East Midlands Crowned Best UK Region for Tradespeople, According to Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles Study

Less stress, fewer hours, and shorter commutes give East Midlands workers the edge

Milton Keynes, UK – 1 May 2025: Tradespeople in the East Midlands have more reason to smile behind the wheel than their peers across the UK, according to new research from Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles. The brand’s nationwide survey, designed to shine a light on the daily realities faced by van drivers and trade professionals, has found the East Midlands to be the best region in the UK to work in the trades.

With shorter commutes, fewer working hours, and a lower incidence of stress and burnout, tradespeople in the East Midlands are enjoying a significantly healthier work-life balance. It’s a timely insight, particularly as 61% of van drivers across the country say they’ve seen their working hours increase in the last year.

Yet in the East Midlands, nearly half (49%) of tradespeople reported no change to their hours. On average, they work just over nine hours a day (9.03), comfortably below the UK average of 9.25 hours. Meanwhile, workers in regions like the North West (9.49), London (9.54), and the West Midlands (9.81) are putting in far longer days.

Saving Time on the Road

One of the key advantages for East Midlands tradespeople lies in their reduced travel demands. Clocking just 67.95 miles a day, they enjoy the shortest daily driving distance of any UK region—well below the national average of 88.37 miles. In stark contrast, those in London and the North West are travelling over 100 and 98 miles respectively.

These shorter commutes add up fast. On an annual basis, East Midlands van drivers could be saving more than 82 hours of driving compared to the national average—time that can be reallocated to rest, recovery, or even growing their business.

Stress: A Monthly, Not Weekly, Occurrence

Stress levels also paint a more positive picture for those in the East Midlands. While ‘weekly’ stress was the most commonly reported experience among most UK regions, tradespeople here (along with those in the North West) were more likely to experience feelings of being overwhelmed on a monthly basis.

This lower frequency of stress is reflected in mental health-related job losses too. Tradespeople in the East Midlands reported losing just 2.84 days of work due to mental health challenges over the past year—considerably lower than the UK average of 3.58 days. By comparison, those in Wales (5.75 days), the West Midlands (4.06), and London (4.05) experienced the highest loss of working days.

London: The Most Demanding Region

At the other end of the spectrum, the index reveals London as the most challenging region to work in the trades. Longer hours, longer commutes, and higher stress levels all contributed to London’s low overall score in the study—just 12 points compared to the East Midlands’ leading 32.

Supporting the Nation’s Tradespeople

Commenting on the findings, Craig Cavanagh, National Fleet Manager and Mental Health First Aider at Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, said:

“We understand the challenges that many of the UK’s tradespeople are experiencing, but the regional differences highlighted in this index have really been eye-opening. Running a business is never easy, and that’s why van drivers up and down the country are asking for more support from us to keep them on the road.

The services we provide for our customers – including our comprehensive roadside assistance, fixed-cost maintenance, tailored servicing plans and more – are all designed to deliver exactly that.”

Index Overview – Top to Bottom

As tradespeople continue to shoulder the demands of a growing economy, initiatives like this index not only spotlight where conditions are best—but also highlight the ongoing need for meaningful support across the UK.