Caporegime
Cut out the tax man and you're laughing.
Works for gypsy's .Cut out the tax man and you're laughing.
Cut out the tax man and you're laughing.
For those people on OCUK that are in the trade, I'd be interested to hear of how you find it honestly. I ask as someone that has an interest in it for the sake of my kid who is expressing an interest in doing something like electrician/plumber/carpenter. He likes working with his hands. He's actually quite bright but just eyeing up career prospects and likes the sound of these kind of jobs. The vast majority of anyone I ask about their job as a career (in anything I mean, not just trades), almost always reply negatively and to not go into whatever they do. I think this is a British thing though. We like to focus on the negatives of work and the rat race that it becomes. I think some people like trying to keep their area protected and as competition free as possible so they ultimately stay relevant and in need for as long as possible, so there is a little bit of that going on too. I think there is a real lack of people willing to take others on under their wing to learn things as well these days.
For me personally with trade jobs it looks like you can earn a hell of a lot of money these days but I suspect it does come with less guarantee of work over long periods. I suspect it is more stressful having to always be "on it" and perform to good standards to not tarnish your rep. Managing actual real life customers and Karens could be hard especially when young and just starting out. Then there's the real realisation that yeah...come 40 years old your body is going to be rinsed out a lot. The amount of traders with physical knee/back/hand issues is staggering. I know someone that is a mechanic and in his 60s still doing it... He's in and out of hospital multiple times a year just to keep going.
I would worry about young apprentices breaking into a trade as I guess people want tried and trusted, experienced people.
Not if you work in the finance or tax industry.. the wife works in tax so it means all the work needs to be invoiced and if applicable
No real education? Wow I wish I was allowed to swear on here! I'm glad I'm not your spark if you choose to look down your nose like that. What you have posted has properly boiled my **** to be honest.
Sure in reality anyone with half a brain could probably wire a house but could they do all the calcs to ensure its safe? Yes you can find a calculator online but experience is such a massive part of it. I didnt spend 4 years back and forth to college, many years on site learning and doing god knows how many exams and courses to have some ill advised person tell me I have limited intelligence with no real education. I guess they let any numpty work on it eh?
oh and day rate I get charged out at around £5-600 a day on petrochem and gas sites and around half that on other jobs but in fairness I do the 'weird and wonderful' stuff that my experience and knowledge from 20+ years on the job allows me to do.
Not if you work in the finance or tax industry.. the wife works in tax so it means all the work needs to be invoiced and if applicable (ie the tradesman's revenue over 82K IIRC) then they need to add VAT..
Current VAT threshold is £85k FYI
Not if you work in the finance or tax industry.. the wife works in tax so it means all the work needs to be invoiced and if applicable (ie the tradesman's revenue over 82K IIRC) then they need to add VAT.. so no dodgy notes in envelopes for cheaper trade work for any work we get done. Besides you're saving yourself £, breaking the law and screwing everyone else resulting in larger tax bills.
Not that I like tax or the way the government taxes (tax on the cost of delivery.. I means FFS) and that tax 'efficiencies' supported by the politicians for richer individuals leads to little or no tax paid really becomes a point of morality.
Just to clarify, it's the person doing the work and taking payment that is responsible for how they pay tax. You are not (in anyway) breaking the law by paying a trade in cash (even in an envelope). Even agreeing a 'cash price' isn't (for you) against the law. What happens to the money once you've handed it over as payment for the work is none of your concern.
Give me a break being a house spark is easy. The only reason a spark is tricky due to all the red tape that keeps being put in place by a gravy train regulatory body in the name of safety. That's not to say its not skilled but of all the trades its the easiest.
Cash isn’t the issue - it’s the collusion to avoid paying tax..
Have a check at the sparkies on YouTube to see why that is. Most of the time the jobs pretty small or it's too far out to travel, isn't cost efficient to take it or they're just too damn busy! If you think about it they don't get time to price the job during the day, and when they finally get back from working all day they'd have to spend more time to price the job and it's almost like working nonstop really.I can never get any of them to call back or turn up. I'm amazed they stay in business.
The physical stuff is really easy. It's knowing and applying the regulations that's the skilled bit.I think you may be on a bit of a wind up here. I know plenty of sparks and they are highly trained individuals many of whom worry very very hard and often at their own personal risk.
there is a reason the industry is so heavily regulated
It’s pretty simple.We have been doing up our flat for a while now and whenever I have to get someone in to do something I can't do I am absolutely amazed at how much they can charge. You can tell me that being an electrician or plumber is a skilled job as much as you like but its a really simple job. Anyone with half a brain could learn to do it very quickly.
I assume its due to supply and demand because I can't think of that many other jobs that require no real education, limited intelligence and basic training which allow you to earn as much as plumbers, electricians, carpenters etc earn.
How much are you guys paying for these trades on a day rate basis?