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Laid-Off Tradesmen ‘Get On Their Bytes’ And Look For Work

Posted: 23/07/08
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Thousands of skilled tradesmen who face redundancy from their companies have found a new way to remain in the UK job market – thanks to the power of the internet and some clever German technology.

Builders, plumbers and electricians are among the thousands of workers who are ‘getting on their bytes’ to register with free job auction website eGenie.co.uk after finding themselves out of work.

But instead of taking Norman Tebbit’s infamous advice and going out to look for work they can now showcase their skills to the public from home.

There are more than a thousand requests – ranging from central heating repairs, loft conversions, bathroom tiling, gardening and even laying a go-kart track – on the eGenie web site and hundreds of laid-off workers are registering to bid for a slice of the action.

This is good news for consumers as competition means lower quotes and more service providers available for work, whose skills are evaluated both by the eGenie.co.uk team diligently checking the tradesmen’s credentials and through independent customer ratings.

“The eGenie.co.uk website offers a win-win situation,” says founder Stefan Troester. “People posting wishes get great value work from qualified providers, who in turn can pitch for more than a thousand genuine jobs. Our customers save on average 30% on the going rate for these jobs and get the best value as they decide which quote to go for depending not just on price but also the skills and reputation of the service provider.”

Despite major job losses in recent weeks, especially in the construction industry, employment levels have never been higher – suggesting that laid-off labourers are taking Tebbit’s advice.

“We have seen a surge of skilled workers registering for eGenie.co.uk in the last fortnight,” says Troester. “There’s clearly a sense of pride among workers who are determined to tackle the financial downturn with their heads held high. What better way than building your own business and reputation online in a thriving marketplace?”

Based on an award-winning website from Germany, eGenie.co.uk deals with hundreds of requests daily from householders looking for skilled trades people to carry out building, repair or decoration work on their homes. Recent figures show that fewer people are moving home and instead opting for improvements to add value to their properties while they ride out the credit crunch.

eGenie.co.uk gives consumers free access to reliable, qualified professionals and enables them to get the best quote for the job through an auction system. Trades people post their credentials online and householders rate their services so consumers can steer clear of being ripped off.

As well as general repairs, wishes posted on eGenie.co.uk are also more outlandish – like one man from Manchester who wants to shower his fiancé with roses scattered from a helicopter.

Contact Name: Stephan Troester
Company: Portalunlimited Ltd
Contact Email: click to reveal e-mail
Contact Phone: +44 (0) 20 81 44 63 48
Company Website: http://www.egenie.co.uk