explore our market researches

Market reports

See all
usp

News I published 08 November 2023 I Dirk Hoogenboom

Training is the way to differentiate your brand of installation products

Training is essential in the installation sector. On the one hand, it is needed to educate and qualify installers, which is sorely needed due to the serious labour shortage in the sector. On the other hand, training is necessary to keep up with the continuous flow of new technologies and developments.

Manufacturers of installation products can answer the call by offering training to electrical installers. This provides the opportunity to improve customer intimacy and distinguish their brand, which is very welcome in a market where product differentiation is getting harder.  

But to know what sort of training to offer, more information on the training behaviour and preferences of electrical installers is needed. That is why we regularly focus the European Electrical Installation Monitor on training and ask installers from seven countries about the training they follow. 

About 8 out of 10 installers follow training 

The results clearly show that training is important in the installation sector. On average, about eight out of ten installers report attending training. That share varies somewhat per country, however. With 55%, Germany shows the lowest share of installers who follow training. In the UK, on the other hand, pretty much all installers follow training.

Installers in the UK and the Netherlands train the most 

The above only shows whether installers in certain countries follow training, not how many trainings they follow. Looking at the number of training installers that follow on average, a rather large difference appears. For five countries, the number of trainings per year varies from four in Germany to seven in Belgium.

However, the amount of training followed by installers in the other two countries is much larger. The average number of training is 16 in the Netherlands and a whopping 18 in the UK. Besides the popularity or sheer necessity of training, this also indicates that there is a rich offer of training to follow in these countries. 

Face-to-face training is preferred 

In all countries, there is only a small minority of installers who prefer to follow training online. And except in the UK, a vast majority show a preference for face-to-face training. In the UK a majority of 57% of installers report preferring both, depending on the topic of the training.

It has to be said though, that in the larger countries, like Germany, Poland, Spain and France, the share of installers that prefer both online and face-to-face, depending on the topic, is quite large as well; on average, around one-third of all installers. It is possible that if a topic does not necessarily require hands-on training, some installers would prefer online training over travelling long distances to training locations. 

Preferred topics differ, but new regulations rule in most countries  

The topic makes a difference in the way installers prefer to train, so which topics do the installers prefer? The answers to this question vary widely per country, showing the importance of focusing on the peculiarities of the local markets. One general topic that appears in the top 3 topics of installers in all countries except Spain is training on new regulations.  

For a full overview of preferred topics and ways of training in all seven countries and other insights into the training needs and wants of the European installer, we refer you to USP Marketing Consultancy’s European Electrical Installation Monitor. 

Fresh Insights Await

Our latest reports

Delve into the newest findings across various market segments, crafted for a cutting-edge overview. Explore our latest reports, brimming with up-to-date data, trend analyses, and in-depth examinations, all tailored to provide you with a comprehensive understanding of the current market dynamics.

Construction

Home Improvement

Installation

Construction

Trends in material usage Q1 2024

2024 102 pages

Explore the evolving trends in material usage among European architects in Q1 2024. Delve into the factors driving material preferences and the impact on construction aesthetics and sustainability.

Construction

Media orientation H2 2021

2024 161 pages

Explore the media engagement patterns of contractors to optimize your marketing strategies. Dive into a pool of insights that unveils how contractors interact with different media channels.

Construction

European Green Deal Q4 2021

2024 88 pages

Explore the impact and reception of the European Green Deal among architects. Understand how the initiative is influencing architectural practices and sustainability measures.

Construction

BIM Q4 2023

2024 246 pages

Key insights regarding the BIM usage and behaviour of European architects, and our latest future building volumes prognoses

Construction

Purchase Channels H2 2023

2024 123

Explore the buying and ordering behaviour among contractors in H1 2023. Uncover the key channels used, share-of-wallet and much more.

Construction

Behavioural segmentation and media usage report 2023

2023 75 pages

This report provides a comprehensive overview of purchase behaviour, products, and media usage, specifically focusing on European handymen. It delves into how handymen use media, and for what purposes, and examines their habits and preferences in terms of purchasing behaviour.

Home Improvement

DIY versus DIFM Q4 2021

2024 113 pages

This report is a must-have if you’re in the home improvement industry. It provides a wealth of information on the behaviour of DIY and DIFM consumers, their motivations, and the factors that influence their purchasing decisions.

Home Improvement

DIY or DIFM Q4 2023

2024 70

Explore the prevailing trends between DIY and DIFM in Q4 2023. Understand consumer preferences and the factors influencing their choice between DIY and DIFM.

Home Improvement

Branding Q3 2023

2023 93 pages

This report offers an extensive overview of the home improvement industry, with a focus on branding and the most popular brands within different categories. Within this report, you will gain insights into how customers perceive home improvement brands and what motivates them to buy certain products.

Home Improvement

Purchase channels Q2 2023

2023 114 pages

The European Home Improvement Monitor offers valuable insights on purchase channels in the European home improvement industry, examining the evolving preferences and behaviors of consumers across traditional retail and emerging online platforms.

Home Improvement

Purchase Channels Q2 2022

2022 124 pages

Uncover the prevalent purchase channels in the home improvement sector during Q2 2022. Delve into consumer preferences and the factors influencing their purchasing decisions.

Home Improvement

Do-it-yourself or do-it-for-me Q4 2022

2022 93 pages

Explore the prevailing trends between DIY and DIFM in Q4 2022. Understand consumer preferences and the factors influencing their choice between DIY and DIFM.

Installation

Smart & Connected Products Q2 2024

2024 120 pages

This report provides a comprehensive view of the attitudes of installers toward smart building solutions, specifically among electrical installers and their clients. In the report, you will find insights into the installers' experiences with installing smart products and the willingness of end users to invest in such solutions, as well as their motivations and pain points.

Installation

Sustainability Q1 2024

2024 81 pages

Delve into sustainability trends in the home improvement sector in Q1 2024. Discover consumer preferences and the shift towards eco-friendly home improvement solutions.

Installation

BIM Q1 2024

2024 84 pages

The European Mechanical Installation Monitor report provides a detailed analysis of the plumbing and HVAC industry. This report specifically focuses on BIM adaptation in the industry.

Installation

Sustainability Q1 2024

2024 99 pages

The European Electrical Installation Monitor report provides a detailed analysis of the sustainable solutions in the installation industry. This report specifically focuses on sustainability aspects in the industry.

Installation

Challenges toward sustainable future Q4 2021

2024 111 pages

Installation

Purchase channels Q4 2021

2024 106 pages

Delve into the training needs within the electrical installation sector. Understand the areas requiring skill development to meet the evolving demands of the industry.