By Jambu Palaniappan

Our country’s economic engine runs on the skills of its tradespeople - the electricians, plumbers, builders, and decorators who maintain our homes and construct our future.

Yet, this vital sector is struggling, not for lack of work, but for lack of talent.

Recent Checkatrade research paints a stark picture: a staggering 71% of tradespeople tell us they are actively struggling to grow their business because they simply cannot find the right recruits. When asked what the main barrier is to hiring an apprentice, the answer is overwhelmingly clear: cost.

For small and medium-sized firms, the financial burden of part-funding an apprenticeship has often been the immovable roadblock.

This is why the recent announcement around making apprenticeships for under-25s entirely free for SMEs is such a welcome and practical step forward.

It directly addresses the core constraint that a third of........

© LBC