75% of tradespeople experience payment delays, 81% of trade businesses plan price hike in 2026 and teenagers start web design agency for plumbers, electricians and bricklayers
Two thirds of tradespeople have had payments withheld by customers in 2025 — that’s according to research from Metals4U.
The survey also found that 57% of trade businesses had written off at least £1,000 in bad debt in the last year.
Payment delays have had a knock effect for many firms, with 38% of respondents reporting they’d faced problems paying staff or suppliers.
The most common reason given by customers for delayed payments was a disagreement over the final costs, followed by claims that the work wasn’t finished.
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Over 80% of tradespeople say they’re putting their prices up in 2026.
The survey by Jackson Woodturners found that tradies expected to on average boost prices by 9.5%.
The poll also found 35% of trades were fully booked until March 2026.
Lucie Levesley, director at Jackson Woodturners said data indicated a “positive shift” in confidence among UK tradespeople.
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Two Norfolk teenagers have set up a web design agency to help local tradespeople sort out their websites.
Harvey Washington and Isaac Marshall, both students at City College in Norwich have pledged to deliver “enterprise grade” websites to bricklayers, plumbers and electricians for a fraction of the cost and with no corporate BS.
The pair are currently offering free consultations to any Norfolk business.
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