Dulux Trade steps up to help professional decorators with new business advice hub

As the industry wrestles with the continued impact of Coronavirus, Dulux Trade has launched an online support hub exclusively for painters and decorators.

Providing expert advice and training, it aims to equip businesses with the skills and information to overcome current challenges and emerge stronger as restrictions are lifted.

It comes as new research carried out by Dulux Trade reveals that as many as one quarter (24 per cent) of the nation’s painters and decorators have had to leave the industry temporarily as a result of the crisis.

That could see the workforce shrink by over 100,000 from a previous total of 438,000*.

While many are hopeful of returning as restrictions are lifted, close to one in 10 (7.8 per cent), or 34,000, are at risk of being forced to abandon the profession for good.

To offset this and attempt to keep as many businesses active as we see an easing of lockdown restrictions, the new Dulux Trade hub will offer a variety of resources for the professional.

These include:

• Expert advice on how to ensure professionals are ready to restart when the time is right for them
• Practical free-of-charge training courses for decorators from the Dulux Academy
• Guides to the support available from the Government

The Dulux Trade research also discovered the extent to which demand has shrunk - with a decline of 77 per cent in the domestic sector and 49 per cent over all.

The vast majority (80 per cent) of jobs have been postponed rather than cancelled outright - primarily due to the difficulties in maintaining adequate social distancing in the work environment.

Rebecca Orton, Marketing Communications Lead at Dulux Trade says: ““We know that the situation is having a devastating financial impact on decorators with nearly four in ten (39 per cent) saying they are ‘just getting by’ financially and half (49 per cent) worried they do not have enough savings to support themselves until they receive Government aid.

“It’s clear that many are experiencing real hardship at the moment.

“We are determined to help the nation’s professional decorators get their businesses back on track in a way that’s safe for everyone now restrictions are easing.”

“We have always stood shoulder to shoulder with our professional customers and no one understands their business better. The Dulux Trade experts are providing essential advice on a whole range of topics - from the government support available to how to future-proof your business to be in the best possible position over the coming months.”

To access the Dulux Trade hub, visit: www.duluxtradepaintexpert.co.uk/content/covid-19-hub-page

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Notes to Editors

* Survey of 600 tradespeople carried out in April