Does this work in the UK?

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It's a tricky balance between regulation and the freedom for people to do whatever they like for themselves, or indeed for capable individuals to make a living by doing 'odd jobs' for an increasingly elderly and practically-inept society that has a need for such people.
Sure trades like building and gas fitting need tight control. But electrics at the moment is a farce with what you're allowed to do and what is notifiable ...which is why so many people just ignore the legislation.
Gone are the days when you built a reputation and could then survive on it because the web has created a facade behind which the most rank amateur can present himself (or herself) as an esteemed and experienced pro.
I agree the DIY programs scare people into believing all traders are rogues in just the same way that parents these days are scared by the news into thinking everyone is a paedophile.

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Originally Posted by fiftyintheclip

I agree 100%. And why on earth would anyone pay to join a governing body which regulates an unregulated industry like the handyman industry or the painting and decorating industry?

I'm a handyman and the reason I started the UK Guild of Handymen was because I couldn't find a suitable body I wanted to join.
It is not necessarily about regulation of the industry but more about creating a quality benchmark that traders can aspire to so that the end consumer can be more confident that aren't getting a cowboy.
And along the way if you can increase an industry sector's profile and offer your membership some collective deals like say on PL insurance, then you have your answer.

[fiftyintheclip]

Originally Posted by adbase

I'm a handyman and the reason I started the UK Guild of Handymen was because I couldn't find a suitable body I wanted to join.
It is not necessarily about regulation of the industry but more about creating a quality benchmark that traders can aspire to so that the end consumer can be more confident that aren't getting a cowboy.
And along the way if you can increase an industry sector's profile and offer your membership some collective deals like say on PL insurance, then you have your answer.

I'm an electrician and since the advent of Part P, which legally compels all of England's domestic sparks to join organizations like the NICEIC, which cost upwards of about £500 a year plus insurance, re tape expenses and training, there have never been so many unhappy sparks.

How do you assess your handyman and regulate the quality of their work? Do you carry out an annual visit to inspect work, references and qualifications?

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Originally Posted by fiftyintheclip

I'm an electrician and since the advent of Part P, which legally compels all of England's domestic sparks to join organizations like the NICEIC, which cost upwards of about £500 a year plus insurance, re tape expenses and training, there have never been so many unhappy sparks.

How do you assess your handyman and regulate the quality of their work? Do you carry out an annual visit to inspect work, references and qualifications?

The problem is that a handyman is expected to be able to do so many things that it is almost impossible to regulate.

The measure of a good handyman has as much to do with his versatility as his quality so we try to cover both in our entry criteria. The online test checks for versatility/experience and the independently assessed reviews (on a site like Freeindex) measures quality/customer satisfaction.

There are no recognised qualifications for handymen which again reflects the difficulty in covering the huge scope of possible work they might be asked to do. This workload is often made up of odds and ends that other trades would not be interested in or where engaging each of the proper trades would not make economic sense to the consumer.

A typical list handed to a handymen by say an elderly woman could be—
Fix up new toilet roll holder
Change blown bulb in external security lamp.
Clear out gutters
Fix dripping outside tap
Hang a heavy mirror
Repair/replace curtain rail that has fallen down
Remove ivy from around bay window

How might such a list of work be regulated? ...or even quality inspected in a practical way?

And if any of the jobs were done badly the consequences are not as life threatening as the potential work of a sparky, builder or gas fitter so the regulatory imperative is not nearly so great.