I agree if you stand tall and do a campaign then that will be a sure pull for work.
I've been thinking along those lines but just not ready to stick my neck out that far yet.
It's worth doing mate. Gently, mind
There's two strands to that though - a campaign to improve trades and public understanding of the correct way to do things, is one.
I think, more essential for now, and we're already seeing evidence in terms of work quantity and so on - is that we need to be finding different ways forward in terms of survival and growth, or at least existence.
For that reason, I think the idea of a loose co-operative with other trades is diamond for now - getting four or five other trades around you who have a vested and mutual interest in recommending you, over any other sparks, and like wise, you for them.
Doing this, there's so many ways in which you can benefit everyone in the network too - opportunities open up that weren't there before, advertising is easier, in all senses, you can promote on the basis that everyone quality checks everyone else on the job, and so on.
I honestly think it's little angles like that which will pull the strongest through this current economic phase - which isn't set to improve drastically for at least a couple of years yet. We're looking at growth of only around 1.5% over the next fiscal year, according to "experts" - which realistically means you won't get any busier on your own than you are now. It's worth noting that some of that "growth" in the economy comes down to things like the increase in VAT, which doesn't benefit us at all, and cuts in services too, which also doesn't really benefit us at all.
Diversity and innovation are your friends at this time, I think. Those who can react to that, and move in new ways will win.
The fundamental problem we are all facing to some extent now too, is that however important safety is, it will ALWAYS be trumped by affordability. Humans will run the risk of death quite happily, so long as they can afford to pay the rent, and eat.
And that translates for us into a major headache in getting rid of cowboys who can "do the job" cheaper than we can by omitting all those "irrelevant" safety features we do, but they don't. Sadly, I think our only way around this, for now, is to think smarter, and try to find ways to provide the proper service, within the budgets available.
What's more worrying, is that the big companies, who got hit hardest in the recession are already using their reserves to discount heavily, to provide at least some of that service, at prices Joe Public will pay. Clearly, us little guys can't afford to do that, and survive, alone.
OK - depressing rant off - it wasn't meant to be doom and gloom, but about being positive and finding a way through the mire Labour and the banks left us with!
