MandE Connect (www.mandeconnect.co.uk) is a free service acting as an honest broker between contractors seeking experienced professionals and subcontractors who want project work.
‘MandE Connect is like a fast-track dating agency for the trade,’ says Stockport born-and-bred, founder Steve Bancroft, 26, who runs his own electrical contracting business, SBE Electrical. ‘We connect contractors directly at no cost, in contrast to the service fees of a traditional agency.’
Until now, contractors have relied on a middleman, such as a recruitment agency, to find prospective subcontractors for them, usually with a hefty commission and a slice off the subcontractor’s hourly rate.
Contractors create their own profile and a job with specific criteria. Subcontractors produce and place their own competencies and skill sets on the site for the contractor to read and decide whether or not they meet their criteria.
‘The job doesn’t get posted anywhere,’ Steve explains. ‘No-one else sees it other than the contractor who created it and the subby they offer it to. Once the subby accepts, the two parties are connected and can then contact each other to make arrangements and discuss the job.’
The new online service could drastically shorten the timeline of contractors sourcing qualified, and reliable subcontractors whether electrical, plumbing, heating or ventilating.
To learn more about MandE Connect visit, www.mandeconnect.co.uk