The Voice of the Trade 2024 report from Screwfix delivers a stark warning: unless action is taken, the UK will face a shortage of 250,000 skilled tradespeople by 2030, a risk that could stall our economic recovery, hinder new housing, and delay vital infrastructure projects.
Norwich and Norfolk, in particular, stand to feel the impact deeply as local businesses and homeowners compete for increasingly scarce expertise.
What’s the solution? It starts with bold investment in people and skills. Modernising training, embracing new technologies, and prioritising apprenticeships will help the next generation take the lead in our trades sector. Flexible programs, direct employer support, and career promotion in schools are essential to creating a pipeline of talent ready to deliver for our communities.
For CTOs and business leaders, the takeaway is clear: digital transformation, workforce sustainability, and a strong apprenticeship culture are the foundation for Norwich and Norfolk’s future prosperity. We can’t afford to stand still if we want our region at the forefront of the UK’s economic and construction drive.
Apprenticeships Are the Missing Link for the Future Workforce.
Young people are eager to get involved, 46% would consider a career in the trades, and 42% see apprenticeships as more appealing than university. But only 7% are currently entering apprenticeship programs.
This disconnect is driven largely by the barriers faced by small businesses:
- limited funding
- recruitment challenges
- admin overload
Nearly half receive no financial support for taking on an apprentice, making it difficult to commit to training new talent. To build a future-proof workforce, we must break down these barriers and make apprenticeships flexible, accessible, and properly resourced.
The journey to Net Zero is an opportunity, not an obstacle. Demand for heat pumps, smart heating, and energy-efficient solutions is soaring. Yet, many tradespeople are unable to access upskilling that fits their schedules, even as customers expect more and competition intensifies.
Upskilling in green tech is essential, homeowners deserve future-ready solutions that lower both costs and carbon emissions.
Key stats from the Screwfix Trade Skills Survey illustrate the urgency
- More than 60% of tradespeople are over 45 and nearing retirement.
- 69% have no one to pass their business on to.
- 75% are fully booked for the next 6 months, revealing huge local demand in Norwich and Norfolk.
- Only 17% have work planned out beyond a year, making long-term business planning nearly impossible.
Unless more young people enter these fields, the region faces longer waits and higher prices for vital services. Apprenticeships are the missing link, and over 80% of tradespeople agree there aren’t enough apprentices coming through.
Many sole traders have never hired an apprentice, and financial constraints are the most common reason. Stronger partnerships between businesses, colleges, and government are vital for bridging this gap.
The government and industry must focus on five urgent priorities
- Simplify VAT and admin for sole traders & SMEs
- Direct grants to support apprenticeships
- Flexible apprentice models suited to real trade life
- Training delivered when trades can actually attend
- Better careers promotion of the trades
Promote trade careers as equal to university through schools and community outreach.
At Smart Heating EA Ltd, we’re proud to lead by example. From smart heating system installs to energy-efficient upgrades and advanced heat pumps, we serve Norwich, Wymondham, Sprowston, and beyond. Our commitment to upskilling and apprenticeships ensures our team, and our customers, are always one step ahead.
Let’s build a cleaner, smarter, more resilient heating future for Norwich, Norfolk, and the whole of East Anglia.
Contact us for a free quote and join us in shaping tomorrow’s workforce and climate solutions, one home at a time.
