AUDIO NEWS: 25% of tradespeople planning to retire in five years and van drivers could face tougher penalties

25% of tradespeople are planning to retire in five years, van drives could face fines and bans under new sentencing rules and millionaire forklift driver gets admitted into hospital

One in four tradespeople are planning to retire within the next five years — that’s according to Screwfix. 

The firm’s Voice of the Trade report also claimed that just 24% of those working in the trades were under the age of 44. 

It also warned that the talent pipeline was shrinking as firms struggled to recruit and train the next generation of tradespeople.

Despite the challenges, nearly two third of those who had employed an apprentice last year, said they would like to do so again.

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Van drivers caught eating while driving, or not using their mirrors properly could be fined, get penalty points and even end up in court under tough new sentencing rules, warned experts from Leaseloco.com.

 Under sentencing guidelines introduced in England and Wales in July, those found guilty of mid-level driving offences could be issued with driving bans of up to 56 days and hit with large fines.

Van drivers face ‘particular scrutiny’ due to the size and risk their vehicles pose if not driven correctly.

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A forklift driver, who quit after winning £1 million on a lottery scratchcard earlier this year, was admitted into hospital after three months of partying. 

Adam Lopez told the BBC that his 8-day hospital stay had been a massive wake-up call.

The 39-year-old admitted that quitting his job so soon after his win had been a mistake.

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