Almost half (45 per cent) of UK tradespeople want to do additional training, but are unable to do so because of barriers like time and finances.

IronmongeryDirect surveyed trade workers from across the nation to reveal the appetite for professional development.

While half (50 per cent) say that they enjoy learning new things, one in eight (12 per cent) have reached a stage where they rarely do so. This is largely due to the obstacles preventing them from pursuing further training.

The most cited barrier is a lack of awareness. Almost one in seven (13 per cent) tradespeople say that they wouldn't know where to look for development opportunities.

The money and time (both 12 per cent) required for training courses is also discouraging, along with social pressure. One in 12 (eight per cent) say that they don't ask for more training, as they worry what other people would think of them for making such a request.

Such barriers are significant, as less than a fifth (17 per cent) of tradespeople say that their initial training was enough to set them up fully for their career, highlighting the importance of continuous learning.

Out of all the trades, building surveyors (48 per cent) are the most likely to face training obstacles, with money (19 per cent) being their main stumbling block.

They are closely followed by carpenters (46 per cent), plumbers (42 per cent), roofers (40 per cent) and bricklayers (36 per cent).

Despite being the most eager to learn new things, young tradespeople are the most likely to face barriers. Gen Z (16-24) and Millennial (25-34) workers are the keenest to continue developing, but are the worst affected by each of the main obstacles, with time (21 per cent) being the primary issue.

Dominick Sandford, managing director at IronmongeryDirect, said: "It's brilliant to see that many tradespeople want to continue training, as keeping up with the latest industry trends and regulations can provide a real career advantage.

"However, our research has highlighted the numerous barriers that often get in the way, particularly for young workers, and that is concerning."