A London plumber was crowned Screwfix’s Top Tradesperson. 38-year-old Mohammed Rahman fought off stiff competition from nine other top tradies, to win the £20,000 prize bundle, at last weekend’s Screwfix Live.

 Mohammed impressed the judges with this passion for plumbing, commitment to promoting a more diverse trade workforce and his use of sustainable process to make homes more energy efficient.

Speaking ahead last weekend, Mohammed said he was “over the moon” to have made the final.

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The government is poised to unveil measures to tackle late payments to small businesses and sole trades.

Late payments cost small business £22,000 a year on average and lead directly to 50,000 business closures a year.

Every quarter, 52% of small firms in the UK suffer from late payments.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer said last month: “We’re determined to back small businesses by unlocking their barriers to growth and stamping out late payments is at the heart of this.”

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And finally, a builder has discovered a collection of artefacts from the 1920s, while carrying out restoration work on a fireplace at Cambridge’s Christ’s College.

Luke Johnston was working on historical student accommodation in First Court when he discovered a collection of postcards and theatre programmes belonging to former student, Ian Osborn.

Osborn stayed at the college between 1921 and 22, where he studied engineering.

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