New guides

For new starters and seasoned pros

The right route in. The right kit for the job.

Getting into a trade, or years in and ready to upgrade? Short, plain-English guides on routes, qualifications and the tools worth your money.

How to get in What to buy
Hands marking a line on a timber board with a pencil

Site weather

7-day forecast for London

    Wrap up warm. Winter is coming.

    Kit up for winter →

    Forecast data from MET Norway (CC BY 4.0).

    Browse by category

    Kit guides

    All guides →
    Carpenter working on timber at a workshop bench
    Power Tools

    Drills, drivers & saws

    Pick a battery platform first. Everything else follows.
    Leather work boots being laced up
    Workwear & PPE

    Boots, eyes & ears

    The one place cheap costs you more.
    Hammer and tools in a leather tool belt
    Tool Storage

    Bags, boxes & belts

    Smaller than you think. You carry it every day.
    Person reviewing drawings on a construction site
    Trade Software

    Apps & admin

    Timesheets, receipts and, one day, invoices.

    Get qualified

    NVQs and CSCS cards, by trade

    All trades →
    Woodworking tools arranged on a workshop wall
    Carpentry

    Carpentry & joinery

    Level 2 and 3, Blue and Gold cards.
    Trowel and mortar on a brick wall being built
    Bricklaying

    Bricklaying

    Trowel occupations NVQs.
    Hands applying plaster to a wall with trowels
    Plastering

    Plastering

    Assessed on your own jobs.
    Workers on scaffolding against a blue sky
    + 9 more

    Every other trade

    Roofing, tiling, glazing, plant, management and more.

    Start here

    Most read

    Workers building a timber deck outdoors
    Power Tools

    Best 18V combi drill

    Five drills for first buys and upgrades. The battery matters more than the drill.

    5 min read

    Who it's for

    Wherever you are in your career

    Getting in: school leavers, career changers and first-year apprentices who want the routes and the essentials, without the jargon.

    Already qualified: pros upgrading kit, switching battery platforms or setting up on their own.

    More about Tradesteps

    • Straight to the pointShort guides. The verdict first, the detail after.
    • UK onlyUK quals, UK retailers, UK sites.
    • No paid spotsBrands can't buy a place on a list. Every pick has its downsides listed.