Ian Hodgkinson

Builder. TV Project Manager on DIY SOS 40+ years on the trowel. Still learning. Real builds. Real people. UK | Enquiries: DM

[Ian Hodgkinson @HodgkinsonBuild]

#contractors #supplychain #propertydevelopment #trades #businessstrategy #leadership #housingcrisis

Curious what others are seeing on the ground right now…

Are your orders holding up or starting to dip?
Are clients pushing decisions back or still committing?
And are you finding more availability in labour and materials?

Feels like a shift but is it regional or across the board?

Drop your thoughts below 👍

[Ian Hodgkinson @HodgkinsonBuild]

Still hearing “there’s no work out there”…

We’re flat out.

Bricklayers required across the Midlands.

Good sites. Organised jobs. No messing about.

We’re looking for lads who turn up, crack on, and take pride in what they build.

• Immediate starts
• Proper runs of work
• Rates negotiable
• CSCS required
• Own tools essential

If you’re sat waiting for the phone to ring… this is it.

Ring or WhatsApp Jack Smith on 07527 888176

Or tag someone who should be on this job 👇

Bricklayers Online ™️ 🧱
Robert Hodgkinson

#BricklayersWanted #ConstructionUK #MidlandsJobs #OnTheTools #HiringNow #SkilledTrades #Bricklaying

[Ian Hodgkinson @HodgkinsonBuild]

Bricklayers Required .. Hereford

Ring or message Jack Smith on 07527 888176

On site. Ready to go. Just need the right lads to match it.

We’re looking for experienced bricklayers to join a solid team on a well-organised job in Hereford.

• Immediate start
• Good runs of work
• Great Rates
• CSCS required
• Own tools essential

No nonsense job, decent setup, and a team that knows what they’re doing.

If you’re interested, or know someone who is, message me direct.
@bricklayers_o
@BricklayersO

#BricklayersWanted #HerefordJobs #Bricklaying #ConstructionJobs #UKConstruction #OnTheTools #CSCS #TradesUK #BuildingSite #Masonry
@EastMidsMasonry
@BuilderNewsUk

[Ian Hodgkinson @HodgkinsonBuild]

This is how I used to look on site back in the day 👷‍♂️

Hands took a beating cuts, burns… just “part of the job”

From marigolds to proper PPE… things have changed

Proud to be working with Wonder Grip® proper hand protection that actually works

But I still see lads not wearing gloves… why ❓

Your hands are your livelihood protect them 🤚🏻

@wondergripoff #GlovesOn

[Ian Hodgkinson @HodgkinsonBuild]

THE REAL APPRENTICESHIP CRISIS AND WHY IT’S NOT WHAT PEOPLE THINK

This was mentioned in The Sun on Sunday three times yesterday and for once, they’ve absolutely hit the nail on the head.

Let’s be clear.

The issue is not getting youngsters into the trade.

Colleges are full. Training centres are full. There is no shortage of young people who want to learn a trade, earn a living, and build a future.

The problem sits somewhere else entirely.

The bottleneck is at the doorstep of employers and major contractors.

Right now, the burden of training is falling heavily on small firms and subcontractors the very people who are already under pressure just to keep the lights on.

Minimum wage increases, the cost of living, insurance, supervision, lost productivity it all adds up.

And the reality is simple:

Many firms just cannot afford to take apprentices on anymore.

That’s the uncomfortable truth.

It’s also why we’re seeing shocking numbers with around 67% of youngsters who start college courses never making it through into the industry.

Not because they don’t want it.
Not because they’re not capable.

But because there’s no clear route from training into real work.

We talk about skills shortages.
We talk about labour gaps.

But until we fix that broken link between education and employment, nothing changes.

That’s why what The Sun on Sunday is doing right now matters.

They’re not just talking about the issue they’re creating opportunity.

If you’re a young person looking to get into the trade, or a business that can offer work experience, this is your chance to connect.

Email: [email protected]

Because here’s the reality of our industry:

Most opportunities don’t come from applications.
They come from relationships.

Sometimes, the way in is simple:
Turn up early.
Work hard.
Be someone people want on site.
Have the right attitude and a willingness to learn.

That still counts for everything.

I’m grateful to The Sun on Sunday for highlighting what is, in my view, the biggest issue facing our trade right now.

It’s something I’ve been banging the drum about for a long time.

Good to see others stepping up and recognising it too.

Now we need action

Can you help ?

#construction #apprenticeships #skillsgap #bricklaying
#buildingbritain

[Ian Hodgkinson @HodgkinsonBuild]

A NEET Idea that ends up in @TheSun
A couple of weeks ago I put a post out asking for a youngster to come on site for a day’s work experience.

This is what it was all about.

That one opportunity turned into something much bigger and ended up being featured in a national piece with The Sun on Sunday as part of the #BuildaBetterBritain campaign, which I’m very grateful to be involved in.

But the message hasn’t changed.

There are plenty of youngsters out there who want to work.
What they’re missing is opportunity.

I had Kai on site keen, willing, ready to graft.
Exactly what our trade needs.

Yet he’s sent out dozens of applications and can’t get a foot in the door.

That’s the reality right now in our industry.

We talk about skills shortages…
We talk about labour gaps…

But the truth is:
The burden of training sits with small firms and subcontractors and many simply can’t afford it anymore.

This was never just about giving someone a day’s experience.

It was about highlighting the real issue facing our trade and our youngsters.

Big thanks to:
   •   @EastMidsMasonry and @MilwaukeeTool for supplying the tools and @wondergripoff supplying the safety gloves
   •   @byMilestone for making the day happen

If we want to protect the future of construction, we need to start opening doors not closing them.

One day. One opportunity. One foot in the door. That’s all it takes give somebody that one chance.

#construction #apprenticeships #skillsgap #NEET #buildingbritain

[Megan Milstead @meganmilsteadd]

Looking to speak with an asbestos surveyor and removal contractor for a Homebuilding & Renovating feature #journorequest

[Ian Hodgkinson @HodgkinsonBuild]

@MediaMatchMaker I could comment on this but there is no link

[Ian Hodgkinson @HodgkinsonBuild]

National #Bagpipe day today!!

[Ian Hodgkinson @HodgkinsonBuild]

This is two of @EastMidsMasonry apprentices Mason and Yannis.

With their permission, we wanted to share this because at East Midlands Masonry we believe in putting our money where our mouth is when it comes to apprenticeships.

Our approach is simple. Pair apprentices with experienced bricklayers early, get them on the tools as soon as it’s safe and sensible, and let them soak up real site experience. Confidence, attitude and pride don’t come from a classroom alone they’re built on site, day in, day out.

Apprentices need nurturing. They need guidance, patience and good role models around them. Taking apprentices on isn’t cheap and it isn’t easy it’s a real investment of time, money and effort but getting the right people and supporting them properly is how you build strong teams and a strong future for the trade.

Mason and Yannis are doing well, and we’re proud of the progress they’re making. They’re the future of bricklaying, and they deserve to be looked after, taught properly and given the chance to succeed.

This is how we do it.

#Apprenticeships
#Bricklaying
#NextGeneration
#ConstructionSkills
#InvestingInPeople
#OnSiteLearning
#TradePride
#EastMidlandsMasonry
#BuildingTheFuture
#SkillsNotShortcuts

[Ian Hodgkinson @HodgkinsonBuild]

@EastMidsMasonry 👍🏻

[Ian Hodgkinson @HodgkinsonBuild]

#Adopt an apprentice! It’s Apprenticeship Week 👷‍♂️🔥

If you’re a builder, contractor, subbie or business owner and you’re moaning there’s “no young ones coming through” this is the week to do something about it.

There are good, hungry youngsters out there desperate for a start. I’ve shared a few over the last couple of weeks and guess what… a couple have already been taken on by decent bricklaying firms and contractors. Life-changing stuff.

You don’t need to overthink it. Give them a chance, give them guidance, give them standards. They’ll give you graft, loyalty and the future of your trade.

If you’ve got room for an apprentice, shout about it. If you know a youngster who wants in, put them forward. Let’s stop talking about the skills shortage and actually fix it.

This industry gave me everything. Time to pass it on. 💪. #ApprenticeshipWeek
#AdoptAnApprentice
#ConstructionCareers
#FutureOfTheTrade

[Ian Hodgkinson @HodgkinsonBuild]

Project managing this one for Game Face up at The Printworks in Manchester it’s a wrap. Have a quick look at what we’ve been up to. What’s been achieved over the last five weeks has been awesome. Quality, quality, quality. Delivery, delivery, delivery. All spot on and all done safely.

Let’s see where I go next. Let’s see what happens. See you on the next one.

#GameFace
#PrintworksManchester
#ProjectManagement
#ConstructionLife
#RetailFitOut
#DeliveredSafely
#QualityBuild
#TeamEffort

[Ian Hodgkinson @HodgkinsonBuild]

These are some of the lads who’ve taken part in the build for Game Face at The Printworks, Manchester.
Big thanks to Steadfast and Hargreaves Stocks, along with the painters the main lads Chris, Paul, John, Dan and Dec. Top effort all round. All kitted out in our Wonder Grip gloves too massive thanks to Wonder Grip for the support. That’s a wrap on this one… onto the next 👊 #GameFace
#FitOut
#ProjectManagement
#RetailDesign
#ConstructionLife
#TeamWork
#DeliveredEarly
#ManchesterBuild
#QualityWork
@wondergrip16
@gamefaceshow

[Ian Hodgkinson @HodgkinsonBuild]

@BuilderNewsUk 👍🏻

[Ian Hodgkinson @HodgkinsonBuild]

@BuilderNewsUk @thetimes 👍🏻

[Ian Hodgkinson @HodgkinsonBuild]

BRICK REALITY CHECK: WE’RE LAYING FEWER BRICKS THAN OUR GRANDFATHERS DID

There was an article in @thetimes yesterday about concrete demand hitting a 75-year low.
About eight months ago, I flagged that concrete was already at a 60-year low.

But let’s talk bricks because the picture is just as stark.

In the 1960s and 70s, the UK was producing and laying 6–7 billion bricks a year.
In 1938, estimates suggest production reached around 8 billion bricks.

Fast forward to last year…
The UK produced just 1.3 billion bricks.

That’s not a slowdown.
That’s a collapse.

We’re now laying around one-fifth of the bricks we were laying 50–70 years ago at a time when the population is bigger, housing need is greater, and everyone agrees we’re short hundreds of thousands of homes.

This isn’t about nostalgia or “the good old days”.
It’s about capacity, skills, confidence and demand.

When brick demand falls this far:
• yards shut
• factories mothball
• skills are lost
• apprentices don’t get taken on

And just like concrete, once that capacity is gone, it doesn’t come back overnight.

We can’t talk seriously about fixing the housing crisis while ignoring the most basic indicators of whether we’re actually building anything.

When brick volumes are this low, the country simply isn’t building at scale.

👉 What are your thoughts ? are we finally at the point where the industry needs real intervention, not just warm words?

@meganmilsteadd
@BricklayersO

#Construction #Bricklaying #HousingCrisis #Apprenticeships #UKBuilding #SkillsCrisis

[Ian Hodgkinson @HodgkinsonBuild]

Took @MrNickKnowles all day to paint this master piece 😂 🎨 🧑‍🎨 🧹

[Nick Knowles @MrNickKnowles]

The ⁦@DIYSOS⁩ team re-imagined as a painting by Rembrandt - The Night Watch

[Ian Hodgkinson @HodgkinsonBuild]

@MrNickKnowles @DIYSOS Awesome! 🙌🏻

[Ian Hodgkinson @HodgkinsonBuild]

Great advice for the morning I’m going to do this !

[Healing Tai Chi @GymBr_o]

5 Ancient Chinese Exercises for total body wellness.