Typical hourly rates

[ClarkeTheSpark]

Hello all,

just received an email from our main customer asking us to lower our hourly rate. We're being extremely generous as it is by charging them either £30 p/h for call out jobs or £200 a day for fully qualified 17th edition electrician with 2391 and £150 a day for a fully qualified 17th edition Electrican who is taking the 2394/5 courses. Our company is NICEIC registered and without wanting to blow our trumpet, good at what we do.

Point is, the customer has seen agency sparks offered at £15 p/h and therefore we need to match (or better!) this, which is impossible. We're south eastern so if anyone is willing to reveal their hourly rates or can even offer us suggestions for an amicable resolution we would be very grateful.

 

[Octopus]

Let them go with the monkeys at £15.00 and don't forget that once the Agency has taken its 20% the remaining money won't buy a quality tradesperson.

As a business you offer quality, consistency, etc, etc.

 

[ClarkeTheSpark]

That's the discussion that we as a company are having right now. I haven't mentioned how the jobs all change every 5mins. The dilemma is let them get the monkeys and wait for them to come calling back or risk not having a call back at all

 

[johnh1986]

Not much advice but i think your prices are good maybe state that an agency worker isnt that bothered about the work more about the rate and state you offer a more relaible service that are dedicated to completing work to a high standard where as an agency worker could leave half way through as a better job woth more pay has came along

(no disrespect to people on agencies i know a few friends who are on them and they all say the same if the pay is better see you later pal)

 

[timo1]

Price does not seem unreasonable to me. Depends on how much work gets done in a day I suppose, and if estimates are fair. At some point it pays to stick to your prices, can't compare a firm and agency work, you can buy a house in some parts of the country for next to nothing but I wouldnt want to live in it!

 

[shockboy]

if you give a quality service call there bluff, in my experience agency sparks are agency sparks for a reason.

 

[ClarkeTheSpark]

Thanks for this so far gents. I know it's not the done thing asking you all to name your price, but this is a company who came calling a few years back when it looked like the recession had got us by the short and curlies. It's a tough call for us to make as it is a very valued customer, but, like the rest of you, we all have bills to pay!

 

[johnh1986]

Stick to your price no matter what if you jave other work you could be ok

 

[Sharpend]

You can thank the JIB for the ridiculous rates that are available via agencies. Check their website for rates of pay then try asking them how they expect a trades person to pay the bills?
the truth is the agency probably offer out an electrician for about £20 p/hr ten pay less than Jib rates!

What a crazy country we live in.....

 

[johnh1986]

One of the companies used to charge £24 per hour for a spark on the books and and agency would charge £17 to the company for a spark i can see the reason as an owner of a business's point of view but i would still rather have a lad/lass who is dedicated to one company rather than a person who may leave to earn more pay

 

[KAS1]

Just as a matter of interest, how much do you pay your sparks?

Hello all,

just received an email from our main customer asking us to lower our hourly rate. We're being extremely generous as it is by charging them either £30 p/h for call out jobs or £200 a day for fully qualified 17th edition electrician with 2391 and £150 a day for a fully qualified 17th edition Electrican who is taking the 2394/5 courses. Our company is NICEIC registered and without wanting to blow our trumpet, good at what we do.

Point is, the customer has seen agency sparks offered at £15 p/h and therefore we need to match (or better!) this, which is impossible. We're south eastern so if anyone is willing to reveal their hourly rates or can even offer us suggestions for an amicable resolution we would be very grateful.

 

[stuartcourt]

Just as a matter of interest, how much do you pay your sparks?

silence is golden:carolers:

 

[Sharpend]

£15 p/hr?

 

[ClarkeTheSpark]

What you see at the top is roughly what is paid. We're father son and I'm no. 2, I'm on less than the going rate as its my old man. If I tell you what I get you'll all want o hire me

 

[stuartcourt]

sounds fair to me, I know where I live and what I drive etc if anything needs to go up hair dressers on more stick to your guns but make it known your door always open to them if they need you

 

[Dcf]

Sounds like your customer is calling your bluff.let him
Say you drop your rates ,when are you gonna get them back up to a reasonable sum? never.
ive not put my rates up in 5 year tbh.but ive not dropped them either.
they should be going up but they seem to be plummetting to early 90s levels with boys willing to work for next to nothing.
pay peanuts get monkeys.
they will be back that i can be sure of

 

[NDG Elecs]

Blow your own trumpet mate and explain what the difference in the quality of service provided between yourselves and agency staff would likely be ie they would not give a hoot as others have stated. Whereas you are attentive diligent etc....

Tradesfolks often lack ability in selling themselves in a professional manner ( myself included), if clients knew the hassles, overheads etc we have, they would, or bl00dy well should, be forever grateful!!

Point out what rival companies would charge... £30 callout for London is a steal. If they provide say 30% of your overall work I would maybe knock a tenner off the day rate and claw it back on other jobs. That would at least show willing on your part.

 

[Amp David]

Surely 15 quid an hour is the hourly rate that the electricians is earning and not what they are being charged out at?

 

[ClarkeTheSpark]

It's the price the agency want to be paid in return for supplying an electrician

 

[stuartcourt]

It's the price the agency want to be paid in return for supplying an electrician

that is one cheap agency bet their bloke are red hot