Parents would prefer their kids to work in the trades over being a Doctor, Dentist, or Lawyer

MORE than 15% of parents would choose a career in the trades for their children, making it the most desired profession amongst a variety of occupations, according to brand new research.

The data, taken from a survey commissioned by MyBuilder.Com, a platform that matches reliable tradespeople to homeowners, asked parents to state which profession they would most like to see their children choose. Those careers long accepted as desirable professions, such as Doctors, Dentists, veterinarians, and Lawyers, were not as popular as a career in skilled trades, including:- electricians, carpenters, builders, and plumbers. In light of the progression of artificial intelligence (AI) in the workplace; which could be seen as a threat to many job roles in the future; trades are increasingly seen as a safe industry.

A role within skilled trades was chosen by 15% of parents, while the 2nd choice was a career as a medical Doctor at 12%, or working in IT, also with 12% of votes. Accountancy and law both received 8% of the vote. Teaching gained 7% with Dentistry at 6%. A career in the Emergency Services received 4% of the vote, alongside Marketing, Sales and Social Influencer.

The full list of most popular careers selected:-

• Tradesperson 15% (Electrician, Builder, Plumber Or Carpenter)
   

• Doctor 12%
   

• Software Developer 12%
   

• Web Developer 10%
   

• Lawyer / Legal 8%
   

• Accountant / Finance 8%
   

• Teaching 7%
   

• Veterinarian 7%
   

• Investment / Banking 6%
   

• Dentist 6%
   

• Social Media Influencer 4%
   

• Marketing / Advertising 4%
   

• Sales 4%
   

• Emergency Services 4%
   

• Fitness / Personal Trainer 3%

The full Career Choice For Children Report can be seen here.

The age of parents asked showed an interesting split in opinion, as the younger demographic was the keenest to see their children with a career in trades. 18% of parents aged:- 18 to 34 said they would choose trades, whereas only 13% of parents aged between:- 35 to 54, would choose this route. The figure rose again in the over 55s age group, with 15% stating a role in the trades would be their hope for their offspring.

The results could not come at a better time, as statistics show the skills shortage within the construction industry. Despite the fact that this shortage continues to widen, the trades are still not being pushed enough as a career option. Many young people instead are funnelled into further academic education; and even degrees; even if this is not the best option for them. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has recently spoken out on this issue, warning that many students are being:- "ripped off" with bad degrees.

MyBuilder also spoke to several tradespeople who use their platform to find clients, to better understand their route to entry and where their career path has taken them.

Scott and Frank McBride are a father and son team who work as plasterers. Scott said that he believes younger people are not always aware of the opportunities a career in trades offers:- "When I was 16, I knew plenty of older boys who had gone into skilled trades and they had cars, nice houses; it was really aspirational to work in trades. I started an apprenticeship at 16, and by 23 was in a position to offer to buy my parents' house! My son followed me into plastering as he already knew the path it could take him on. He also took an apprenticeship and now works alongside me, and he's never looked back. But if he hadn't had a father who worked successfully in trades, I'm not sure if he'd have taken that route as it doesn't seem to be promoted as an option in Schools; they seem keener to push kids into further academic studies, regardless of whether that's the right route for them. I knew I wanted to work in trades as I had seen 1st hand the potential that career offers. But they didn't really push it at School, and I might have ended up missing out if I hadn't had family in the job. It's so flexible to work in trades; you can work for a company or go self-employed and there's always an opportunity to work extra if you want to. It's good money and even now in my early 20s I'm able to save for the future."

Carpenter Dan Chaney began an apprenticeship after a labourer friend suggested it:- "School never pushed the idea of apprenticeships, even though I was not a great candidate for A Levels and beyond. There needs to be more education for young people about the opportunities of a career in skilled trades; particularly in helping them see beyond the few years of low pay during an apprenticeship. It's a means to an end, and after it's completed the potential is endless."

Diana Montador, VP of Customer Insights at MyBuilder.com said:- "Our data shows that a career in the skilled trades is something parents would encourage their children to consider; which could not come at a better time. It's been obvious for many years that there is a serious shortage of skilled trades in this country. The 2023 UK Trade Skills Index confirms how large the skills gap is within the construction industry, with hundreds of thousands of new recruits needed by 2032. What's most concerning is that this shortage continues to rise. Our data shows that parents are now seeing the appeal of a career in skilled trades for their children and we welcome any efforts to raise the profile of the industry to young people."

RSPCA fears for wildlife as fishing litter injuries rocket over summer

A summer rise in reports of animals injured by discarded fishing litter has prompted the RSPCA to issue a stark warning to new and inexperienced anglers.

The warning comes as the number of calls in 2022 to the charity reporting wildlife injured by angling litter (such as old fishing line, weights and barbed hooks) almost doubled over the summer, rocketing by 97%, with 186 reports in July compared to 94 in January.

National Fishing Month stated on:- 1 August and runs until:- 31 August 2023, during that time the charity suspects that amid forecasted warmer weather and Schools breaking up, more people are taking up outdoor activities, such as fishing for the 1st time. Inexperience, however, can sadly lead to more dangerously discarded angling litter.

The RSPCA received 1,245 calls about fishing litter across England and Wales throughout 2022, with 49.3% (614) of those calls made between:- June and September.

Across England and Wales, these 5 counties where fishing litter reports were most numerous in 2022:-

• Staffordshire (75)
   

• Greater Manchester (71)
   

• Merseyside (60)
   

• West Midlands (58)
   

• Greater London (56)

RSPCA senior scientific Officer Evie Button said:- "This seasonal, summer leap in the number of calls about wild animals injured by fishing litter is a real cause for concern. Animals like swans, geese and even hedgehogs are swallowing lethal fish hooks or piercing their beaks, or their wings or legs are getting tangled up in fishing line. They're suffering all sorts of awful injuries, sometimes with tragic consequences. Our inspectors and Officers are working hard to rescue as many of these stricken animals as they can. Thankfully, many can be saved but they may require a lot of care, treatment and rehabilitation. Others aren't so lucky and sometimes their injuries are just too severe for them to survive. It's tragic for animal lovers like us to see the effects of this discarded litter, especially when there is such a simple solution: clear up your litter; whether it's fishing related or general; and take it home with you. We're particularly concerned that this rise in angling litter injuries may be due to new and inexperienced anglers taking up the activity, as most experienced anglers are very responsible when it comes to wildlife and taking care of their equipment; so it's more important than ever to get the message out there."

Recent cases where the RSPCA's team of rescuers have been called to help wildlife injured by angling litter include:-

• Cheshire = A hedgehog sadly could not be saved after swallowing a fishing hook and line in Nantwich, in October 2022.
   

• Staffordshire = A Canada Goose in Stoke on Trent was rescued by the charity in May 2022 when she became entangled in a discarded fishing line.
   

• Greater Manchester = A pigeon was left hanging from a tree over a lake and a swan will have a permanent hole in his tongue after both birds were victims of carelessly discarded fishing tackle following 2 incidents in April 2023.
   

• Merseyside = A swan on Eccleston Mere, in St Helens, had a lucky escape after a hook pierced her neck and she became entangled in fishing line. An RSPCA Officer was able to catch her and carefully cut off the fishing line. Though the hook had pierced the swan's neck, it had thankfully not caused her serious injury.
   

• Devon = A swan with 2 fishing hooks embedded in his neck and bill in Totnes was rescued by an RSPCA team in June 2023. Fortunately, once the lethal items had carefully been removed, he was returned to the wild.
   

• Durham = On July 2023 a discarded fishing hook claimed the life of a cygnet in Durham after it became embedded in the young bird's neck and tore its esophagus.
   

• Suffolk = A Canada goose and a swan both became trapped by the same length of fishing line in a marina in Ipswich in December 2022. An RSPCA Officer successfully disentangled them and luckily they were unharmed.

Sadly, it only takes 1 careless person to endanger the life of an animal by not disposing of fishing litter. The RSPCA urges all anglers to follow the Angling Trust's Take 5 campaign and make use of the recycling scheme about to dispose of waste tackle and line.

Evie added:- "Most anglers are very responsible when disposing of their litter, but unfortunately it only takes 1 piece of snagged or discarded fishing line to endanger the life of an animal. Discarded line, in particular, is a terrible hazard for wildlife, especially as it can be almost invisible. We're asking all anglers to be extra cautious and make sure nothing is left behind by following our simple steps to protect the environment and wildlife from harm."

Best practice guidelines include:-

• Take old fishing line and spools to recycling points in local tackle shops or fisheries. Your nearest recycling point can be found on the Anglers National Line Recycling Scheme (ANLRS) website. Alternatively, old fishing line can be posted to the address on the ANLRS page.
   

• Be aware of surrounding trees; discarded line caught in foliage causes problems for wildlife.
   

• Don't leave bait unattended; always remove it from the hook and put it in a safe place.
   

• Use a reusable bait container. Don't take bait in tins.
   

• Dispose of any litter you see, even if it's not your own.
   

• Anglers can visit the RSPCA website for more information about disposing of fishing litter properly.

The warning comes at an exceptionally busy time for RSPCA Officers on the frontline. The charity has created an animation to explain how people can best help animals in need. Every time a small wild animal is helped by the public it frees up the charity's vital specialist rescuers to reach animals suffering heartbreaking cruelty and neglect, a job no other charity does.

The RSPCA urgently needs more people to help so they have produced some quick and easy tools at:- RSPCA.Org.UK to support people to get wildlife the help they need as quickly as possible.

To help the RSPCA continue rescuing, rehabilitating and re-homing animals in desperate need of care please visit the charity's website or call our donation line on:- 03001238181.

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