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The call to switch careers is ringing loud in Wolverhampton, where a trades expert sees construction as the golden ticket for 2025. Meanwhile, a northern property firm is planting roots in Birmingham, signaling a wave of opportunity across the Midlands. Together, these stories spotlight a region ripe for transformation, whether you’re wielding a wrench or valuing a high-rise, there’s a place for you in this evolving landscape.
A Trades Boss Champions Construction
Ricky Sharma, head of Wolverhampton’s Engineering Real Results (ERR), is urging career changers to look to construction this spring. With training centers spanning Wolverhampton, Hertfordshire, Yorkshire, Southampton, and Essex, ERR specializes in equipping people with skills in plumbing, gas, electrics, welding, and renewables. Sharma sees this as a prime moment to pivot, driven by a potent mix of job openings and climbing paychecks.
“Spring has always been a season for fresh starts,” Sharma notes. “If you’re restless in your current role, it’s never too late to shift gears. The old notion of one job for life is fading fast.” He points to Office for National Statistics (ONS) data showing job switchers outpacing stayers in earnings growth over the past decade, with construction wages jumping over 5% last year alone. For those in their 30s, 40s, or even 50s where one in 20 switched jobs between 2012 and 2021, the appeal is clear: stable, rising salaries in fields like plumbing and electrics, plus a chance to ditch desk-bound monotony for hands-on work.
Sharma’s pitch is bolstered by ERR’s hands-on approach, offering training that meets real-world demand. “We see folks swapping office chairs for tool belts, drawn by trades that AI can’t touch,” he says. “Plumbing and renewable energy are future-proof—demand outstrips supply, and we’re racing to fill the gaps.” Amid economic flux, he adds, it’s the perfect time to rethink your path and bet on a career with staying power.
A Property Powerhouse Lands in Birmingham
While Wolverhampton gears up for trades talent, Birmingham welcomes a new player in the property game. Bradley Hall, a firm born in Newcastle in 1988, has opened a Birmingham office as part of its UK-wide expansion. With branches already in the North East, Yorkshire, the North West, and the East Midlands, this move marks a strategic leap into a bustling Midlands market.
Leading the charge is Phil Bartleet, a seasoned commercial property expert. The office kicks off with RICS Red Book Valuations—think precise appraisals for banks and buyers and plans to grow into a full-service hub. Services will soon span commercial agency, building surveying, estate agency, property management, mortgages, auctions, lettings, planning, design, land development, and new homes. It’s a one-stop shop ambition, backed by a firm that valued £1 billion in residential property from March 2024 to March 2025 and serves big names like HSBC, Natwest, and Lloyds.
Bartleet is bullish on the location: “Birmingham’s a commercial hotspot with culture and geography in its favor. We’ve already got clients here, and I’m eager to expand our reach.” Group Chief Executive Neil Hart agrees, calling it a calculated step. “This strengthens our national footprint while keeping our service top-notch, supported by our central teams in marketing, HR, and operations,” he says. “Birmingham’s growth potential fits our track record in dynamic markets—we’re here to attract the best and build something big.”
Why Construction Shines Now
Sharma’s call to action isn’t just hype; data backs it up. The ONS highlights a construction sector where vacancies are plentiful, and salaries are on the rise. Trades like plumbing, gas, and renewables aren’t just jobs; they’re lifelines in a world leaning harder on sustainable energy and reliable infrastructure. ERR’s training, offered across multiple regions, bridges the gap between ambition and employment, making it accessible whether you’re near Wolverhampton’s industrial hum or Essex’s coastal sprawl.
The appeal spans generations. Younger workers chase flexibility and work-life balance, while older switchers—fed up with stagnant roles or cost-of-living squeezes—seek new challenges. “Mature students tell us they want to feel the work in their hands,” Sharma explains. “In an AI-driven age, a trade is a solid anchor.” With economic uncertainty as a backdrop, construction offers not just pay but purpose—skills that keep homes warm, lights on, and cities growing.
Birmingham’s Property Boom Fuels Opportunity
Bradley Hall’s arrival amplifies the region’s momentum. Birmingham’s property scene is buzzing, from commercial hubs to residential sprawl, and the firm’s comprehensive services tap into that energy. Starting with valuations, a critical cog in lending, sales, and legal deals, they’re poised to expand as demand dictates. “It’s a dynamic market full of possibility,” Hart says, hinting at plans to mirror their success in other regions.
The move reflects broader Midlands trend,s regeneration projects, industrial growth, and a push for new homes. Bartleet’s team isn’t just here to cash in; they’re hiring, aiming to draw top talent into a firm known for quality. With a central infrastructure smoothing the way, Bradley Hall’s Birmingham outpost could become a linchpin in their UK network, much like ERR’s training centers are for trades hopefuls.
A Region on the Rise
Wolverhampton and Birmingham, though distinct, share a common thread: opportunity. Sharma’s vision at ERR aligns with a construction sector crying out for skilled hands, offering a lifeline to career switchers. Bradley Hall’s Birmingham venture, meanwhile, bets on a property market primed for growth, promising jobs and services that ripple outward. Together, they signal a Midlands ready to build literally and figuratively.
For those mulling a change, the message is clear: construction trades offer immediate entry and long-term reward, while property roles beckon with strategic promise. Whether you’re picking up a tool or a valuation report, the region’s got a spot for you. As Sharma puts it, “Ask yourself if you love what you do and if not, why wait?”
