Screwfix and Google have joined forces in a first-of-its-kind partnership to help the nation’s trades use AI tools to grow their businesses. The collaboration aims to empower the country’s builders, plumbers, and sparkies to hammer through their paperwork, reclaim their time, and take their businesses to the next level.
The two companies say they will bring practical, AI training directly to the nation's tradespeople. The upskilling programme will show participants how AI can help lighten the administrative load and give them more time to focus on the tasks they find most rewarding.
In the coming weeks, Google's traveling ‘Squeeze the Juice' bar will pop up at Screwfix stores across the country, showing tradespeople how to reap more benefits from AI tools and transform the way that they work with the technology. The pop-ups will share advice on using AI to turn sketches into 3D renderings and handwritten notes into client proposals. The nationwide tour kicked off at the Screwfix Benton store in Newcastle, before rolling out across the UK, including Leeds, Belfast, Bangor, and Edinburgh.
AI is already widely used in the construction industry, with 86% of workers using the technology on the job. This breaks down to 82% of workers at small businesses (under 50 staff) and 91% at larger companies. The construction sector is one of the UK's AI adoption frontrunners. Yet, Google-commissioned research by Public First reveals a major guidance gap holding the industry back from unlocking its full potential.
The ‘AI that works for Britain' report notes that while 71% of construction professionals are eager to expand their AI skills, 54% simply don't know who to ask. As a result, only 16% of this group are advanced users extracting significant value from the technology. According to Google's 'AI Works' report, AI-powered tools could provide a much-needed productivity boost to tradespeople across the country. It estimates that the technology has the potential to increase the average UK SMB's productivity by 20%; the equivalent of completing an extra day's worth of work each week.
Screwfix Rewards customers will also have the chance to sign up for Google's AI Professional Certificate for free. This self-paced course offers the 2 million members of Screwfix's loyalty programme a chance to gain practical, in-depth guidance on using AI to solve real-world problems, from research support to content creation.
Google's AI upskilling will take centre stage at Screwfix Live in Farnborough from 25-27 September, where attendees will be able to join in-depth masterclasses.
This collaboration builds on Google's AI Works for Britain initiative, which aims to address the nation's uneven AI adoption and support the UK Government's ambitious goal to train 10 million people in AI skills by 2030. Study shows that only 15% of the population are unlocking the full productivity boosting benefit of AI tools.
Kate Alessi, MD & VP, Google UK & Ireland, said: "Every tradesperson knows the value of the right tool, and AI is fast becoming another one in their kit. Yet, only a small fraction of time-strapped trades are using the technology to unlock a vital productivity boost. That's why we're excited to partner with Screwfix to put practical AI skills right on the counter, and help more tradespeople use AI to work more effectively and drive their businesses."
Max Britten, Screwfix MD of UK and Ireland, added: "At Screwfix, we know that time is money for our customers. While they're busy getting the job done, admin and paperwork can quickly pile up. That's why we're partnering with Google to show how AI can be a practical addition to the toolbox, helping tradespeople save time, work more efficiently and focus on growing their businesses."
