Checkatrade
{{short description|British online trade directory}}{{For|other subjects named similarly}}{{Infobox company
| name = Vetted Limited
| trade_name = Checkatrade
| logo = Checkatrade Logo 2023.svg
| type = Limited company
(subsidiary of HomeServe)
| slogan =
| area_served = United Kingdom
| foundation = {{start date and age|df=yes|1998|9}} in Selsey, West Sussex
| founder = Kevin Byrne OBE BCAb
| predecessor =
| location = Lakeside North Harbour, Portsmouth, Hampshire
| location_country = UK
| key_people = Jambu Palaniappan (CEO)
| industry =
| products =
| revenue = {{Increase}} £55.6 million {{small|(2022)}}{{cite web|url=https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/04285394 |website=Companies House|access-date=2023-05-22 |title=VETTED LIMITED overview - Find and update company information - GOV.UK }}
| operating_income =
| num_employees = 555 {{small|(2022)}}
| parent = Brookfield Corporation
| subsid =
| website = {{URL|checkatrade.com}}
| footnotes =
}}
Vetted Limited, trading as Checkatrade, is a site which connects homeowners with approved local tradespeople. It is a subsidiary of Brookfield Corporation.{{Cite web |last=Banham |first=Mark |date=2022-07-22 |title=Homeserve boosts Checkatrade members with £4.1 billion takeover on track |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/business/homeserve-boosts-checkatrade-members-with-ps4-1-billion-takeover-on-track-b1014087.html |access-date=2023-05-22 |website=Evening Standard |language=en}}
Checkatrade was founded by Kevin Byrne OBE (BCAb) and headquartered in Selsey, West Sussex, for 21 years before relocating to Portsmouth, Hampshire, in 2019 following its acquisition by HomeServe. Canadian asset management firm Brookfield acquired the company upon completing its purchase of HomeServe, Checkatrade’s parent organisation, in 2022.{{Cite news |last1=Agnew |first1=Harriet |last2=Thomas |first2=Daniel |date=2022-05-19 |title=Brookfield strikes £4bn deal for UK's HomeServe |work=Financial Times |url=https://www.ft.com/content/865ab7cd-97e0-4096-a145-8645420a680e |access-date=2023-05-22}}
In 2021, the company had more than 44,000 members.{{Cite web |date=August 13, 2021 |title=Checkatrade trusts agency to deliver digital creative {{!}} GBCC |url=https://www.greaterbirminghamchambers.com/latest-news/news/2021/8/13/checkatrade-trusts-agency-to-deliver-digital-creative/ |access-date=2023-05-22 |website=Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce |language=en}}
History
Originally known as Scout, Checkatrade was set up in September 1998 by local resident Kevin Byrne OBE BCAb after rogue traders descended on the seaside town of Selsey following a localised tornado that damaged 1,000 buildings and caused £10m in damage.{{Cite web |date=January 9, 1998 |title=BBC News {{!}} UK {{!}} Town picks up the pieces after tornado |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/45580.stm |access-date=2023-05-22 |website=BBC News}} Under the Scout name, Byrne printed and distributed a directory of local tradespeople whom he had personally checked to complete jobs in the Selsey area.{{Cite interview |last=Byrne |first=Kevin |interviewer=Jack Torrance |title=Interview: Kevin Byrne, Checkatrade - Meet the entrepreneur taking on cowboy builders |url=https://www.managementtoday.co.uk/interview-kevin-byrne-checkatrade-meet-entrepreneur-taking-cowboy-builders/article/1371712 |work=Management Today}}
Scout soon expanded to cover Chichester. In the early 2000s, the company began advertising its services on local radio and television. It also began sponsoring major sporting events as ‘Scouted Out’ around this time.{{Citn|date=June 2023}}
In 2001, a website was published called The Trade Register. This name replaced Scouted Out, reflecting the company’s growing membership across Chichester, Surrey, and South West London. In 2005, the company changed its name to Checkatrade after a government rule forbade use of the word register.{{Why|date=June 2023|reason=This is seemingly random. Please explain, there has to be a reason for this.}}{{Cite web |title=Set up a private limited company |url=https://www.gov.uk/limited-company-formation/choose-company-name |access-date=2023-05-22 |website=GOV.UK |language=en}} Checkatrade has been listed with Companies House as Vetted Ltd since 2001.{{Cite web |date=2019-05-09 |title=VETTED LIMITED - Overview (free company information from Companies House) |url=https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/company/04285394 |access-date=2023-05-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190509115153/https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/company/04285394 |archive-date=2019-05-09 }}
In 2013, Checkatrade had 100 employees, 10,000 members, and 80 directories live.{{Cite web |date=2013-07-22 |title=Recommended & Trusted Tradesmen at Checkatrade.com |url=http://www.checkatrade.com/ |access-date=2023-05-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130722180534/http://www.checkatrade.com/ |archive-date=2013-07-22 }} By 2015, the company reached 19,000 members and two million published reviews.{{Cite web |date=2015-11-16 |title=Checkatrade: Find a tradesperson you can trust |url=http://www.checkatrade.com/ |access-date=2023-05-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151116172654/http://www.checkatrade.com/ |archive-date=2015-11-16 }}
In February 2017, HomeServe acquired a 40% stake in Checkatrade, but held an option to increase its share to 75% within the next two years.{{Cite news |last=Williams |first=Christopher |date=2017-02-02 |title=HomeServe seeks digital future with Checkatrade investment |language=en-GB |work=The Telegraph |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2017/02/02/homeserve-seeks-digital-future-checkatrade-investment/ |access-date=2023-05-22 |issn=0307-1235}} By November 2017, HomeServe had bought the remaining 60% of the business for £54m.{{Cite web |date=2017-11-21 |title=HomeServe takes complete ownership of Checkatrade {{!}} Midlands Business News |url=https://www.insidermedia.com/news/midlands/HomeServe-takes-complete-ownership-of-Checkatrade |access-date=2023-05-22 |website=Insider Media Ltd |language=en}} Shortly afterwards, Byrne stood down as CEO{{Cite web |date=2017-11-22 |title=COUNTY NEWS: Checkatrade founder sells his company |url=https://www.sussexexpress.co.uk/business/county-news-checkatrade-founder-sells-his-company-837987 |access-date=2023-05-22 |website=SussexWorld |language=en}} and was replaced by Mike Fairman.{{Cite web |date=2018-09-10 |title=Checkatrade appoints new Chief Executive |url=https://www.hvpmag.co.uk:443/Checkatrade-appoints-new-Chief-Executive/11105 |access-date=2023-05-22 |website=www.hvpmag.co.uk |language=en}} In 2018, Checkatrade announced it was relocating to its current headquarters to Portsmouth.{{Cite web |date=2018-10-09 |title=Checkatrade announces it will move to Portsmouth next year |url=https://www.portsmouth.co.uk/business/checkatrade-announces-it-will-move-to-portsmouth-next-yeara-564999 |access-date=2023-05-22 |website=The News |language=en}}
In 2021, Checkatrade announced a new guarantee, covering homeowners up to £1,000 for any unsatisfactory work booked through the business.{{Cite web |last=Duff |first=Stuart |date=2021-10-06 |title=Checkatrade launches new guarantee |url=https://phpionline.co.uk/news/checkatrade-launches-new-guarantee/ |access-date=2023-05-22 |website=PHPI Online |language=en-GB}} The same year, Checkatrade also launched an advertising campaign featuring a modern-day Julius Caesar. The advert was a satirical take on friends’ recommendations, referencing Caesar’s betrayal at the hands of those he trusted most. In the advert, Caesar rejects Brutus’s advice in favour of Checkatrade because the company offers "recommendations you can rely on".{{Cite web |date=February 10, 2021 |title=Checkatrade "Recommendations you can rely on" by Hughson & Merton |url=https://www.campaignlive.co.uk/article/checkatrade-recommendations-rely-on-hughson-merton/1707024 |access-date=2023-05-22 |website=www.campaignlive.co.uk |language=en}}
In 2022, Brookfield acquired HomeServe, Checkatrade’s parent organisation, in a deal worth over £4bn.{{Cite news |last1=Agnew |first1=Harriet |last2=Thomas |first2=Daniel |date=2022-05-19 |title=Brookfield strikes £4bn deal for UK's HomeServe |work=Financial Times |url=https://www.ft.com/content/865ab7cd-97e0-4096-a145-8645420a680e |access-date=2023-05-22}} As of December 2023, the business remains headquartered in Portsmouth, with Richard Harpin as the company’s chairman. Jambu Palaniappan became Checkatrade CEO in September 2023.
Awards
In 2014, Checkatrade won a Queen’s Award for Enterprise in the Innovation category.{{Cite web |date=2014-04-22 |title=Royal seal of approval for Sussex firms |url=https://www.theargus.co.uk/news/11162625.royal-seal-of-approval-for-sussex-firms/ |access-date=2023-05-22 |website=The Argus |language=en}} Later that year, the company was recognised by The Times in its ‘Best Small Companies to Work For’ awards.{{Cite news |last=Boztas |first=Senay |date=2023-05-22 |title=United teams thrive on the extra pressure |newspaper=The Times |language=en |url=https://www.thetimes.com/sunday-times-100-tech/hardware-profile/article/united-teams-thrive-on-the-extra-pressure-t8l0xjw8lp3 |access-date=2023-05-22 |issn=0140-0460}} Checkatrade won Online Trade Directory of the Year at the 2018 On the Tools awards.{{Cite web |date=2018-11-08 |title=Checkatrade Named Best in the Industry |url=https://www.electricaltimes.co.uk/checkatrade-named-best-industry/ |access-date=2023-05-22 |website=Electrical Times |language=en}}
Industry outreach
Several local councils in the UK have previously partnered with Checkatrade to support trading standards, including Surrey, Nottinghamshire, East Sussex, Suffolk, Kent, and Buckinghamshire.{{Cite web |last= |first= |title=Surrey Trading Standards and Checkatrade Combine to Protect Consumers |url=https://losra.org/item/617-surrey-trading-standards-and-checkatrade-combine-to-protect-consumers |access-date=2023-05-22 |website=LOSRA |language=en-gb}}{{Cite web |title=Approved Trader Scheme |url=https://www.nottinghamshire.gov.uk/business-community/trading-standards/approved-trader-scheme |access-date=2023-05-22 |website=Nottinghamshire County Council |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2019-05-14 |title=Businesses approved by Checkatrade – Approved traders – East Sussex County Council |url=https://www.eastsussex.gov.uk/business/tradingstandards/approved-traders/checkatrade/ |access-date=2023-05-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190514002254/https://www.eastsussex.gov.uk/business/tradingstandards/approved-traders/checkatrade/ |archive-date=2019-05-14 }}{{Cite web |date=2022-11-18 |title=Suffolk InfoLink {{!}} Checkatrade |url=https://infolink.suffolk.gov.uk/kb5/suffolk/infolink/service.page?id=SohzO0xvb4g |access-date=2023-05-22 |website=infolink.suffolk.gov.uk |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Trading Standards Checked |url=https://tschecked.kent.gov.uk/ |access-date=2023-05-22 |website=tschecked.kent.gov.uk}}
In 2019, Kent Police recommended that local residents hire tradespeople through the Kent County Council approved trader scheme created with Checkatrade after an elderly woman was targeted by con men, resulting in her losing over £1,000.{{Cite web |date=2019-01-14 |title=Elderly woman targeted by rogue traders |url=https://www.kentonline.co.uk/dartford/news/elderly-woman-targeted-by-rogue-traders-196914/ |access-date=2023-05-22 |website=Kent Online |language=en}} Kent County Council ended their partnership with Checkatrade in 2020, replacing it with a Trading Standards vetting scheme.{{cite web| url= https://www.kent.gov.uk/business/trading-standards/trading-standards-business-advice/end-of-partnership-with-checkatrade| title= End of partnership with Checkatrade | accessdate= 2024-11-25}}
In July 2021, Richard Harpin discussed research from Checkatrade on the BBC Radio 4 Today programme, noting the UK’s lack of skilled trade workers despite growing demand in the home improvement market.{{Cite news |date=2021-06-30 |title=Checkatrade boss warns of shortage of skilled trade workers |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/business-57663112 |access-date=2023-05-22}}
Checkatrade has conducted research into the impact of rogue trading across the UK. In December 2021, the company found that 13% of its respondents had been impacted by rogue traders.{{Cite web |last=Evans |first=Vicki |date=2021-12-07 |title=6.7 million Brits fall victim to rogue traders in 2021 |url=https://www.kbbreview.com/41365/news/6-7-million-brits-fall-victim-to-rogue-traders-in-2021/ |access-date=2023-05-22 |website=kbbreview |language=en-US}} In May 2022, the company found that residents in Newcastle, Belfast, and London were most likely to fall victim to rogue trading.{{Cite web |date=2022-05-17 |title=Oxford residents hit hard by rogue traders, research finds |url=https://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/20143251.oxford-residents-hit-hard-rogue-traders/ |access-date=2023-05-22 |website=Oxford Mail |language=en}}
In October 2022, Checkatrade joined BT’s partnership network to help drive small business growth.{{Cite web |title=BT announces new partnerships with Just Eat and Checkatrade to provide cost-saving benefits for UK micro-businesses |url=https://newsroom.bt.com/bt-announces-new-partnerships-with-just-eat-and-checkatrade-to-provide-cost-saving-benefits-for-uk-micro-businesses/ |access-date=2023-05-22 |website=BT announces new partnerships with Just Eat and Checkatrade to provide cost-saving benefits for UK micro-businesses |language=en}} Later on the same year, Checkatrade and HomeServe established ‘Trade-Up’, a not-for-profit campaign that trains people to become tradespeople.{{Cite news |last=Harpin |first=Richard |date=2023-05-22 |title=Retraining can provide the solution to Britain's crippling skills shortage |newspaper=The Times |language=en |url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/article/retraining-can-provide-the-solution-to-britain-s-crippling-skills-shortage-j027r3bz6 |access-date=2023-05-22 |issn=0140-0460}}
In March 2023, Checkatrade published a report on the skills gap in UK trades and construction. It revealed a shortfall of one million workers. In response, the company launched GetIn, a nationwide campaign to encourage school leaders and young people under the age of 25 into trades careers via apprenticeships.{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2023-03-17 |title=Checkatrade.com report calls for more apprentices in UK construction |url=https://www.fenews.co.uk/skills/checkatrade-com-report-calls-for-more-apprentices-in-uk-construction/ |access-date=2023-05-22 |website=FE News |language=en-GB}}
Sponsorships
Checkatrade were the primary sponsor of the English Football League Trophy, from the 2016/17 season to the 2018/19 season. The Checkatrade Trophy involves clubs from League One and League Two, plus 16 under-21 teams from the Premier League and EFL Championship clubs.{{Citn|date=June 2023}}
Between 2013 and 2018 the Broadfield Stadium, home of Crawley Town F.C., was renamed The Checkatrade.com Stadium as part of a sponsorship deal.{{Cite web |last=Long |first=Michael |date=2013-09-02 |title=Crawley Town in Checkatrade.com naming rights deal |url=http://www.sportspromedia.com/news/crawley_town_in_checkatrade.com_naming_rights_deal |access-date=2019-05-13 |website=SportsPro}}{{Dead link|date=September 2023}} In 2018, Checkatrade became sponsor of the PDC darts tournaments.{{Cite web|url=http://www.pdc.tv/news/2018/03/28/checkatrade-extend-pdc-partnership|title=Checkatrade Extend PDC Partnership|last=Allen|first=Dave|date=2018-03-28|website=PDC|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190514002306/https://www.pdc.tv/news/2018/03/28/checkatrade-extend-pdc-partnership |archive-date=2019-05-14 |access-date=2019-05-13}}