The number of independent tradespeople such as plumbers and bricklayers has fallen in recent years, showing a "worrying" decline for the country, according to a new study.
Research by insurance firm Simply Business showed a 25 percent fall in plumbing businesses in the past four years, a 19 percent reduction in bricklayers, and a 17 percent fall in joiners.
The report, based on an analysis of 300,000 small businesses, said the findings reflected the decline in the construction industry since 2009.
Jason Stockwood, chief executive of Simply Business, said: "It is worrying to see a decline in some trades in recent years, as the slow economy has hit spending on infrastructure and home improvements."
