Screwfix invited several finalists and winners from its Top Tradesperson and Trade Apprentice competitions to share their insights with MPs, civil servants, and Lords at the Houses of Parliament, InstallerOnline reported.

Mohammed Rahman, Screwfix Top Tradesperson 2024, and Astrid Arnold, who won the title in 2023, spoke at the parliamentary event.

With Screwfix’s recent report highlighting that 79% of SMEs and sole traders have been unable to take on an apprentice, both Mohammed and Astrid used their speeches to call for clearer support from those charged with policy to aid not only those thinking of entering the trades but also the small, often sole traders, who might be unable to take on an apprentice.

Regarding their journeys into the trade, Mohammed touched on the importance of role models in attracting fresh talent into the industry, drawing on his own experience as the first in his family to enter the trade.

He said: “I was encouraged to go down the route to university when I finished school because that’s what everyone did. Yet, I embarked on an apprenticeship. It wasn’t easy; it took me over a year to find one, but I persevered, and it paid off.

“But it can’t just fall onto the shoulders of tradespeople; we need the support from the government to drive this, not only helping businesses and apprentices with financial support but also in the way apprenticeships are perceived – this needs to change, so they are viewed as a valid and valuable career choice.”

As Screwfix Top Tradesperson’s first female winner, Astrid also used her speech to touch on the untapped opportunity available to the trade presented by women, who currently make up just 2% of the construction workforce.

Astrid commented, “The challenge we’re facing is not new, and it will not change unless we all work together. My whole career, I have been used to standing out as a female in a male-dominated industry.

“We need more support for adults looking to enter the construction industry, especially women, to show them the breadth of opportunities available from working in the trades and just how rewarding a career can be.”

The event also offered previous Screwfix Top Tradesperson and Trade Apprentice winners and finalists the opportunity to speak with MPs, giving their first-hand experience of the industry's current challenges.