New data reveals plumbing and heating profession at breaking point as skills gap widens
The latest State of Trade report from the Plumbing and Heating Federation (SNIPEF) has revealed a critical shortage of skilled workers, amid chronic funding stagnation, that threatens the nation’s economic resilience.
Three consecutive quarters of survey data now confirm that the plumbing and heating profession is facing a deepening skills crisis, with nearly 70% of businesses
reporting low availability of skilled professionals and fewer than one in four planning to recruit apprentices.
The Q1 2025 survey paints a stark picture of a profession under pressure. While day-to-day trading conditions remain stable, confidence in the UK economy is slipping and caution is rising, driven by increasing material and national insurance costs, as well as an under-replenished workforce.
Fiona Hodgson, Chief Executive of SNIPEF, said: “We are now seeing the cumulative impact of government inaction, with funding support frozen for more than eight years. Our members continue to demonstrate remarkable resilience amid ongoing global economic uncertainty, but resilience alone cannot replace the need for a skilled and sustainable workforce.
The Q1 2025 State of Trade survey was conducted between 24th-31st March 2025, with responses gathered from over 700 plumbing and heating businesses and affiliated organisations across Scotland and Northern Ireland.
The full Q1 2025 State of Trade report can be found at: www.snipef.org/publications
