Retired police officers in and around Chichester are pioneering an ambitious national network of vetted handymen.
The company, Trust in Blue, recruits retired police officers with a passion for home maintenance and gardening to take up tools to provide peace of mind to residents and businesses of West Sussex in a bid to help to combat the problem of cowboy builders and tradesmen.
Typically police officers retire after 30 years service and many are still eager to continue playing an active and productive role in their communities. Trust in Blue handymen are experienced in home maintenance and are enhanced DBS (CRB) checked.
MD Nick Orde-Powlett says he hopes that the company’s “unique and rigorous” selection process will bring security and peace of mind to clients. He said: “All of our handymen are friendly retired police officers with many years working in the community – they understand people’s concerns and fears better than anyone else and they genuinely care.”
Jake Stevenson, Trust in Blue Handyman, says the company aim to provide a professional and trustworthy service at a fair pricet. He added: “Having served as a police officer I am aware there are a small number of trades people who are out to take advantage of clients and I understand it is sometimes daunting for them to allow a stranger into their homes.
“As a company we will do the smaller jobs that some builders are not prepared to do. However for me it is not all about doing the work and rushing off, sometimes it’s about sitting with the older clients and having a cup of tea and a chat with them. We are also able to offer advice on other topics such as crime prevention.”
