{"id":10134,"date":"2026-05-05T16:05:14","date_gmt":"2026-05-05T16:05:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/clearcourse.co.uk\/?p=10134"},"modified":"2026-05-07T16:39:46","modified_gmt":"2026-05-07T16:39:46","slug":"when-your-best-tradesperson-retires-what-goes-with-them","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/clearcourse.co.uk\/staging\/when-your-best-tradesperson-retires-what-goes-with-them\/","title":{"rendered":"When your best tradesperson retires, what goes with them?"},"content":{"rendered":"

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\nBilly Price, Managing Director, Field Services<\/strong><\/p>\n

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\nEvery trades business has a Dave. The one who every other team member goes to when something\u2019s unclear. Dave knows which pipe ran under the old extension, which customer prefers a call over a text, which jobs always run over and why, and which supplier always gives you a good deal.<\/strong> <\/span><\/p>\n

After 27 years in the business, he\u2019s not only a skilled labourer that produces good work, he also knows every other detail that speeds things up and keeps your customers happy.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

But when Dave retires, all that knowledge leaves with him.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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The retirement crisis trades businesses haven\u2019t planned for<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

There\u2019s lots of conversation in the UK trades sector currently about the skills crisis that\u2019s impacting businesses. According to the <\/span>Construction Industry Training Board\u2019s 2026 report<\/span><\/a>, too few people are entering the sector, and too many skilled, experienced workers are leaving. Of course, a lot of the conversation is around the fact that not all apprenticeship places are being filled and completed. The latest CITB report shows that apprenticeship starts would have to almost triple to meet upcoming labour demands.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

But arguably, the biggest hit that businesses will take is the loss of their more skilled and experienced workers. Around 24% of construction workers were over 55 as of 2023 \u2013 that’s a substantial portion of the sector set to retire in the next 5 to 10 years. And when they go, they inevitably take all the practical knowledge with them that just can\u2019t be replicated by junior staff.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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What really leaves with your best tradesperson<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

Have you thought about what you really lose when your most experienced tradesperson leaves? What is it that lives in their head but is never captured on job sheets?\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Here\u2019s just a few things you may miss:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n