Construction apprenticeships have the lowest completion rates of any industry, 1,000 stonemasons may have developed silicosis, and app launches to fight fake customer reviews
Apprentices in construction, planning and the built environment continue to have the lowest completion rates of any industry.
An analysis of government figures by the Telegraph found that 30% of craft bricklaying apprentices completed their courses.
While only 44% of those studying plumbing and domestic heating finished their studies.
Craft carpentry and highway electrician apprenticeships both had pass rates over 80%.
Steve Turner from the Homes Builders Federation said the low course retention rates were because the government was not building enough houses.
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More than 1,000 stonemasons may have developed silicosis by inhaling dust when cutting quartz kitchen tops.
The report in the iPaper also outlined a case for a national screening programme for 7,000 tradespeople who currently work with high-silica stone.
Early detection of silicosis could prevent the illness progressing in around half of cases, if the worker is removed from exposure to dust.
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A software developer from Bognor Regis has launched an app to help tradespeople fight unfair or fake online reviews.
The app, called Trade Trust, compiles Google or Facebook reviews together into a dashboard and helps the user to respond to customer feedback quickly.
Developed by Dimsquid, the app also tells users how to dispute reviews that are unfair, mistaken or posted by a competitor.
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