'I earn £150,000 a year but people still don't take my job seriously'

19 May 2023 , 14:45

624     0

Danny Webb, 42, has hit out at how tradespeople still aren't being 'taken seriously' in society

An electrician and project manager who earns £150,000 a year has hit out at how tradespeople still aren't being "taken seriously" in society.

Danny Webb, 42, says the workload in his industry is frequently too high, so much so his mental health has suffered in recent years.

But he stressed men, particularly, in the trade sector are reluctant to discuss their mental wellbeing in fear of being called "weak".

And there's a shortage of new recruits in the industry, something Danny reckons is largely because it still isn't "taken seriously".

So, the father of one uses Instagram to act as an "electrician influencer" and try to to "make the profession look cool". As a self-employed electrician and project manager, Danny earns up to £150,000 before tax.

TOWIE's Chloe Brockett makes cheeky dig at Saffron Lempriere during filming

But, talking during Mental Health Awareness week, he told Mirror: "My social media presence is all about making our profession look 'cool' and to be taken seriously. At school I was told if I didn't do well, I'd end up on a building site.

The electrician is worried about the lack of new recruits in the construction trade (Supplied)

"The sooner this mentality changes, the sooner this issue will be taken more seriously.

"Construction workers build the buildings we sleep in, the water we wash with and the electrics that power everything we use."

The dad, who lives in Melbourne, Derbyshire, is unsurprised the trades sector will soon need almost one million new recruits just to keep pace with demand.

People are leaving it because the workload is so high, a report for Checkatrade.com's Trade Skills Index shows.

Danny trained to become a construction worker in his mid 20s (Supplied)

Danny, who uses the tag @Sparkymilan on Instagram, continued: "Dealing with management pressures, workloads without enough skilled people, hard physical graft, customers, unrealistic goals and more all add to anxieties and stress that you take home with you. Dealing with these things on top of physical work make these types of mental issues feel more unique.

"I have struggled with my mental health numerous times, everyone in the trades does. It's the same as physical health, it needs the same attention.

"But there’s a good living to be earned. And for active, creative people who like to use their hands to create and work, it’s a perfect fit.

"I personally like the fact every single day is different and, in my job specifically, I get to show my creative side when I put together installs. I enjoy stepping back at the end of the day and being able to think ‘wow, I did that’.

"In the end, hard work pays very well in this industry, so stay positive and hopefully you'll enjoy your career at the same time."

School anti-extremism group sees 'rapid rise' in cases 'related to Andrew Tate'

Some 66 per cent of of construction workers, such as roofers, don’t discuss their mental health (file image) (Getty Images)

Nevertheless, the report showed two-thirds of construction workers don’t discuss their mental health, and that men in the trades sector are three times more likely to take their own life than the average.

Mind, the mental health charity, recommends anyone struggling to create clear boundaries between work and home – by ensuring they don’t let work spill over into their personal life.

The charity also suggests workers reclaim their lunch breaks by ensuring they have time to eat, make a drink or some of the other things they need to stay energised and well.

But Danny, who before retraining to become an electrician in around 2008 sold cheap properties, said: "I’m not surprised by these stats at all. There's been great strides to try and make speaking up normal, but still many people would be scared to talk.

"Other workers around you will try to just get on with it and get the job done, so it's another pressure for fear of being replaced as you're seen as being 'weak’."

Checkatrade.com has launched its Get In programme to encourage more young people into trade careers to plug the huge skills gap.

Bradley Jolly