Ronseal launches DIY lessons to tackle national skills gap

They’re practical skills that can save you time and money…but more and more of us admit we don’t know what we’re doing when it comes to DIY.

Recent research reveals that 10 per cent of us have never felt able to tackle any DIY and only 30 per cent can change a lightbulb.

Another 60 per cent worry parents aren’t passing on their know-how to the next generation.

In a bid to tackle this, DIY brand Ronseal has teamed up with the Men’s Sheds Association (MSA) to launch DIY skills courses across the UK. MSA first launched in the UK in 2013 and Men’s Sheds have grown in popularity ever since. Today they provide invaluable community spaces for people to connect, create and have fun.

The Ronseal partnership aims to tackle the knowledge and confidence gap - beginning with a pilot course in Manchester this summer. It was developed in partnership with Sow the City and will be held at The Boiler House in Manchester on the 10^th – 11^th July. Jon Ross a Director at Sow The City, who runs the Boiler House, said:

“There is no shortage of demand for DIY lessons like this. Places on the first ‘Does Exactly What It Says on the Course’ were snapped up. Some attendees have been on a waiting list for over a year. We’re delighted to be working with Ronseal and to create a programme which can then be used across the country.”

Ronseal will be taking the course on the road, working with the Men’s Sheds Association to make lessons available across the country next year.

The pilot programme will see a team of expert trainers show students how to perfect basic tasks including hanging pictures, putting up shelves, getting to grips with woodcare and wood treatment and the basics of tiling.

Attendees - a mixture of men and women - will be able to feedback on the course content before it launches across the UK, making it truly unique and built in part by DIY novices themselves.

Speaking about the course, trainer and carpenter, Nick Petit, from the Moss Side Men’s Shed said he is seeing a new demand for DIY courses.

As he explains, a lack of knowledge and a desire to save money is prompting people to ask for help.

He says: “This course will be a brilliant start for anyone who wants to be able to take on more household jobs themselves.

“Being able to take care of and maintain your own home isn’t just useful - it can save you money in the long run.

“A lot of men and women tell me they feel guilty about not having great DIY skills, men especially feel it’s something they should know - but why should they?

“We aren’t born with that knowledge, it has to be learned or passed on. We all need help to gain skills and confidence.”

Jane Ryder, Ronseal Marketing Director, added: “When Ronseal launched in 1994, DIY was in its heyday and people just wanted to know the product did exactly what it said on the tin. Today, people still want to get on with their jobs, but increasingly people lack the confidence to get started.

“Working with the Men’s Sheds Association has given us the chance to speak to men and women about the kind of jobs they’d like to be able to tackle and how we can help them learn long-term practical skills. The Association has also shown that getting to grips with DIY can also bring people together and benefit the wider community.”