UK Tools and Trades News: Friday 25 June 2026

It has been a busy week across the UK tools and trade sector. The biggest ongoing story is the green skills funding gap, with new Uswitch research confirming that nearly half of UK tradespeople are self-funding their training in renewables and energy-efficient technologies. That financial pressure on individual trades is a long-running issue that does not appear to be going away. Meanwhile, Milwaukee Tool continues to dominate cordless research traffic, and Makita's workwear and battery ranges are pulling consistent interest. Here is what mattered this week.

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Key stories this week

Milwaukee M18 FUEL impact tools continue to attract trade attention Milwaukee's impact driver and impact wrench ranges remain among the most searched cordless fastening tools in the UK market. The M18 FUEL platform gives tradespeople a single battery ecosystem that spans everything from compact impact drivers through to heavy-duty impact wrenches capable of tackling seized fasteners on vehicles and structural connections. If you are building or expanding a cordless system, the M18 range remains the benchmark that other brands are measured against. Source: Milwaukee Tool UK — uk.milwaukeetool.eu

Green skills: nearly half of UK trades are paying for their own training Research by Uswitch published this week shows 46% of UK tradespeople have invested in training for renewable or energy-efficient technologies over the past 12 months. The majority of that investment is coming out of their own pockets rather than from employer or government schemes. Heat pumps, solar, and EV charging installation are the areas attracting the most interest. The practical challenge is that training takes time off the tools and that cost compounds the direct training fee. Source: Professional Builder — pbweekly.co.uk

Band of Builders and TradeKart partnership The partnership between construction industry charity Band of Builders and trade delivery specialist TradeKart is still circulating across trade press. Band of Builders provides support to tradespeople and their families facing serious illness or injury. TradeKart's backing adds delivery capability to the charity's operational reach. Source: Professional Builders Merchant — professionalbuildersmerchant.co.uk

Van Guard and Bott ladder clamp: solving a daily transport problem The Van Guard and Bott ladder clamp, which uses a patented triple-start thread system and spring-loaded locks, addresses one of the more tedious daily routines for any tradesperson carrying ladders. Tying down a ladder takes time and leaves room for human error. The mechanical clamp system removes the rope entirely. For roofers, painters, and anyone regularly transporting extension ladders, this is practical product news. Source: Professional Builder — pbweekly.co.uk

KYNEKT and Superscript tool theft claims partnership Tool theft remains one of the most consistent financial pressures on UK tradespeople. The Superscript and KYNEKT partnership offers what they describe as a first-of-its-kind claims solution combining insurance and asset tracking. The practical benefit is faster claims processing when theft occurs. Source: Professional Builder — pbweekly.co.uk

Bobcat Safety Footwear expands merchant presence Bobcat Safety Footwear has introduced new point-of-sale display boards to help merchants present the brand's expanding range. The footwear line covers safety boots and shoes across different protection standards. Source: Professional Builders Merchant — professionalbuildersmerchant.co.uk

Makita battery transport guidance published Makita has published guidance on transporting lithium-ion batteries, covering the rules that apply when carrying power tool batteries in a van or commercial vehicle. With UK regulations governing the transport of lithium-ion batteries as Class 9 dangerous goods, this is a practical compliance topic that affects every tradesperson who carries spare battery packs. See our full guide on this topic this week. Source: Makita UK — makitauk.com

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Watchlist

Milwaukee Find Your Charger: Milwaukee UK has a dedicated tool to help tradespeople identify the correct charger for their battery platform. Useful for anyone building a multi-tool system or picking up second-hand batteries.

Makita workwear range: Makita's dedicated workwear site has been active with new range additions. The brand is expanding beyond tools into site clothing, with trousers, jackets, and accessories carrying the Makita identity.

Ryobi ONE+ battery compatibility: Ryobi's ONE+ platform remains one of the most searched battery compatibility topics in the UK. The core ONE+ range runs on 18V. The 36V MAX POWER range uses physically different batteries and is not compatible with standard ONE+ tools.

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