Gen D-IY

GEN D-IY: HOMESERVE TEAMS UP WITH JEFF AND FREDDIE BRAZIER, AS RESEARCH SHOWS 3 MILLION YOUNG PEOPLE DON’T HAVE BASIC HOME MAINTENANCE SKILLS

• 27% of young adults¹ in the UK say their parents haven’t taught them basic home maintenance skills²
• 61% of parents admit they don’t have the confidence in their own abilities to effectively teach their children
• New campaign sees Jeff and Freddie Brazier work with HomeServe to fix the home maintenance skills gap

More than three million³ young adults lack essential abilities like locating their stopcock or resetting their fuse box, new research from home assistance provider HomeServe has revealed.

The new study has found that more than a quarter (27%) of 18-34 year olds in the UK say their parents haven't been able to teach them basic DIY skills. And, among those who did receive parental instruction, three in ten (30%) would like more help to gain confidence in carrying out simple home maintenance tasks.

• 41% 18-34 year olds say they don’t feel confident changing a lightbulb. 93% of over 55s say they’re confident carrying out this task
• Only 22% of 18-34 year olds say they can locate a stopcock, compared with 67% of over 55s
• Just 31% of 18-34 year olds feel confident resetting a fuse. This rises to 67% of over 55s
• 41% of 18-34 year olds say they can confidently unblock a sink, rising to 76% of over 55s

Among parents who haven't taught their children home maintenance skills, some common reasons for this decision include a lack of confidence in their own abilities, with 32% feeling unsure about their capabilities. Additionally, 24% of these parents assume that their children will naturally learn these skills when they become necessary, while 15% believe that their children aren’t interested in learning them.

To close this skills gap and to share crucial skills with both parents and young adults, TV personality Jeff Brazier and his 17-year-old son Freddie have teamed up with HomeServe for its Gen D-IY campaign which includes a series of how-to home maintenance videos. With support from the experts at HomeServe, Jeff and Freddie tackle the tasks young adults struggle with the most – from locating a stopcock to fixing fuse box issues.

Commenting on the campaign, Jeff Brazier says: “Having basic home maintenance knowhow is an important part of becoming independent - but so many young people just aren’t confident that they can carry out even the most basic tasks. And my own generation could do with brushing up their skills too - too many of us aren’t confident enough to teach our children. That’s why Freddie and I are teaming up with HomeServe - to fix up and create Gen D-IY - a whole generation of confident young adults”

Recognising the importance of having DIY skills, 65% of 18-34 year olds say getting better at home maintenance would increase their independence and self reliance. And, looking to the future, the overwhelming majority of young adults plan to change this when they have their own children, with 93% saying they’ll prioritise teaching their children these skills.

Hashim Anwar, Home Expert at HomeServe, says:“It's clear that there is a desire among young adults to gain confidence in carrying out simple home maintenance tasks, and that it’s skill, rather than will, that’s preventing parents from passing on the knowledge. At HomeServe, we want to equip every generation with the knowledge and confidence to feel capable and self-sufficient in managing basic home repairs. Through this new campaign, our online tutorials, and accessible resources, we’re committed to promoting home maintenance education and fostering a culture of confidence and independence in home maintenance.”

For more information and to download HomeServe’s new videos, visit homeserve.co.uk/gen-diy

Notes to editors:

About the research

Unless otherwise stated, data is based on Opinium commissioned research amongst 2,000 UK adults (18+) in May 2024.

For more information, or to arrange a media interview, please contact:

Liam Reeves – Third City

Telephone: 07398 268 187
Email: liam@thirdcity.co.uk

Niamh Finnie – Third City

Telephone: 07761 669 176
Email: niamh@thirdcity.co.uk

A little bit about HomeServe

As one of the country’s leading home assistance providers, HomeServe has 30 years’ experience looking after UK homes. From plumbing, drainage, boiler, heating, or electrics cover to new boilers and one-off repairs, they're always looking for ways to bring you better care for your home, through their range of products and services. With a nationwide network of Home Experts and a claims line that’s open 24/7, 365 days a year, you can count on them to be there when it matters most.

Diversity and inclusion

HomeServe is proud to promote equality and inclusion through all their partnerships, including Business in the Community, Stonewall, Race at Work Charter and the Business Disability Forum. In recognition of these efforts, they’ve become a signatory of the Race at Work Charter, voted Best Place to Work for Women 2020, achieved accreditation to become a Disability Confident Committed employer and are now ranked in the Stonewall Workplace Equality Index. In 2021, HomeServe also earned a place on the list of European Great Places to Work.

To find out more, visit homeserve.co.uk

HomeServe - we’re on our way.

¹ For the purposes of this study, we’re referring to young adults as 18-34 year olds.

² Unless otherwise stated, data is based on Opinium commissioned research amongst 2,000 UK adults (18+) in May 2024.

³ Reference: Based on Statistica's 2022 data, the UK's population aged 18-34 is estimated at more than 11,000,000. Applying a conservative estimate, 27% of people from this demographic taking our survey reported that they lack basic DIY skills taught by their parents. This equates to 3,009,899 18-34 year olds.