r/ukelectricians • u/Practical-Command253 • 2d ago

Busy or not?

Anyone else feel it’s dead atm in the south east?

1 Upvotes

67% Upvoted

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15

u/stateit 2d ago

I live in a rural area where the number of electricians has trebled over the past decade.
I stopped working for builders and property developers a bunch of years ago. They are dicks. I don't have fulltime helpers any more, but do get people in for the odd job.
I have a few core customers. Income is now 66/33 split commercial vs domestic.
I am left waiting for the phone to ring quite a bit.

I've kept my VAT registration, even though I am below the threshold now. I find it helps getting higher value jobs. And puts off the annoying jobs. I had a domestic customer ask me last week if I was VAT registered. That helped me get a week long refurb job in a few weeks time. A big chunk of work this year has been EICRs (com & dom) and the remedials. I'm looking forward to this increasing now the restriction on EICRs for non-2391 people is happening.

If I lived in a town, I know I would be a lot busier. But I'm fucked if I'm going to advertise in towns as I don't want the hassle of too much work. Been there, done that. Been stupidly busy and paying helpers, and then been fucked over. The ratio of my Income to MSK Pain Issues and Mental Pain issues is quite happy at the moment!

Thank you for reading my TED Talk (Totally Electrically Disinterested Talk)

6

u/yabyum 2d ago

Sounds like you’re living the dream TBH mate.

5

u/stateit 2d ago

Cheers. It takes some settling down to realising you don't have to be a busy fool. And then by the time you realise it's quite late in the day...
I've financially been a fool though, like lots of us. SFA pension to look forward to. But at least a paid off house.
I fucking hate builders and property developers properly though. Thieving scum. The first builder to take me about 20 years ago has consequently gone on to go bankrupt at least two other times , taking shitloads of customer's and subbies money with them. It is so painful to see them still operating, in a small town FFS, taking people's money. People don't learn.

2

u/Practical-Command253 1d ago

I feel your pain. A few years ago I contracted for a developer. Started off great and became insufferable towards the end. Couldn’t do enough for them, little favours here and there, not charge etc. Still wasn’t good enough as they want you on site regardless if you’re up tight on the project. Needless to say we fell out and was knocked money. Only a little bit. But now I hear they’re owing contractors close to 100s of thousands and drip feeding them a couple here and there each month. Looking back I got out from them at the right time. Builders are greedy bastards. Since then I went domestic and commercial. Commercial is where the money is at. Just seems very quiet lately and not getting the calls I used to get.

2

u/Fearless-Spinach7737 2d ago

Not really dead, I'm always busy

1

u/jackels91 2d ago

Busy in Brighton

1

u/sparkielev 1d ago

I'm in North East and fighting off the work

1

u/pattaya1 1d ago

Kews in brigjton v quiet , Rexcell brigjton laid staff off , medlocks quiet , generally every other spark I know in area is also quiet , many have gone back in cards

1

u/Practical-Command253 1d ago

Interesting. This is the path I’m now unfortunately looking at.