After a localized tornado caused damage amounting to more than £10m to 1,000 buildings in the seaside English town of Selsey, West Sussex, England, resident Kevin Byrne was shocked by the number of unqualified tradespeople who flocked to the town. These rogue workers aimed to perform shoddy jobs, swindling unsuspecting people out of their money. So, in 1998, Kevin printed and distributed a list of verified workers, founding the company Scout.

Kevin personally vetted each individual as a reliable tradesperson for Scout. Soon, Scout’s recommendations spread beyond Selsey. With the launch of a website and investment in a marketing strategy, Kevin’s idea continued to grow. He changed the company name to Checkatrade, and by 2015, the service had 19,000 members with 2 million published reviews. The platform even won the Innovation category award for the Queen’s Award for Enterprise.

Kevin was able to attract enough interest in his model to bring on investors, eventually stepping down as CEO. Today, Jambu Palaniappan is the company’s CEO, carrying out Kevin’s vision of providing vetted workers to residents throughout England who need landscapers, carpenters, plumbers, pavers, electricians, painters, and more. Though Checkatrade has provided countless customers with access to reliable tradespeople, the company recognizes that there is one category of trade work that still leaves customers greatly dissatisfied: roofing.

According to research conducted by Checkatrade, roofers represent the largest percentage of unqualified tradespeople. Part of this is because customers cannot inspect the quality of work being done on their roofs. If a customer suspects an issue with their roof, they have to trust what a person is telling them is wrong without ever being able to see the supposed problem for themselves. According to Checkatrade, there are no formal requirements or standards within the roofing industry. For this reason, Checkatrade only accepts 1 in 3 roofer applicants to be on their registry. Looking to create even better standards, Checkatrade recently launched a new program through their Checkatrade Labs utilizing drones and AI technology.

Checkatrade Labs, which serves as a technology incubator for the company, is now offering Checkatrade Drone Survey services. They are partnering with licensed drone pilots to reduce roof inspection costs, cut down the time it takes to inspect and complete roof repairs, keep inspectors safely on the ground, and ensure that higher standards of inspections are carried out. The idea of using drones to inspect roofs is not new; in fact, it is a very popular use of the technology in the United States. However, this is the first time a service like Checkatrade in the United Kingdom is employing drone technology to satisfy their customers.

A licensed drone pilot will take standard high-definition images, coupled with thermal images of a roof. By comparing the two sets of images, a detailed inspection of a roof can be completed, with evidence to provide to the customer. Once roof repairs are completed, a second drone survey can be done to check the quality of the work. Checkatrade is currently trialing the drone program in Newcastle, Oxford, and Reading for £99. They hope to expand the service throughout the United Kingdom within a year.

“The impact of rogue roofers is significant in the UK. This is the latest innovation from Checkatrade Labs aimed at providing peace of mind for consumers,” said Mr. Palaniappan. “We are reimagining what is possible through drone surveys. By using AI-specialist drone pilots, we are able to drastically reduce the cost by as much as 75% and potentially remove the need for manual inspections entirely. This technology has the ability to take drone surveys mainstream and could spark a revolution within the industry.”

When Kevin first printed a list of qualified tradespeople in 1998, all he wanted was to ensure his neighbors were receiving the services they deserved for their properties. His vision has since grown into a platform used by thousands of people across the UK, now backed by emerging technology for even better results. With innovations like the drone survey program, Checkatrade continues to lead the way in ensuring quality and transparency in the trades industry. By leveraging cutting-edge technology and a commitment to vetting skilled professionals, they’re addressing long-standing issues in sectors like roofing and raising the standard for all trades. As the company expands its services nationwide, customers can expect more reliable, efficient, and cost-effective solutions, giving them peace of mind that their homes and businesses are in capable hands.

Previous Drone News: