Hands on … becoming a multi-skilled handyperson (man or woman)

Home ownership inevitably involves property maintenance and that costs money. It can also sometimes be hard to find someone reliable who is willing to do the small, irritating jobs that seem to arise on a monthly basis and are outside the competence of the DIY amateur. However, many qualified tradesmen such as plumbers and electricians are unable or unwilling to carry out these types of repairs, and so home owners often require a multi-skilled handyperson to undertake this essential maintenance work.

Home owners, and other customers, have a crying need for a reliable, clean, tidy, fast and efficient service that solves their problems. This is why the role of the professional handyperson or woman evolved. To locate your nearest handyperson is easy. We have all seen the adverts of ‘no job too small’ or ‘professional work at reasonable rates’. Jobs that take five minutes, like fixing a tap washer, or half a day like fixing part of a crumbling garden wall, can be on the list of work that calls for a handyperson. Often without a paper qualification, the handyperson relies on word of mouth or recommendation to build a business based on trust and a happy customer base.

There are some good reasons for becoming a handyperson. Multi-skilled work is generally not controlled by regulations, nor requires constant exams or high registration fees. If you are practically minded you can be out earning good money quickly, and you can be your own boss. Moreover the work is varied and fulfilling. The multi-skilled course can also be an excellent add-on to plumbing or electrical training. Rather than wait for a tiler or plasterer when installing a new bathroom, it can be more cost-effective to do the work yourself ensuring a high standard to the finished installation. This adds to the type and quantity of work that you undertake.

The beauty of the multi-skilled course is that no previous experience or qualifications are required. It covers almost all aspects of the building trade including plastering, bricklaying, tiling, plumbing, lead burning, kitchen fitting, dry lining and roofing. The training can also be flexible in its approach in that it can be geared around the individual’s specific needs.

The multi-skilled course suits people who want to move into a new career or anyone who wishes to buy their own home and renovate or redecorate it themselves. It is also suited to anyone who lets out a property in either the residential or holiday home markets. Professional landlords and agents know the value of having a reliable jack-of-all-trades who can be trusted to attend to those small jobs that need urgent work but do not require a specialist.

For more information regarding Trade Training contact the Trade Services Team on UK freephone 0800 043 0062, international +44 (0) 1637 831342, e-mail info@tradeservices.uk.com or visit the website at www.tradeservices.uk.com