Truths of the Trade: 2024 Survey Reveals 93% of Brits Prefer to Hire Independent & Local Tradespeople

Clothes2Order, trusted UK suppliers of expertly crafted personalised workwear, have conducted a survey of the general public to find out what matters most to people when selecting the right tradesperson to complete a job in their homes. One thing that nearly all participants agreed on was a preference for hiring smaller businesses, with 93% of those surveyed opting for an independent contractor or small business to get the job done!

Tradespeople keep our day to day lives running as smoothly as possible by keeping our homes, towns, and cities safely functioning. We all know at least one tradesperson that we can count on come rain or shine, but finding them in the first place can be a real challenge! Be it a plumber, builder, electrician or gardener, tradespeople can feel like superheroes when you really need a job done right.

Of course, there are a number of factors to consider when finding a tradesperson you can count on time and time again. The below findings reveal some further insight into the qualities that customers most value in their tradies.

Key Findings

• When given the choice, a staggering 93% of participants preferred to hire an independent contractor or smaller business over a larger firm.

This landslide vote indicates that, overall, the public perceives smaller businesses to be more trustworthy, or perhaps expects to receive a more personalised service when working with an independent contractor.

• When asked what they considered the most important qualities in a tradesperson visiting their home:

  • 79% of participants voted for a high skill level & attention to detail

  • 75% of participants voted for reliability

  • 59% of participants voted for regular and consistent updates

  • 24% of participants voted for respect for property and tidiness

Interestingly, nearly all participants favoured these qualities above competitive pricing. Other important factors mentioned were a professional and smart appearance, and the speedy completion of a job.

• What did participants consider red flags when discussing their experience with tradespeople?

  • Hidden fees or changes to originally agreed costs

  • Poor communication of project timelines

  • Unexpected delays to work

  • Leaving a mess behind once a job is complete

About Clothes2Order:

“We bring people together through personalised clothing.”

With over 20,000 independent five star reviews on Trustpilot, you can see why Clothes2Order is trusted by people across the UK. Having a uniform that is unmistakably yours is essential for running a business of any size, and since we were founded in 2000, we have helped over 250,000 groups show their pride through their clothing.

Clothes2Order puts the customer before anyone, no matter if you are a startup or a blue chip company. You will get the same customer-driven service every time. So whether you are looking to place an order for high quality custom workwear, or just need some help and advice, Clothes2Order is the place to go.