London, England, United Kingdom
HandiMentor connects householders with vetted tradespeople who teach DIY skills at home. We empower people, especially women, to gain confidence while creating flexible, fair income for skilled tradespeople.
Design & Implementation
1 - 6 months
Last update: October 05, 2023
In the UK, a significant portion of the population faces challenges with home maintenance due to limited DIY skills. Approximately 63% of homeowners have avoided repairs out of fear of making things worse, with many lacking confidence in basic tasks like fixing a leaking tap or repressurising a boiler.
This issue is particularly pronounced among women, who often feel excluded from DIY activities. Simultaneously, experienced tradespeople, especially those nearing retirement, seek flexible work opportunities. In 2023, nearly 1 million workers aged 60 or over were self-employed in the UK, marking a 33% increase over the past decade.
Our project addresses these interconnected challenges by connecting householders with seasoned trades mentors who teach practical DIY skills in the learner’s own home.
This approach empowers individuals to gain confidence, reduces reliance on costly trades, and promotes a repair over replace mindset, encouraging sustainable practices and cost savings. Additionally, it provides dignified, flexible income opportunities for experienced tradespeople, fostering a more resilient and self-reliant community.
HandiMentor offers a practical solution to the UK’s DIY skills gap while creating flexible work opportunities for experienced tradespeople. Our platform connects householders with vetted and experienced mentors who provide in-home learning sessions, teaching essential DIY skills step by step. This empowers learners to confidently undertake home repairs themselves, reducing reliance on costly trades and promoting a culture of repair over replace.
Our methodology combines personalised mentoring with structured learning. Sessions are tailored to each learner’s goals and skill level, ensuring practical knowledge is retained and transferable. Mentors guide learners through real-life repairs, demonstrating techniques, explaining tools, and overseeing safe execution.
We recently launched a pilot in North London offering ten discounted sessions, eight of which were booked by women aged 25 to 45. Feedback was overwhelmingly positive, with referrals confirming strong demand. All mentors are carefully vetted for experience, reliability, and teaching ability. By embedding mentorship within a tech-enabled platform, HandiMentor scales access to meaningful learning while providing flexible, fair work for seasoned tradespeople.
Increased DIY confidence: 8 out of 10 pilot participants reported feeling more capable tackling home repairs themselves after their session.
High demand validated: All 10 pilot sessions were booked within four days, demonstrating strong market interest, particularly among women aged 25 to 45.
Referrals and repeat interest: Two participants came through referrals, and several expressed interest in additional sessions, showing potential for organic growth.
Flexible work for tradespeople: Mentors were paid fairly and appreciated the opportunity to share skills in a structured, manageable way, confirming demand for flexible work among seasoned tradespeople.
Hands-on learning model validated: The in-home, practical mentoring approach proved effective for transferring skills and boosting learner confidence compared to online tutorials or workshops.
Data for scaling: Collected feedback and session observations provided insights on pricing, session structure, and mentor matching, forming a foundation for future expansion across London.
