Starting a trades business? Step-by-step guides for electricians, plumbers, builders and more — from registration to your first job.
Solar Energy UK is the leading trade association for the UK solar industry. For solar installation businesses – particularly those looking to grow beyond residential work into commercial and utility-scale projects – membership is worth understanding. But it’s not right for everyone. Here’s what Solar Energy UK is, what membership offers, and whether it’s worth…
The NFRC (National Federation of Roofing Contractors) is the UK’s leading roofing trade body – and for roofers wondering whether to join, it’s worth understanding exactly what NFRC membership provides, what it costs, and what it actually opens up commercially. What is the NFRC? The NFRC (National Federation of Roofing Contractors) represents roofing contractors of…
Solar installation carries risks that most standard trades insurance doesn’t adequately cover. You’re working at height, installing high-value electrical systems, and providing energy production equipment with a 25-year lifespan. Getting insurance wrong – or having the wrong cover when something goes wrong – is a serious business risk. Here’s exactly what insurance a solar installation…
Do roofers need to be registered in the UK? The short answer is no – there is no mandatory registration or licence required to work as a roofer. However, the question of whether roofers need to be registered is more nuanced, because voluntary registration schemes significantly affect the work a roofer can access and the…
Understanding what certifications roofers need in the UK is important whether you’re starting a roofing business or looking to expand into commercial work. The certifications roofers need vary by type of work, client requirements, and materials used. This guide covers every relevant certification for UK roofers. Do Roofers Need Any Certifications? No certification is legally…
G98 and G99 are the two engineering recommendations that govern how solar PV systems connect to the UK electricity grid. Getting this wrong – installing under G98 when G99 was required – is a compliance issue that can require system disconnection and rework. Understanding which applies is a core competency for any solar installer. The…
Getting your first solar jobs is the hard part. Getting consistent work is a different challenge – one that requires systematic lead generation, fast follow-up, and a reputation that compounds over time. This guide covers the practical methods that work for growing solar installation businesses in 2026. Build Your Review Profile First Before spending money…
The qualifications you need to be a roofer in the UK vary depending on the type of roofing work and the clients you want to work for. No licence is required to start roofing commercially – but specific qualifications to be a roofer significantly affect your access to commercial work, the insurance rates you pay,…
Most residential solar installations in the UK fall under permitted development rights – meaning planning permission is not usually required. But “usually” does a lot of work in that sentence. There are specific circumstances where planning permission is needed, and installing without the correct consent exposes both you and your customer to enforcement action. This…
Getting more work as a roofer requires a different approach to most trades – roofing is partly seasonal, partly weather-driven, and largely dependent on urgent reactive demand. The roofer who is findable when a customer has an emergency, and trusted when they’re planning a full re-roof, fills their diary year-round. Here are the most effective…
The short answer is: not necessarily NICEIC specifically – but you do need to be registered with a competent person scheme, and NICEIC is one of the most common routes. This is a distinction worth understanding, because it affects which certification route you choose. What NICEIC Registration Actually Is NICEIC (National Inspection Council for Electrical…
One of the first questions solar entrepreneurs ask is: how long will MCS take and what will it cost? It’s a reasonable question – MCS certification is the gateway to residential solar work, and the timeline directly affects when you can start trading commercially. Here’s a realistic answer, not a sales pitch from a certification…
If you want to know how to start a roofing business in the UK, you’re entering one of the most in-demand trades in the country. Qualified roofers are consistently short supply, roofing work is weather-resistant in terms of demand (homeowners can’t ignore a leaking roof), and a well-run roofing business can generate significant income within…
Marketing a solar business is different from marketing most trades. Solar is a high-value, considered purchase – customers research extensively before deciding, and the sales cycle is weeks, not days. Your marketing needs to match that behaviour: build visibility, build credibility, and convert leads efficiently at every stage of the funnel. Understand the Solar Customer…
How long it takes to become a plasterer depends on the route you take – but most people are competently plastering within 2-3 years via a formal route, or sooner via intensive training. This guide breaks down the realistic timescales for every pathway to becoming a qualified plasterer in the UK. How Long Does It…
Plastering qualifications in the USA are not a single national standard — they’re a state-by-state patchwork, unlike the UK’s straightforward “no licence required” position. In some states, plaster and stucco work falls under a dedicated trade license. In others, it’s bundled into a general contractor license once you cross a job-value threshold. In a handful…
DNO notification is one of the most commonly misunderstood aspects of solar installation – and getting it wrong can leave your customer’s system non-compliant, their SEG application rejected, or worse, cause grid stability issues. This guide explains what DNO notification is, when it applies, and what solar installers need to do. What is a DNO?…
The Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) is one of the most important commercial drivers for residential solar in the UK – and as a solar installer, understanding it is essential both for advising customers and for positioning your business competitively. This guide explains what the SEG is, how it works, what it means for your customers,…
The qualifications you need to be a plasterer in the UK are not legally mandated – unlike gas engineers or electricians, there is no licence required to plaster professionally. However, the qualifications you hold significantly affect the work you can access, the rates you can charge, and the credibility you project to customers. This guide…
MCS (Microgeneration Certification Scheme) certification is the gateway to residential solar work in the UK. Without it, your customers cannot access the Smart Export Guarantee or most grant funding – making you commercially unviable for the majority of domestic solar jobs. This guide covers exactly what MCS certification involves, how to get it, how long…
Getting more work as a plasterer is the challenge every self-employed plasterer faces – whether you’ve just started out or you’re an established sole trader looking to fill the diary consistently. The methods that work best for plasterers combine free digital presence, active referral generation, and strategic trade relationships. Here are 10 proven ways to…
Solar installation sits at the intersection of electrical work, roofing, and energy systems – and the qualifications reflect that. Unlike some trades where you can start with minimal formal training, solar installation has a well-defined qualification pathway that you need to follow correctly, both for legal compliance and commercial viability. Here’s exactly what you need….
The UK solar market is booming. Installations have grown year-on-year since the energy price crisis of 2022, and demand shows no sign of slowing. For electricians, roofers, and construction professionals looking to expand into solar, 2026 is an excellent time to enter the market – but only if you set up correctly from the start….
If you want to know how to start a plastering business in the UK, the good news is that the barriers to entry are low, demand is consistently strong, and a skilled plasterer can build a full order book within months. This guide covers every step – from registering with HMRC to getting your first…
Sending a professional quote from your phone as a tradesperson is now completely achievable – and it is one of the highest-leverage habits you can build. The tradesperson who quotes from site, within minutes of a survey, consistently wins more jobs than the one who goes home to the laptop. This guide covers exactly how…
CoreQuote and Billdu both offer quoting and invoicing functionality – but they are built for fundamentally different types of business. This comparison explains the differences clearly, so you can choose the right tool for your trades business. The Core Difference: Trades-Specific vs Generic CoreQuote is built specifically for UK trades businesses – electricians, plumbers, gas…
The best invoicing app for self-employed tradespeople in the UK in 2026 is one that handles the full workflow: quote, approval, invoice, and payment tracking – all from your phone, without unnecessary complexity. This guide reviews the options for sole trader tradespeople specifically. What Self-Employed Tradespeople Need From an Invoicing App For a self-employed tradesperson,…
Most tradespeople in the UK currently create quotes using a combination of WhatsApp, text, email, or a Word/Excel template – and this is exactly the problem. These tools were not designed for quoting, produce inconsistent output, and give customers no formal approval mechanism. The good news: there are now apps built specifically for this, and…
The best quoting software for tradespeople in the UK in 2026 depends on the size of your business and what you need it to do – but for most sole traders and small trades businesses, the answer is a mobile-first quoting app for trades businesses that’s fast to use on site, produces professional output, and…
Yes – there is a free quote app for tradespeople in the UK, and CoreQuote is built specifically for the trades. Unlike generic invoice and quoting tools designed for any small business, CoreQuote is designed around how trades businesses actually work: on site, from a phone, quoting labour and materials with professional presentation that wins…
