Tradespeople buoyant about business prospects, self-employed bricklayer ruled an employee in asbestos case and man who stole a cement mixer from DIY SOS site given 200 hours of unpaid work
Nearly two thirds of tradespeople are confident about the availability of work as they head into the new year, claims research from Jackson Woodturners.
The State of the Trades Report also found that over half of tradespeople felt assured about their business finances.
Despite the generally buoyant mood of the report, 43% of those surveyed expressed ongoing concern about material costs, and over 80%% said they’d been pressured by customers to lower prices.
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The High Court ruled this week that a self-employed bricklayer was in fact an employee in an asbestos claim.
The case brought by Tracy Alger, against Clayton Bowmore Group, claimed her husband Eric was exposed to asbestos while working for the firm in 1988.
The judge ruled that Eric, who died from a malignant mesothelioma in 2021 was employed by the contractor in all respects but the payment of his own tax and national insurance.
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A 25-year-old man, who stole a cement mixer from a DIY SOS building site, has been ordered to complete 200 hours of unpaid work.
David Matthew Pugh said he was out drinking when he stumbled across the building equipment on his way home in December.
A tag attached to the mixer allowed the Police to track it back to Pugh’s home and make the arrest.
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