Blog>Trade>From the van to Westminster: how we showed up for you in Parliament last week
Last updated: 12 January 2026
From the van to Westminster: how we showed up for you in Parliament last week
On Wednesday, we headed to Parliament alongside Sage to speak up for trades across the UK.
No politics. No waffle. Just one mission: making it easier for tradespeople to run a business without drowning in paperwork.
Because running a trade isn’t just doing the job
If you’re a sole trader, you’ll know the drill:
Quoting and invoicing late at night
Chasing paperwork on weekends
Keeping up with shifting tax rules
And here’s the kicker: around 70% of UK sole traders don’t know about the big tax changes coming down the track. Not because they don’t care. Because they’re flat out doing the work. That’s why we showed up.
Making Tax Digital is just around the corner in April. Are you ready? If not, then visit our new page: https://makingtaxdigital.checkatrade.com/
Straight talking support
Together with Sage, we brought tradespeople, MPs and business experts into one room to cut through the noise and talk about what really helps. And the takeaway was clear:
No one wants another clunky system or app that eats up time. You want tools that work to help you, not slow you down.
We introduced TradeMore - built for trades
TradeMore is our AI-powered job management platform made for the realities of working life. Here's what it helps you do:
Keep jobs, customers and paperwork in one place
Stay on top of quotes and invoices, without chasing scraps of paper
Cut hours of admin every week
No fluff. Just help where it counts.
Tradespeople matter and your voice was heard
Big thanks to Samantha Niblett MP for hosting, and to Minister Dan Tomlinson MP, Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury, for emphasising the value of trades.
Our own Head of Trade Engagement, Emma Grant, summed it up best:
“Tradespeople are the backbone of the UK economy. When they’re given simple, practical tools that fit around their working day, the impact is immediate.”
We see it every day. Less admin means more time for the job, for family, or just a proper break.
What happens next?
This wasn’t a one-off. It’s part of a bigger push to make sure:
Trades aren’t left behind by digital changes
New tools actually work in the real world
Support helps you save time, not waste it
We’ll keep showing up, speaking up, and building tools that genuinely help.