Statement from Lee Wilcox, Co-founder and CEO of On The Tools:
The government’s ambition to install heat pumps in 50% of homes by 2040 is a positive step towards a greener future, but without urgent action to support tradespeople, it risks being an unachievable target. The reality is that the UK’s construction industry is already facing a severe skills shortage, and our research shows that a lack of support is driving people out of the trades at an alarming rate.
Our Closing the Gap white paper highlights that negative perceptions, poor incentives, and inadequate training opportunities are all contributing to a declining workforce. Without a significant investment in skills, training, and support for tradespeople, we simply won’t have the workforce required to install these heat pumps—let alone meet broader housing and infrastructure targets.
Research by On The Tools in January 2025 found that tradespeople are crying out for more support.
- 90.5% of UK tradespeople believe they’re not listened to by industry leaders,
- Only 1 in 5 UK tradespeople believe the UK Government considers their needs and opinions (17.5%).
- 2 in 3 (63.5%) have considered leaving the industry due to lack of support.
Source: TradeBrain Membership Insight, Jan 2025.
We need real action from the government to tackle the skills gap head-on. That means funding for apprenticeships, better career pathways into the trades, and genuine support for those already in the industry. Without it, we risk setting ambitious targets with no workforce to deliver them.
