CREATING A STIR: PLUMBERS AND ELECTRICIANS OFFERED MORE TEA THAN ANY OTHER TRADE
Posted by: electime 26th April 2022
- New research from Checkatrade reveals the nation’s tea etiquette with tradespeople being offered a hot drink on average, every 2 hours 50 minutes
- Despite plumbers (72 per cent) and electricians being offered a cup of tea most regularly, those cleaning our windows (28 per cent) or connecting our broadband (27 per cent) are the thirstiest with fewer homeowners offering them a cuppa
- And whilst the humble biscuit is the most popular accompanying snack (48 per cent), 40 per cent admit to not offering anything at all
To celebrate International Tea Day, new research from Checkatrade has revealed the nation’s tea etiquette with nearly three quarters (73 per cent) of UK adults offering a tradesperson a cuppa.
The study of 2,000 British homeowners found that plumbers (72 per cent) and electricians (72 per cent) are the most likely to be offered a cup of tea, followed by builders (70 per cent) and painter/decorators (69 per cent). Meanwhile, those cleaning our windows (28 per cent) or connecting our broadband (27 per cent) miss out the most with fewer Brits offering them a hot drink.
Trades who are offered a cuppa (per cent):
- Plumber – 72
- Electrician – 72
- Builder – 70
- Painter & Decorator – 69
- Handyperson – 62
- Gardener/landscaper – 59
- Roofer – 53
- Cleaner – 47
- Window Cleaner – 28
- Utilities worker – 27
And whilst 73 per cent of people feel offering a cuppa is a good way of showing appreciation to our trades, a further 23 per cent would still offer a council worker or tradesperson on the street a cuppa even though they hadn’t hired them to complete the work.
Table Manners
When it comes to tradespeople conducting work in and around the home, people will offer a hot drink on average, every 2 hours 50 minutes. Those from the North East are the most attentive, pouring a cuppa on average, every 2 hours and 20 minutes whilst, people aged 18-34 were least likely to offer a tradesperson a cup of tea at all.
The humble biscuit is also the most popular accompanying snack people will give their tradesperson with nearly half of UK adults (48 per cent) likely to do so. But for four in ten of us, that’s where our hospitality ends, with people not offering anything to accompany a cup of tea at all.
Tea Tactics
Finally, a third (32 per cent) of homeowners would offer a cup of tea to a tradesperson before work commences on a job, with one in ten (12 per cent) also happy for a tradesperson to make their own before they got the work started. The biggest reason for this is so trades can make a hot drink how they like it (44 per cent) and so people don’t have to feel awkward by asking a tradesperson what they would like (39 per cent).
Meanwhile, a further 37 per cent admit to deploying ‘tea tactics’ and will make a cup of tea for their tradesperson so they can build a good relationship to ensure a job well done.
On the other hand, those who said they did not offer a cup of tea to a tradesperson said they did so to keep their distance so as not to blur the employer/employee relationship (22 per cent) with a further 21 per cent believing tradespeople should bring their own drinks to a job.
‘’With an overwhelming 76 per cent of homeowners believing their homes have room for improvement, we can expect to see a lot more tradespeople in and around our homes conducting work,‘’ said Mike Fairman, CEO of Checkatrade. ’’Offering a tradesperson a hot drink is all part of homeowner etiquette, and we hope when you next put the kettle on, you extend a cuppa to your tradesperson too.’’
To find a verified tradesperson for your next home improvement or renovation visit Checkatrade.com.
