An award-winning tradesperson has announced plans to leave the UK for Switzerland, warning that rising employment taxes, shrinking apprenticeship support and mounting red tape are driving skilled workers and small business owners overseas.
Martin Daly, founder of Motherwell-based MD Builders and recently crowned Screwfix Top Tradesperson for 2025, said changes introduced in Labour’s first Budget were the final catalyst behind his decision to relocate after years of building his business in the UK.
Daly, 30, began his career as a joiner before setting up his own firm five years ago. Since then, he has employed and trained multiple apprentices, many of whom have gone on to establish their own businesses or pursue opportunities abroad. He now fears the UK risks accelerating a wider exodus of skilled tradespeople at a time when construction labour shortages are already acute.
He pointed to the rise in employers’ National Insurance contributions, increases in the National Living Wage and what he described as insufficient funding for apprenticeships as key pressures squeezing small firms.
“Those changes were the tipping point,” Daly said. “I want to grow a business and bring young people through, but I can’t afford to do that anymore. The costs don’t stack up.”
Under changes announced in the October Budget, employers will pay a 15 per cent National Insurance rate on salaries above £5,000 from April, up from 13.8 per cent on earnings above £9,100. The National Living Wage is also set to rise to £12.21 an hour.
Daly said the impact goes beyond payroll. He described a slowdown in available projects as firms rein in spending, alongside rising overheads driven by compliance and regulation. He also cited concerns about personal safety and quality of life as part of his decision to leave.
“I want to wake up and not worry about my van being broken into,” he said. “I want to know taxes are being used positively. And I want to feel safe walking at night. That’s not how Britain feels anymore.”
The builder has visited Switzerland several times and has already received job offers there, including work installing kitchens. He said he had also been approached by firms in Australia and the Middle East, regions actively targeting skilled UK tradespeople with visa schemes and relocation incentives.
Australia, for example, introduced a specialist construction visa programme in 2023, offering relocation support of up to £5,100 in some regions.
While Daly stressed that his decision was not solely about money, he said the contrast in incentives and support for apprentices abroad was stark. “Australia helps fund apprentices. Here, the whole apprenticeship system needs reform,” he said.
The concerns come as the UK construction sector faces mounting workforce pressures. The number of construction workers fell to around two million in late 2025, the lowest level in 25 years, with more than a third of the workforce now aged over 50. Industry estimates suggest more than 60,000 new workers are needed each year to meet housing targets.
The government has pledged to build 1.5 million new homes by the end of this parliament, but delivery remains under scrutiny. Independent forecasts suggest current build rates fall well short of that ambition, despite recent planning reforms designed to speed up approvals and increase density near transport hubs.
Daly acknowledged that pressures on trades had built up over multiple governments but warned the current policy mix risks accelerating departures just as skills shortages deepen.
“Unless we focus properly on young people, they’ll all leave,” he said. “If we don’t change, there won’t be anyone left to build the homes we need.”
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Award-winning builder quits UK for Switzerland, due to tax pressure and skills crisis