First there were Polish plumbers and nannies, now Britain shouldprepare for an influx of Polish painters and decorators.B&Q, the largest do-it-yourself chain, said yesterday that it wasconsidering recruiting "thousands and thousands" of painters anddecorators from Poland.The move is part of its push into offering services, rather than simplyselling tools and materials, as it battles to stem falling profits atits retail business.The company already offers to install kitchens and bathrooms. However,in the past few weeks it has started testing a decorating and paintingservice.Ian Cheshire, the chief executive of B&Q, said he would eventually liketo offer the service across all its 322 stores. One of the biggeststumbling blocks to rolling out the service nationally is a lack ofavailable workers.MBQ

They still have to pay them the going rate.Why all Polish though?

Thinking of turning DIY into income?

Mar 22, 2006 25 Replies

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Tim S 20 years ago

Amazing deductive leap there.

I will admit that was badly worded - what I should have said is something more like: their temperament is compatible with local expectations of a "good tradesman".

That's quite possibly a contributing factor. But I think generalisations are quite valid based on averages. When I travelled across the Baltics nearly

10 years ago, the difference in the typical temperament of Estonians, Latvians and Lithuanians was marked. All perfectly friendly - but the Estonians were definately a quieter bunch and the Lithuanians reminded me of Italians in many ways.

And of course it is an avergage view - plenty of variance.

Tim

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smarshall 20 years ago

I have worked alot in Germany recently, it is normal there to hold a "reverse" auction on ebay when you want decorating etc. done on your house. The lowest i.e. winning bidders who do the work are invariably Eastern Europeans who do an excelent job.

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Derek ^ 20 years ago

It's *Hard* to think of the economy when a native (UK) tradesman wants £200/ day for *cash* (Leeds, not Hampstead Heath or Notting hill) )to remove frosted glass panels from your Loo/Bedroom doors and replace with plywood, as happened to us 4 weeks ago.

If I'd known I'd have gone to Poland and broight a joiner back with me, it would still have been cheaper.

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The Natural Philosopher 20 years ago

Batten. Unless you are a policeman.

Why would it be uneven?

Whereas its easy enough to tell that you are one without even moving from my desk..

I think you missed a comma out. You probably voted Nu Laber as well.

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Tim S 20 years ago

Someone must have done, although no-one seems to want to admit it!

Tim

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Weatherlawyer 20 years ago

I'd tell you but you would probably think I was insulting your intelligence. (Had you any, you'd realise the difficulty of that enormity.)

*******

Someone give him a swipe around the lughole with a wet sock will you?

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