Starting Out
29 guides in this section
Setting Up a Limited Company for Construction: Is It Worth It?
Should you set up a limited company for construction work? Pros, cons, costs and step-by-step setup explained in plain English.
Read this firstGetting Started
First Day on Site Checklist: Everything You Need Sorted Before You Start
Printable first day checklist for construction workers. Paperwork, CSCS card, PPE, tools, tax and everything to sort before you start on site.
What Nobody Tells You Before You Start in Construction
The honest truth about working in construction. Hours, money, physical toll, site culture and what nobody warns you about before you start.
Your First Day on Site: What to Expect and What to Ask
What to expect on your first day on a construction site. Inductions, safety rules and your legal rights explained simply.
Cards, Tickets & Site Access
Setting Up Your Business
Do You Need a Business Bank Account? How to Open One
Do you need a business bank account as a sole trader or limited company? Why it matters, what to look for and how to open one fast.
Setting Up as a Sole Trader in Construction: Step by Step
How to set up as a sole trader in construction. HMRC registration, tax, record-keeping and what personal liability actually means.
Understanding Your Pay
What Can You Claim on Expenses? A Guide for New Tradespeople
What expenses you can claim as a self-employed construction worker. Tools, travel, phone, van and more from day one to cut your tax bill.
National Insurance Explained: What It Is, What You Pay, How to Avoid Gaps
National Insurance explained for construction workers. How NI builds your State Pension, which class you pay, and how to avoid costly gaps.
Pensions in Construction: State Pension, Workplace Pension and Your Own Pot
Pensions for construction workers explained simply. State Pension, workplace pensions and private options so you are not stuck on the tools at 70.
Your First Payslip: CIS Deductions and Tax Explained
How to read your first CIS payslip. What the 20% and 30% deductions mean, what should and should not be taxed, and what to keep.
Protecting Yourself
Red Flag Contract Clauses: 10 Things to Check Before You Sign
Ten red-flag clauses to spot in construction contracts before you sign. Pay-when-paid, unlimited liability and other traps explained.
Insurance You Actually Need: Not What They Try to Sell You
Which insurance do construction workers actually need? Employers liability, public liability, tools cover and what is legally required.
Your Rights at Work
Your Rights in the First 2 Years of Employment: What You Can and Cannot Do
Your employment rights in the first 2 years on site. What you get from day one, what needs 2 years, and what is changing in 2027.
After an Accident on Site: What to Do Straight Away and What to Record
What to do after an accident on a construction site. Immediate steps, RIDDOR reporting, protecting yourself and getting evidence on paper.
Qualifications & Career
NVQs, SVQs and the Qualification Ladder: What You Need and What It Gets You
NVQs, SVQs and the construction qualification ladder explained. What each level means, how to progress and which card it unlocks.
Trained Abroad? How to Get Your Qualifications Recognised in the UK
How to get overseas construction qualifications recognised in the UK. CSCS cards, UK ENIC process and step-by-step route explained.
CITB Grants: Free Training Money That Most People Never Claim
CITB grants your employer can claim for your training. How the scheme works, what is eligible and how to make sure they actually apply.
Essential Reading
How to Write a Quote for Building Work: What to Include So You Don't Get Burned
How to write your first construction quote without getting burned. What to include, how to cover yourself and common mistakes to avoid.
Getting Paid: How to Set Payment Terms Before You Start Work
How to set payment terms before starting construction work. Your rights under the Construction Act and how to chase late payment legally.
What Does a Construction Contract Look Like? A Plain English Guide
What a construction contract actually looks like and what it should cover. Scope, payment, variations and risk explained in plain English.
Your Rights as an Apprentice: Pay, Hours and What Your Employer Must Provide
Apprenticeship pay rates and rights for 2026. Minimum wage rules, training entitlements and what your employer must provide by law.
Self-Employed or Employed? How to Know What You Actually Are
Self-employed vs employed vs worker in construction. How your status affects tax, rights and pay, plus what IR35 means for you.
Construction Jargon Explained: Site Terms in Plain English
Construction jargon decoded in plain English. Common site terms, drawing abbreviations and roles explained so you know what people mean.
When Something Goes Wrong on Site: Who's Responsible?
Who is responsible when something goes wrong on a construction site? How the law splits duties between employers, contractors and workers.
Which Trade Should You Choose? Realistic Pay and Routes In
Realistic earning potential for UK construction trades in 2025-26. Electrician, plumber, bricklayer, chippy and more with actual pay figures.
PPE and Tools: What You Buy vs What Your Employer Provides
What PPE your employer must provide free by law and what tools you buy yourself. Know your rights before spending your own money.
How to Register for CIS: Step by Step for New Starters
How to register for CIS with HMRC step by step. Avoid the 30% deduction rate and get your construction tax sorted from the start.
Site Inductions: What Happens and What You Should Be Told
What site rules and inductions should cover by law. Know what a proper induction looks like so you can spot when corners are being cut.