Google and Screwfix 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 will 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 will bring practical, AI training directly to the nation’s tradespeople. The upskilling programme will show the nation’s trades how the newest tool in their toolbox – AI – can help lighten the administrative load and give them more time to focus on the tasks they find most rewarding.
Google’s traveling ‘Squeeze the Juice’ bar will pop up at Screwfix stores across the country, showing tradespeople how to squeeze the juice out of AI, reap more benefits from AI tools and transform the way that they work with the technology. The pop-ups will share helpful AI hacks in the time it takes trades and customers to replenish their tools, from using AI to turn sketches into 3D renderings and handwritten notes into client proposals. The nationwide tour kicks off at the Screwfix Benton store in Newcastle – which is in one of the Government’s AI Growth Zones, 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. AI-powered tools could provide a much-needed productivity boost to tradespeople across the country. 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 – according to Google’s ‘AI Works’ report
Beyond the stores, Screwfix Rewards customers will 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. The certificate comes with three months of free access to Google AI Pro, equipping participants with premium, productivity-boosting tools as they learn how to use the technology to help them boost their businesses.
Google’s AI upskilling will take centre stage at Screwfix Live in Farnborough from 25-27 September. At the trade retailer’s flagship event, attendees can join in-depth masterclasses, packed with tailored tips and tricks to help a variety of trades extract maximum value from AI.
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. This is one of the ways that Google is working to tackle the UK’s uneven AI adoption and address analysis which reveals 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.”
