Tool Theft Fury Builds Basis For Conference

Fix Radio for tradespeople, in partnership with Wickes TradePro, is bringing the industry together at a Tool Theft Conference in Birmingham and you can be there.

It will be hosted at the Fazeley Studios. You can apply to attend. It is not a vast space and so tickets will almost certainly all be snapped up.

the conference aims to develop practical steps with key industry partners to combat tool theft and reduce the impact on the daily lives of tradespeople.

Tool theft has a crippling impact on the industry, leaving thousands of tradepeople up and down the country out of pocket and unable to work.

Theft on the rise

New research commissioned by Fix Radio and conducted by Nielsen among 500 UK tradespeople found almost three quarters (73%) have personally experienced professional tool theft, while 74% believe the problem has become more common in the last 12 months.

The Nielsen research also found that 65% of tradespeople who had experienced theft said none of their stolen tools were recovered, while only 9% recovered all of them.

Lobbying government

Fix Radio and Wickes TradePro and other stake holders believe it is time the industry came together and started working towards some meaningful change on tool theft. In the last 18 months, Trades United has galvanised many in the trade to lobby government and police for greater action on tool theft, yet there is still more to be done.

“Overall, the industry response remains piecemeal and fragmented,” said Louis Timpany, CEO and Founder of Fix Radio.

“Our conference wants to bring together key stakeholders, such as insurers, van makers and tool brands, along with tradespeople and police, to develop measurable steps to combat tool thieves.”

Impact

The research also highlights the wider impact theft can have on working lives, with two in five tradespeople who have experienced theft reporting losing more than £1,000 worth of tools, while four in five said it caused at least moderate disruption to their ability to work. More than half (53%) also reported stress or anxiety following a theft.

Gary Kibble, Chief Marketing & Digital Officer at Wickes said: “Tool theft continues to have a devastating impact on tradespeople, affecting both their livelihoods and ability to work. Tackling the issue requires action across the industry, which is why bringing together different voices from across the industry is so important.

“We’re proud to support Fix Radio’s Tool Theft Conference and be part of the conversation around practical solutions. There is no single answer but by working together we can better protect the people whose livelihoods depend on their tools.”

Tool theft report

At the conference, Fix Radio will also publish its inaugural Tool Theft Report, created in conjunction with Nielsen. The findings point to clear areas where tradespeople want to see action, including tighter regulation around the resale of stolen tools, supported by 92% of respondents; stronger penalties for tool theft, backed by 91%; and greater action from vehicle manufacturers to improve van security, supported by 85%.

The conference will cover issues such as:

Driving the adoption of forensic marking.

Developing new forms of insurance that better cater the construction trades.

Upgrading security.

How a regulated second-hand tool market can remove demand for illegal tools.

Managing the human toll of tool theft.

Get your tickets

Fix Radio Tool Theft Conference to develop some practical steps to solve the tool theft epidemic.

When: Thursday 22 October

Where: Fazeley Studios, Birmingham.

Doors Open: 10:30am

Main Event: 11:00am-5:00pm

Register to attend on the link below.

Picture: Fix Radio and Wickes TradePro will run a conference to combat tool theft crisis. Image Credits: Fix Radio and Flickr

www.fixradio.co.uk/events1/fix-radio-tool-theft-conference-2026