New research has found that installers are feeling lonely, with additional work responsibilities and a lack of support impacting their personal lives.
Mira Showers surveyed 500 sole traders across the UK, including 300 installers and plumbers.
The research revealed that one in five installers in the UK feel lonely on the job. Over 50% cited a lack of social interaction as the driving factor causing their loneliness.
The survey found that the absence of team collaboration was adding to the loneliness of 46% of installers and long working days were affecting 44%. A quarter said they can spend up to 90% of the day working alone.
Over a third of installers, 34%, also struggle with maintaining a good work-life balance, while 39% have difficulty sharing work-related concerns with others.
The research revealed that on-the-job isolation has caused 28% of installers to feel stressed at work, while 26% admit to feeling overwhelmed. A total of 65% of installers agree that they often struggle with the business and administrative side of their role, which often eats into after-work hours and weekends.
A majority of installers, 75%, said that working more hours than they should do has left them feeling burnt out. This has had a negative impact on social lives for 31% and sleep quality for 30%.
A total of 62% have looked into sourcing additional support with their administrative tasks, 26% lack the budget and 23% are unaware of where to look for advice and support.
Mira Showers said it commissioned the research to shine a light on the challenges installers face when running their businesses, which often goes beyond on-site work and outside of specialisms they have been trained in.
The company added that it is taking a new approach to the content it provides on its InstallerPRO platform, available for any installer to sign up to. It will be sharing practical advice to help installers master their business, elevate their skills and balance their life.
Daniel Martin, installer channel communications at Mira Showers, said: “It can be tricky to manage workload, especially for installers and plumbers. Long days at work and relying on a workforce of one, can lead to feelings of isolation and loneliness.
“One of the biggest unseen factors in this, is when the physical job is done, there are still a lot of business and admin tasks left to do. That’s why we’re passionate about using the InstallerPRO platform to provide installers with practical, useful advice that will hopefully streamline these tasks.
“As the research has shown, installers often feel like they’re tackling the business world on their own. The InstallerPRO platform is about helping installers achieve a better balance and showing them that they’re not going at it alone.”