#19 The State of the Industry in 2026 🚨 Opportunity or Collapse?

This one’s different. No scripts. No structured lesson. Just real talk about where the trades industry is heading — and what it means for you. In this episode, Wayne and Andy break down the current state of the industry, from shrinking skill levels to the death of the old-school sole trader model We cover: 📉 Why last year felt slow for so many trades businesses 📞 How failing to answer the phone is costing you customers 🖥 Why software and systems are no longer optional 🔥 The coming extinction of the “accidental business owner” 💷 The VAT threshold debate (should it be £30k or £200k?) 👷‍♂️ Why apprenticeships are becoming financially impossible 📊 The 4,000 leaving vs 1,000 entering stat — and what it really means 🏗 The growing skills gap in the wider population 💰 Why tradesmen can earn solicitor-level money (without £53k of uni debt) This isn’t doom and gloom. It’s reality. Yes — there are challenges: • Rising wages • Making Tax Digital • Fewer apprentices • Inflation squeezing margins • Customers expecting Amazon-level service But here’s the flip side 👇 Less supply + more demand = MASSIVE opportunity. The lads who treat it like a proper business — with pricing dialled in, systems in place, flexibility for staff, and strong leadership — are going to dominate the next decade. The ones “playing at it” won’t survive. Simple as that. We also dive into: The future of employment in the trades Why flexibility will win you better engineers Why mindset is now the real separator And how to position yourself for what’s coming next If you’re serious about building something solid… If you want time, freedom, and real profit… If you can feel the industry shifting… This episode will open your eyes. The future is tough. But it’s bright — for the ones who step up. Let’s go. 🚀

You can listen to #19 The State of the Industry in 2026 🚨 Opportunity or Collapse? online on Radio and Podcast. Open the player on this page to stream the available audio.

#19 The State of the Industry in 2026 🚨 Opportunity or Collapse? is an episode from Off The Tools by Wayne Bettess.

This episode is 01:16:23 long.

This episode was published on Mar 25, 2026.

Yes. Use the heart button on the episode page to add it to your favorite episodes list.

Yes. This page shows related episodes from Off The Tools when more episodes are available from the podcast feed.