CHANCELLOR: housing targets mean nothing if sites don't stack up. Planning delays. Section 106. BNG. Utilities. Finance. Each can stop a small site. Give SME builders planning certainty and viable projects. PLANNING PERMISSIONS DON'T HOUSE FAMILIES. FINISHED HOMES DO. #Housebuilding

THE TRADES ARE COMING BACK. AND AI MIGHT BE THE REASON! AI is transforming accounts, paperwork, estimating and admin. But who's going to lay the bricks, fit the roofs and wire the houses? Embrace AI. Invest in apprenticeships. Somebody still needs to build Britain.

THEY SAID IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE. YOU MADE IT POSSIBLE. ❤️ A single photograph from our incredible BBC DIY SOS build in Freckleton, Preston. One mission. Getting Dan home. To every tradesperson, supplier and volunteer who gave their time, materials, skills and sheer determination THANK YOU! You didn’t just transform a house. You helped change a family’s life. This is what the construction industry does best when we all pull together. Proud to have been part of something so special. Ian Hodgkinson | BBC DIY SOS Project Manager #DIYSOS #Freckleton #Construction #Community

CHANCELLOR, HOW ABOUT “HELP TO EXTEND”? 🏠🔨 Scrap VAT on qualifying domestic extensions. Support homeowners. Stimulate small builders. Create work and apprenticeships. Encourage legitimate VAT-registered businesses. Help to Buy. Help to Build. Help to Extend.

TRADESMEN DON’T NEED VANS IN LONDON… APPARENTLY. 😂 So I gave the cargo bike a go. Mixer ✅ Ladders ✅ Tools ✅ Cut-off saw ✅ Sandwiches ✅ Maintenance jobs? Maybe. A bricklayer carrying half his workshop? I’m not convinced. 😂 Would you swap your van for this?

🧱 SUPER TROWEL COUNTDOWN 🧱 SUPER TROWEL COUNTDOWN… Not long to go now until Super Trowel UK on Friday 31 July and Saturday 1 August at the Hertfordshire County Showground. If you’re involved in bricklaying, apprenticeships or the construction industry, it’s one event you don’t want to miss. For me, it’s not just about the competitions—it’s about celebrating one of the greatest trades in the industry and, more importantly, inspiring the next generation to pick up a trowel. The Junior Final is always a highlight. Watching apprentices and college learners compete at such a high standard proves the future of bricklaying is there—we just need to encourage more young people to join the trade. I’ll be on the Wonder Grip Stand – Stand 77 across both days. Come over for a chat about bricklaying, apprenticeships, site life, construction, or simply to say hello. The right skills deserve the right equipment too. Looking after your hands is part of being a professional, and that’s exactly why I’m proud to be supporting Wonder Grip. Who’s coming along? Are you competing, visiting, or bringing apprentices with you? Let’s get more youngsters into construction and show them what a fantastic career this trade can offer. #SuperTrowel #Bricklayer #Bricklaying #Apprenticeships #Construction #Trades #Skills #FutureOfConstruction #WonderGrip #HandProtection #BuiltOnSkill #ConstructionCareers #TheHod #HodgkinsonBuild

We need faster planning decisions there’s no doubt about that

#contractors #supplychain #propertydevelopment #trades #businessstrategy #leadership #housingcrisis Curious what others are seeing on the ground right now… Are your orders holding up or starting to dip? Are clients pushing decisions back or still committing? And are you finding more availability in labour and materials? Feels like a shift but is it regional or across the board? Drop your thoughts below 👍

Still hearing “there’s no work out there”… We’re flat out. Bricklayers required across the Midlands. Good sites. Organised jobs. No messing about. We’re looking for lads who turn up, crack on, and take pride in what they build. • Immediate starts • Proper runs of work • Rates negotiable • CSCS required • Own tools essential If you’re sat waiting for the phone to ring… this is it. Ring or WhatsApp Jack Smith on 07527 888176 Or tag someone who should be on this job 👇 Bricklayers Online ™️ 🧱 Robert Hodgkinson #BricklayersWanted #ConstructionUK #MidlandsJobs #OnTheTools #HiringNow #SkilledTrades #Bricklaying

Bricklayers Required .. Hereford Ring or message Jack Smith on 07527 888176 On site. Ready to go. Just need the right lads to match it. We’re looking for experienced bricklayers to join a solid team on a well-organised job in Hereford. • Immediate start • Good runs of work • Great Rates • CSCS required • Own tools essential No nonsense job, decent setup, and a team that knows what they’re doing. If you’re interested, or know someone who is, message me direct. @bricklayers_o @BricklayersO #BricklayersWanted #HerefordJobs #Bricklaying #ConstructionJobs #UKConstruction #OnTheTools #CSCS #TradesUK #BuildingSite #Masonry @EastMidsMasonry @BuilderNewsUk

This is how I used to look on site back in the day 👷‍♂️ Hands took a beating cuts, burns… just “part of the job” From marigolds to proper PPE… things have changed Proud to be working with Wonder Grip® proper hand protection that actually works But I still see lads not wearing gloves… why ❓ Your hands are your livelihood protect them 🤚🏻 @wondergripoff #GlovesOn

THE REAL APPRENTICESHIP CRISIS AND WHY IT’S NOT WHAT PEOPLE THINK This was mentioned in The Sun on Sunday three times yesterday and for once, they’ve absolutely hit the nail on the head. Let’s be clear. The issue is not getting youngsters into the trade. Colleges are full. Training centres are full. There is no shortage of young people who want to learn a trade, earn a living, and build a future. The problem sits somewhere else entirely. The bottleneck is at the doorstep of employers and major contractors. Right now, the burden of training is falling heavily on small firms and subcontractors the very people who are already under pressure just to keep the lights on. Minimum wage increases, the cost of living, insurance, supervision, lost productivity it all adds up. And the reality is simple: Many firms just cannot afford to take apprentices on anymore. That’s the uncomfortable truth. It’s also why we’re seeing shocking numbers with around 67% of youngsters who start college courses never making it through into the industry. Not because they don’t want it. Not because they’re not capable. But because there’s no clear route from training into real work. We talk about skills shortages. We talk about labour gaps. But until we fix that broken link between education and employment, nothing changes. That’s why what The Sun on Sunday is doing right now matters. They’re not just talking about the issue they’re creating opportunity. If you’re a young person looking to get into the trade, or a business that can offer work experience, this is your chance to connect. Email: [email protected] Because here’s the reality of our industry: Most opportunities don’t come from applications. They come from relationships. Sometimes, the way in is simple: Turn up early. Work hard. Be someone people want on site. Have the right attitude and a willingness to learn. That still counts for everything. I’m grateful to The Sun on Sunday for highlighting what is, in my view, the biggest issue facing our trade right now. It’s something I’ve been banging the drum about for a long time. Good to see others stepping up and recognising it too. Now we need action Can you help ? #construction #apprenticeships #skillsgap #bricklaying #buildingbritain

A NEET Idea that ends up in @TheSun A couple of weeks ago I put a post out asking for a youngster to come on site for a day’s work experience. This is what it was all about. That one opportunity turned into something much bigger and ended up being featured in a national piece with The Sun on Sunday as part of the #BuildaBetterBritain campaign, which I’m very grateful to be involved in. But the message hasn’t changed. There are plenty of youngsters out there who want to work. What they’re missing is opportunity. I had Kai on site keen, willing, ready to graft. Exactly what our trade needs. Yet he’s sent out dozens of applications and can’t get a foot in the door. That’s the reality right now in our industry. We talk about skills shortages… We talk about labour gaps… But the truth is: The burden of training sits with small firms and subcontractors and many simply can’t afford it anymore. This was never just about giving someone a day’s experience. It was about highlighting the real issue facing our trade and our youngsters. Big thanks to:    •   @EastMidsMasonry and @MilwaukeeTool for supplying the tools and @wondergripoff supplying the safety gloves    •   @byMilestone for making the day happen If we want to protect the future of construction, we need to start opening doors not closing them. One day. One opportunity. One foot in the door. That’s all it takes give somebody that one chance. #construction #apprenticeships #skillsgap #NEET #buildingbritain

National #Bagpipe day today!!

This is two of @EastMidsMasonry apprentices Mason and Yannis. With their permission, we wanted to share this because at East Midlands Masonry we believe in putting our money where our mouth is when it comes to apprenticeships. Our approach is simple. Pair apprentices with experienced bricklayers early, get them on the tools as soon as it’s safe and sensible, and let them soak up real site experience. Confidence, attitude and pride don’t come from a classroom alone they’re built on site, day in, day out. Apprentices need nurturing. They need guidance, patience and good role models around them. Taking apprentices on isn’t cheap and it isn’t easy it’s a real investment of time, money and effort but getting the right people and supporting them properly is how you build strong teams and a strong future for the trade. Mason and Yannis are doing well, and we’re proud of the progress they’re making. They’re the future of bricklaying, and they deserve to be looked after, taught properly and given the chance to succeed. This is how we do it. #Apprenticeships #Bricklaying #NextGeneration #ConstructionSkills #InvestingInPeople #OnSiteLearning #TradePride #EastMidlandsMasonry #BuildingTheFuture #SkillsNotShortcuts

#Adopt an apprentice! It’s Apprenticeship Week 👷‍♂️🔥 If you’re a builder, contractor, subbie or business owner and you’re moaning there’s “no young ones coming through” this is the week to do something about it. There are good, hungry youngsters out there desperate for a start. I’ve shared a few over the last couple of weeks and guess what… a couple have already been taken on by decent bricklaying firms and contractors. Life-changing stuff. You don’t need to overthink it. Give them a chance, give them guidance, give them standards. They’ll give you graft, loyalty and the future of your trade. If you’ve got room for an apprentice, shout about it. If you know a youngster who wants in, put them forward. Let’s stop talking about the skills shortage and actually fix it. This industry gave me everything. Time to pass it on. 💪. #ApprenticeshipWeek #AdoptAnApprentice #ConstructionCareers #FutureOfTheTrade

Project managing this one for Game Face up at The Printworks in Manchester it’s a wrap. Have a quick look at what we’ve been up to. What’s been achieved over the last five weeks has been awesome. Quality, quality, quality. Delivery, delivery, delivery. All spot on and all done safely. Let’s see where I go next. Let’s see what happens. See you on the next one. #GameFace #PrintworksManchester #ProjectManagement #ConstructionLife #RetailFitOut #DeliveredSafely #QualityBuild #TeamEffort