Tradesmen aged over 50 are seen to be more reliable, trustworthy and polite than their younger rivals. That’s according to a survey conducted by Saga, which specialises in services for the over-50s. The report found that householders are four times more likely to trust an older tradesman than a younger one. And more than twice as many householders believe that work carried out by an older tradesman will be completed on time and to a better standard than their younger counterparts would achieve.

The survey asked more than 2,000 householders for their opinions about the work carried out by older plumbers, electricians, builders and decorators. Andrew Goodsell, chief executive of Saga, said:

“Older tradespeople make up a large proportion of the UK workforce and are a group that are set to increase as we continue to work longer.

“It seems that people do value experience when it comes to tradesmen - the survey also suggests that age equates to better manners and a higher level of trust, and this is a very positive thing for older tradesmen in the UK.�