GB Building has left subcontractors £39 million out of pocket, according to the administrator’s report published two months after the company’s crash in March 2015. Administrators BDO have also suggested that affected subcontractors are extremely unlikely to ever see a penny of their money paid back. Domino debts Following the collapse of GB Buildings, subcontractors […]

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  4. DIY Hacks of The Week: Zipwires & Bee Hives

    DIY Hacks of The Week: Zipwires & Bee Hives

    Itching to get stuck into a fresh project? Your timing couldn’t be better! The sun’s out and summer is coming. To celebrate, we’ve shared some brilliant summer DIY ideas; from garden toys and outdoor hobbies to essentials for opening a nice cold beer. Why not make… A zipwire for your garden? A honey beehive? A beautifully simple […]

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  5. When should you switch from sole trader to limited company?

    When should you switch from sole trader to limited company?

    You’re doing really well as a sole trader. You’re turning over more profit every month, you’re taking on more staff, you’re in more demand than ever before – but your tax bill (especially your national insurance contributions) are creeping up and up. You may also be worried about impressive ever-bigger clients, or about being liable for company debts. […]

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  6. Labour Shortages Press Pause on Construction Growth

    Labour Shortages Press Pause on Construction Growth

    A RICS (Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors) survey has revealed that labour shortages could be the biggest roadblock standing between the construction sector and continuing growth. Over the first quarter of 2015, close to two thirds of polled firms claimed that a skilled labour shortage is worsening in the UK. Skill Specialists in High Demand With growth […]

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  7. Epic Buildings: Vaudeville Court, Islington

    Epic Buildings: Vaudeville Court, Islington

    After winning an open architectural competition to develop fresh, affordable family housing in Islington, architects Levitt Bernstein’s Vaudeville Court has now been nominated for the Building Awards’ Small Project of the Year 2015. Underpinned by a “homesown” ethos which encourages growing your own fruit and vegetables, this development was created to fill a gap left by Finsbury Park’s […]

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  8. DIY Hacks of The Week: Branding Irons & Shower Timers

    DIY Hacks of The Week: Branding Irons & Shower Timers

    Hello hands-on heroes! Are you the kind of tradesperson who always has a side project going on in their garage or shed? Well, we’re here to add to your “to do” list. This fortnight we’re sharing 3 awesome projects for markers and doers of all stripes. Why not make… A branding iron? A screwdriver holster from a […]

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