Industry kickstart gets a Green light
THE GREEN Homes Grant announced by Chancellor Rishi Sunak should be music to the ears of UK homeowners, with more than half having already spent time renovating their homes during lockdown. Over the past three months they have spent around £5.64billion on improvements, from simple DIY to replacing worn out interiors.
Kitchens, bedrooms and living rooms have been the focus according to a survey by retailer Hillarys, which makes curtains and blinds, but with grants of up to £5,000 – and £10,000 for low earners – loft and wall insulation, low-energy lighting and new boilers are likely to be top of the list.
Around 600,000 households are expected to get the grants, aimed at supporting more than 100,000 jobs while reducing the UK’S carbon emissions.the scheme launches in September and it is likely to be a major talking point at this year’s Homebuilding & Renovating Show, postponed from its spring dates in Birmingham, Glasgow and Surrey but now going online next week.
Nick Noble, Future plc commercial and events director, says 65,000 people had registered for the shows: “We’re adapting our event concept to meet this demand as it is vital for our audience to continue having access to expert advice and inspiration for their home project, so we’re making our shows easy for people to enjoy, with no travel, risks or cost.”
The Homebuilding & Renovating Show takes place on July 24 and 25, with free registration for seminars that range from a beginner’s guide to building your own home to masterclasses on kitchen and bathroom design.
Topics such as heating and renewable energy will also be covered and viewers can find out how to locate and buy a building plot. Key self-builders and renovators will also give advice on how to avoid common mistakes. Other companies are also picking up on the new appetite for home improvements including DIY store Wickes, which is offering a free virtual design service to people interested in a kitchen or bathroom makeover – and it is available from the comfort of your own home.
Customers can make a video phone appointment viawickes’ website with a design consultant who will use 3D software to create a new layout using photographs and measurements of the room.
Consultants take customers on a video tour of model kitchens and bathrooms already set up in store – as well as tiles, splashbacks and more – then email a new design and suggestions for products required. Face-to-face consultations are also available.
“We’ve responded to how customers are interacting with brands and how their behaviour has changed in recent months,” says Mandy Minichiello, head of marketing for showroom atwickes.
But renovations are not restricted to bricks and mortar. Online trade directory Checkatrade has revealed a surge in searches for landscapers – up 214 per cent last month compared to the same time last year.there was also a 202 per cent increase in searches for fence and gate installers.
This increased demand for professionals indicates that not everybody is keen to take up DIY says a spokesman for Checkatrade: “Whether it’s due to botched jobs, or the public looking to build or extend their homes, bricklayers and painter/decorators have had a huge increase in interest.”
Scheme starts in September
● To register for the Homebuilding & Renovating Show go to homebuildingshow. vfairs.com and to book a virtual design appointment with Wickes go to wickes.co. uk/virtualdesign