Over three quarters of tradespeople keep tools in the vans despite the threat of tool theft, the construction workforce drops by 300,000 in ten years and plumbers head to Nepal
More than three quarters of tradespeople keep tools and equipment in the back of their van, despite the threat of tool theft — that’s according to research from NFU Mutual.
The survey also found that a third of tradespeople had tools stolen from their vehicle in the last year.
The insurer’s report also highlighted a high level of tool theft from building sites.
Zoe Knight, head of commercial from NFU Mutual warned that “brazen thieves” continued to “blight the industry.”
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Government data indicates that the construction workforce has shrunk by more than 300,000 people over the last 10 years.
The figures also show that the workforce declined by 0.9% between 2024 and 2025.
Dr David Crosthwaite, chief economist with BCIS said the drop in workforce was a result of several economic and political shocks occurring in quick succession, coupled with a slow-growth economy, inflated costs and difficulties attracting and retaining talent.
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Four plumbers from the UK travelled to Nepal to install a safe water supply for a remote village.
Ruben Duggan, Daisy Turner, Ollie Salmon and Ethan Wynn fitted the gravity-fed water system and visited local plumbing schools to meet students and donate educational resources.
Kevin Wellman, chief executive at CIPHE said the project was a shining example of how skilled plumbing professionals can make a meaningful difference to communities in need.
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