Starting a trades business? Step-by-step guides for electricians, plumbers, builders and more — from registration to your first job.
Related reading: How to Set Up a Trades Business Bank Account in the UK How to Deal With a Customer Who Won’t Pay in the UK How to Write a Contract for a Building Job in the UK How to Market a Trades Business on Social Media in the UK
Related reading: Is There a Free Quote App for Tradespeople in the UK? What is the Best Quoting Software for Tradespeople in the UK? What App Do Tradespeople Use to Create Quotes? Do Tradespeople Need Quoting Software or Is a Template Enough?
The qualifications you need to be a landscaper in the UK are not legally mandated for most work – but specific qualifications significantly affect the work you can access and the rates you can charge. Are Qualifications Required to Be a Landscaper? No. There is no licence required to work as a landscaper in the…
Getting more work as a landscaper combines strong visual marketing, proactive seasonal outreach, and strategic maintenance contract building. Landscaping is seasonal – the tradespeople who fill their spring diary in February consistently earn more than those who wait for enquiries to come in. 1. Market Proactively in February and March Getting more work as a…
Related reading: How to Set Up a Trades Business Bank Account in the UK How to Deal With a Customer Who Won’t Pay in the UK How to Write a Contract for a Building Job in the UK How to Market a Trades Business on Social Media in the UK
Related reading: How to Set Up a Trades Business Bank Account in the UK How to Deal With a Customer Who Won’t Pay in the UK How to Write a Contract for a Building Job in the UK Mental Health for Tradespeople: Stress, Burnout and How to Cope
If you want to know how to start a landscaping business in the UK, the market timing is excellent. Post-pandemic investment in outdoor living continues, and homeowners are spending significantly on gardens. Starting a landscaping business in 2026 means entering a market with consistent domestic demand and strong seasonal peaks. Step 1: Register Your Landscaping…
Related reading: How to Set Up a Trades Business Bank Account in the UK How to Deal With a Customer Who Won’t Pay in the UK How to Market a Trades Business on Social Media in the UK Mental Health for Tradespeople: Stress, Burnout and How to Cope
What insurance does a tiler need? Every tiler working commercially needs public liability insurance as the minimum – and given the water damage potential of tiling failures, working without it is a serious risk. Public Liability Insurance for Tilers What insurance does a tiler need first? Public liability – and for tiling specifically, this is…
Related reading: How to Set Up a Trades Business Bank Account in the UK How to Write a Contract for a Building Job in the UK How to Market a Trades Business on Social Media in the UK Mental Health for Tradespeople: Stress, Burnout and How to Cope
Related reading: How to Deal With a Customer Who Won’t Pay in the UK How to Write a Contract for a Building Job in the UK How to Market a Trades Business on Social Media in the UK Mental Health for Tradespeople: Stress, Burnout and How to Cope
Do tilers need to be qualified in the UK? The legal answer is no – but the commercial answer is more nuanced, and qualifications have a material impact on earning potential and market access. Is Qualification Legally Required to Be a Tiler? No. There is no law requiring a tiler to hold formal qualifications to…
The qualifications you need to be a tiler in the UK are not legally required for domestic work – but they significantly affect commercial access, insurance, and professional credibility. Are Qualifications Required to Be a Tiler? No legal requirement exists to hold qualifications to tile commercially in the UK. However, qualifications matter because: A CSCS…
Getting more work as a tiler requires strong visual marketing, strategic bathroom showroom relationships, and systematic review collection. Tiling is inherently visual – quality photos of your work are your most powerful marketing asset. 1. Build a Visual Portfolio Getting more work as a tiler starts with documenting your best work. Photograph every completed job…
If you want to know how to start a tiling business in the UK, the entry barriers are low, demand is consistently strong, and a skilled tiler can build a full order book quickly. Tiling is one of the few trades where domestic, commercial, and new build work are all accessible from day one. Step…
What an electrician needs to legally sign off electrical work in the UK depends on the type of work, where it is, and who is carrying it out. Understanding certification requirements is essential for running a compliant electrical business and protecting both you and your customers. The Certificates Electricians Issue An electrician signs off electrical…
Becoming a Domestic Installer is the most accessible route to legally self-certifying domestic electrical work – and it’s the entry-level qualification tier within the Part P competent person scheme framework. This guide explains what a Domestic Installer is, how to become one, and when it’s the right qualification versus a full Approved Electrician route. What…
The 18th Edition Wiring Regulations is the current edition of BS 7671 – the UK standard that every practising electrician must be familiar with and certified against. This guide covers what the 18th Edition requires, what changed from previous editions, and why every electrician must hold a current 18th Edition certificate. What are the 18th…
Getting NICEIC registered is the most common route for electricians wanting to self-certify domestic electrical work – and it’s the most widely recognised competent person scheme registration in the UK electrical industry. This guide covers exactly how to get NICEIC registered, the requirements, the costs, and the timeline. What is NICEIC Registration? NICEIC (National Inspection…
Part P is the section of the Building Regulations that covers electrical safety in dwellings – and understanding what it requires is essential for any electrician working in domestic properties. Part P determines which electrical work must be notified, who can self-certify it, and what happens if it isn’t done correctly. What is Part P…
The qualifications you need to be an electrician in the UK are the most defined of any trade – and for good reason. Electrical work can kill. The qualification pathway exists to ensure electrical installations are safe, compliant, and verifiable. This guide covers every qualification needed to work as an electrician in the UK. Core…
Getting more work as an electrician in 2026 requires a combination of emergency availability, strong digital presence, and strategic positioning in the fastest-growing electrical segments. Here are the most effective methods for growing an electrical business this year. 1. Get OZEV Authorised for EV Charging EV charger installation is one of the highest-growth segments in…
If you want to know how to start an electrician business in the UK, the first thing to understand is that notifiable electrical work requires registration with a competent person scheme – without it, you cannot legally self-certify domestic electrical work, and your customers face building control involvement for every job. Getting this right from…
Registering for OFTEC is the essential step for any heating engineer wanting to work on oil-fired boilers and heating systems in the UK. Without OFTEC registration, oil heating work cannot be self-certified under Building Regulations – adding cost, delay, and complexity to every job. This guide covers exactly how to register for OFTEC, what it…
To work on oil boilers and oil-fired heating systems in the UK, you need OFTEC registration – the oil heating equivalent of Gas Safe. OFTEC registration is a requirement under Building Regulations, and carrying out oil heating work without it is a breach that can expose both you and your customers to serious consequences. What…
Becoming a heating engineer in the UK is one of the most financially rewarding paths in the trades – Gas Safe registered heating engineers earn consistently above the trade average, benefit from recurring annual service income, and are in constant demand across the country. This guide covers every route from complete beginner to qualified heating…
The qualifications you need to be a heating engineer in the UK depend primarily on the fuel type you work with. For gas heating – the majority of UK work – Gas Safe registration via ACS qualifications is legally mandatory. For oil and heat pumps, separate qualification pathways apply. This guide covers every qualification route…
Getting more work as a gas engineer requires a combination of recurring service contracts, emergency availability, and strong manufacturer partnerships – three channels that together sustain a full diary year-round. Here are the most effective strategies for growing a gas engineering business in 2026. 1. Build an Annual Service Contract Base Getting more work as…
The difference between Gas Safe and CORGI is straightforward: Gas Safe replaced CORGI in 2009 as the UK’s official gas registration body, and CORGI has had no legal standing for gas work since then. Despite this, many homeowners still ask for “a CORGI registered plumber” – so understanding the history and what to say in…
