Four in five UK electricians don’t feel confident discussing sustainability

Sustainability is a growing concern for customers when hiring tradespeople, but four in five (80%) UK electricians are unaware how to make their work more eco-friendly.

A new study by ElectricalDirect, the specialist retailer of electrical products, found that a quarter (25%) of clients are now more eco-conscious than they used to be, and over the last year, more than a fifth (22%) of electricians have been directly asked about their environmental impact.

However, the vast majority of workers are not sure how to become more sustainable and more than four in five (82%) say they don’t feel confident discussing the topic with customers.

This lack of awareness could explain why so few electricians actively try to reduce their impact on the planet. Fewer than one in five (18%) say they consciously try to work sustainably.

For some, finances are a major factor. One in six (17%) say they can’t afford to become more eco-friendly due to the extra costs involved.

Nevertheless, with many customers now favouring tradespeople with green credentials, electricians could potentially start to miss out on work if they don’t make changes.

Almost two in five (37%) Brits try to only use companies who are socially and environmentally responsible, so there’s a strong business case for sustainability, on top of the wider benefits.