Bad weather: tradespeople lose over £1,300 a year on average

It’s the time of year for storms, high winds and Arctic blasts, and unfortunately that can present additional challenges for those working in the trades industry.

Recent research shows that tradespeople can lose over £1,300 a year on average because they’re forced to take time off or delay projects when bad weather hits.

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Missing a week’s worth of work every year

The study from Ironmongery Direct found that the average tradesperson is having to miss one week of work over a 12-month period because of factors like rain, wind, and snow.

Basing this on an average UK day rate of £184, missing 7.2 days a year means tradespeople are losing £1,325 over 12 months. Some are losing considerably more money, with 10 per cent saying they miss over two weeks of work due to bad weather conditions.

Which trades are affected most?

Having to cancel or delay work in bad weather can have a huge financial impact for self-employed tradespeople. Here Ironmongery Direct’s research reveals the trades losing the most money on average, with plumbers being the hardest hit.

Trade	£ lost a year (on average)
Plumbers	£1,723
Electricians	£1,570
Builders	£1,548
Painter and decorators	£1,335
Landscapers	£1,213
Building surveyors	£1,120
Carpenters	£990
Bricklayers	£969
Plasterers	£765
Joiners	£680

1 in 10 feel ill after working in bad weather

According to the survey, almost one in 10 (nine per cent) tradespeople have felt ill after working in bad weather. And one in 12 (eight per cent) have felt unsafe, and one in 16 (six per cent) have been injured.

With self-employed health insurance you can get quicker access to healthcare professionals, including GP appointments 24 hours a day. When you need to get back to work, getting diagnosis and treatment quickly can help minimise time off and the knock-on effect that has on your finances.

Read our guide to health insurance to see if this is right for you and your business.

Protect your business in bad weather

We’ve created a hub with everything you need to know to help you prepare for bad weather. If you’re a Simply Business customer, you can also access important claims information if your business has been affected.

How do you manage your business in bad weather? Let us know in the comments.

Photograph 1: anatoliy_gleb/stock.adobe.com