Employing Tradesmen in the UK

Our step by step guide on how to find and employ tradesmen in the UK.

1. Available & interested tradesmen:

The first step is to find appropriate tradesmen for the work in question. It is easy to waste valuable time contacting and describing your job to tradesmen who are not necessarily available for or interested in your particular job. We make this process quick and easy. Simply post a job for free and we will contact tradesmen in your area of the UK for you. You will receive tenders by email from tradesmen interested in your particular job. Alternatively you can browse our tradesman directory.

2. Customer Feedback:

The second step is to check what the previous customers thought about the service they received. We can help here as well. The tenders that you receive will contain business contact details, approximate quotes and any other details that the tradesman considers relevant. Importantly however they will also contain the feedback (if any) other myworkman users have made about the tradesman in question, which you should use to form an opinion about the quality of the tradesman.

3. Satisfied customers:

Some tradesmen may not yet have feedback by any of our users. The tenders that you receive will also contain the names and telephone numbers of two satisfied customers. You should feel free to contact these references and if possible ask to see work carried out.

4. Get a selection of estimates:

sYou will have received a set of tenders from relevant tradesman, however in most cases tradesmen will need to see the job in question in order to provide an precise estimate. It is important that you get a selection of estimates so that you can compare and contrast the offers. You should pick what you think is the business that offers the best price to quality ratio.

5. Estimates & Headed paper:

Make sure that estimates you receive are on headed paper with a full address and telephone number. Also ensure that it is clear whether the estimate includes VAT. Estimates that you receive are not legally binding documents.

6. Getting the quote:

The quote itself is a legally binding document, and can be used in the event of a complaint. Make sure to get a detailed quote that includes the following:

  • What exactly is being done. i.e. all work including any preparatory work should be included, when it will begin, how long it should take and how the site should be left.
  • The specific materials that will be used for the job.
  • The final cost. Check whether this price includes VAT. Do not pay for services before they have been completed. In some cases it may be appropriate to pay a small deposit or to pay for the job in parts after satisfactory completion of various stages.
  • Check whether the quote is only valid for a certain time period.
  • Never sign anything you do not fully understand.

7. Trade Associations

If the tradesman is a member of a trade association and displays a membership number such as a CORGI number, visit the website of the appropriate trade association and, very often, you can verify their number. If the tradesman is registered with a trade association it can often give extra security should a dispute arise. If you need gas installation / maintenance work or have central heating problems make sure that the tradesman is CORGI registered which means they will have the appropriate training, knowledge and experience when dealing with gas. It is not only illegal for people to work with gas unless they are CORGI registered, it is also very dangerous. If you do use a CORGI registered installer and their work is incorrect, CORGI can insist that they correct that work free of charge. You would first need to make a complaint about your installer to CORGI.

8. Insurance

Check that the tradesmen has insurance backed warranty for the work. This should cover damage to your and your neighbours’ property. Make sure that either the tradesman or your own insurance covers death and personal injury. Ask each tradesman who gives you a quote about guarantees, particularly any which are insurance-backed.

9. Your feedback

If you found your tradesman via myworkman, don't forget to provide feedback about the service that you received. Simply login and select the business that you employing from the "my jobs" section.

10. If things go wrong

First speak to your tradesman if you think things are incorrect. Try to sort problems out as soon as they arise, do not let them be brushed under the carpet. If the matter is not resolved after this, put your complaint in writing. If you are still experiencing problems, seek further advice from professionals such as a solicitor, Citizens Advice Bureau, Trading Standards and Trade Associations.