New research from Direct Line business insurance has found that 74% of tradespeople have upskilled themselves, enabling them to install green technology for clients – as nearly 80% of tradespeople have seen an increased demand for greener tech.

This increase in demand is being driven by a number of factors, mainly reducing energy consumption to save money during the ongoing cost of living crisis – with almost 40% of tradespeople believing this to be the main reason.

Other key factors driving demand include the idea that energy efficiency can increase the value of homes (37%), the desire to futureproof homes as we move away from gas and oil reliance (31%), having more accessible and convenient electric vehicles (EV) charging (30%), as well as complying with the new Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES) (28%) which requires landlords to have an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of E or above in their properties.

Further factors include the general desire to be more environmentally friendly (25%), and the availability of government incentives such as grants, tax credits or rebates (23%).

Green services increasing in demand

When it comes to services in higher demand, two in five (39%) tradespeople have seen increased demand for Wi-Fi and smart lighting installations. Other increasingly popular installations include solar panels (38%), electric radiators (29%), EV chargers (29%), electric boilers (28%), air heat pumps (27%), underfloor heating (26%), and electric energy storage systems (25%).

Tradespeople are conscious of the benefits of upskilling, but many seem to give a positive outlook on the prospect of upskilling. Over a third (37%) say it will create opportunities for a greater array of work, 34% say upskilling will make them more employable, or that they are future-proofing their business and workforce – and a third say they are upskilling to meet client demands.

Alison Traboulsi, Product Manager at Direct Line business insurance commented: “With ambitious net zero targets, the skills required to install green technology will be in huge demand in the coming years.

“It is encouraging to see the majority of tradespeople taking proactive steps to expand their skills set to meet this growing demand. By upskilling themselves, they are demonstrating their commitment to supporting customers in their transition to greener technology.”

To discover a wide range of trade supplies and wholesale stock, including a wide variety of energy efficient products, visit your local Stax Trade Centre today or browse online at www.staxtradecentres.co.uk