Small Hands-On Trades Training Centre

Career changers, DIY enthusiasts, apprentices needing extra practice, and local employers paying to upskill staff.

Course fees per student, usually for one-day to several-week courses. Employers may pay for group bookings. Some centres also add assessment or certification fees if they become an approved centre.

• Proven experience in a trade
• Patient, clear teaching
• Health and safety awareness
• Organising bookings and class schedules

• Public liability insurance, plus employer's liability once you hire tutors or assistants
• If you want to offer recognised qualifications, check what approval an awarding body requires and what it costs
• If you want to offer apprenticeship training or government-funded courses, check what registration and funding rules apply
• Workshop safety: risk assessments, fire safety, machine guarding and first aid
• Check planning and use class rules and business rates for your unit
• Do not imply a short course makes someone qualified to work in regulated trades such as electrical or gas work
• If you take students under 18, check safeguarding requirements

Startup costs are typically around £12,000 to £60,000, depending on the unit you rent, the trade you teach and the equipment and materials needed. These are estimates, so get quotes before committing.

Monthly revenue is typically around £3,000 to £15,000, depending on how many courses you run, your class sizes and your pricing. Treat this as an estimate and check it against your own costs.

Check what approval an awarding body requires if you offer recognised qualifications, and any funding rules for apprenticeships. Check workshop safety, planning and business rates, and safeguarding for under-18s. Do not imply a short course makes someone qualified in regulated trades.