Hardhats
Despite what you may have been told, using subcontractors long-term is not a grey area. There is no limit on how long you can work with subbies – nothing in UK law and nothing in HMRC’s regulations. So why on earth does it cause so much confusion? Probably because there is no clear definition of […]
According to the FMB, almost 20% of small and medium businesses in the UK are construction companies. Despite this, it’s not an easy industry to navigate. Building regulations, H&S legislation and tax laws are constantly evolving. On top of that, construction is the only industry in the UK where the self-employed are taxed at the […]
Alan Baybut spent 30 years as a Commercial Director for some serious main contractors. He’s now working with us, helping trade contractors understand the contract game. Some of what he’s revealed will wind you up. The Two Biggest Mistakes Letters of intent. They’re shortcuts. Someone wants to start work without placing a full contract. Problem? Letters […]
We hired someone who spent 30 years working for main contractors such as Balfour Beatty. Someone who drafted contracts designed to pass risk down the supply chain. Someone who, by his own admission, spent his career “subby bashing.” His name’s Alan Baybut. He’s now teaching us how construction contracts actually work. The Hire That Nearly […]
After a game of Padel we sat down with Dominic Jones from PMJ Risk Solutions and Jack Slogget from Tax Radar to talk about myths costing construction firms money. Some of this will annoy you. Especially if you’ve been paying for insurance you don’t need. Myth 1: Umbrella Companies Insure Your Workers Your umbrella company […]
Burnout is real. Nobody talks about this side of running a business. Ash spent six months building HardHats Direct while managing everything else. Then one Wednesday night, half his face stopped moving, probably from the stress. But it’s been worth it though. Here’s why. The Problem: Compliance Isn’t Just Contracts Anymore When we started HardHats, […]
We invited Lee Fuller, founder of Level Up Media and former owner of TS Valley Brickwork, to talk about his journey from the tools to marketing. What started as a paddle game turned into one of the most honest conversations we’ve had about content creation, marketing in construction and why most businesses get it completely […]
From 6 April 2026, some significant changes hit the Construction Industry Scheme. Some make life easier. Others make the stakes considerably higher. Here’s what’s changing and what you need to do about it. The Big Picture: What’s Actually Changing? The government announced these CIS changes in the Autumn Budget 2025, with draft regulations published for […]
You’ve probably heard you can’t use the same subby for more than 13 weeks. Or was it six months? A year? Maybe someone told you 24 months is the magic number, or that you need to give them a break to “reset the clock”. Here’s the truth: there is no legal time limit on how […]
Not every job you do falls under CIS. But the exemptions are narrow, specific, and often misunderstood. Working out which jobs don’t come under CIS can feel like wading through treacle. You’re juggling quotes, managing sites and dealing with the standard chaos of running a construction business. The last thing you need is confusion about […]
Most construction business owners don’t need to hear another polished success story. What they recognise instantly is lived experience. The kind built through pressure, setbacks, unfair knocks and taking responsibility. That’s why we were delighted to be joined by Brad Burton to hear his remarkable story that resonates far beyond the usual cliches of motivational […]
You’ve set up your limited company. Now someone’s told you that you need to register for CIS. Do you? The answer depends on whether you’re paying subcontractors or getting paid as one. Let’s cut through the confusion and give you the straight answer about limited company CIS requirements. If Your Limited Company Is a Contractor If your […]