Checkatrade an answer to the UK’s rogue trade problem, has joined forces with home renovation forum, www.renovationcentral.co.uk to make choosing a reputable trader easier and simpler. The facility, called an Application Programme Interface, or API, allows members of the Renovation Central forum to search the Checkatrade database of trades without leaving the Renovation Central website.

Renovation Central is the first UK website to include the Checkatrade search facility on its pages. It was added after the site’s creator, Paul Clifton, used Checkatrade to choose traders for his own renovation project. He was so pleased with his experience, he approached Checkatrade founder and director Kevin Byrne to allow him to share the Checkatrade database with others embarking on refurbishments. Kevin said, “I was only too pleased to provide the interface to Paul. I have renovated and built homes myself and am well aware of the pitfalls in choosing a reliable trader. Our database allows people to choose a trader based on the information that we provide, which includes references, details of public liability insurance, qualifications and reports from previous customers.” He continued, “The sharing of information about traders is at the heart of what we do here at Checkatrade. I am therefore always looking for new ways in which we can offer the services of our recommended, vetted and monitored trades- people, hence the use of the API is completely free of charge to Renovation Central and any other company who wishes to request one.”

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Checkatrade helps combat the UK's rogue trader problem by continuously vetting and monitoring local traders such as builders, plumbers and electricians. The idea was born in 1998 after a tornado hit the small West Sussex town of Selsey. Traders poured in from as far away as Liverpool and Manchester. Unfortunately, some ripped off the inhabitants of the town. Local businessman, Kevin Byrne, realised there was nowhere to check out the traders’ credentials and the company that became
Checkatrade was formed.

Since then, Checkatrade has grown to include nearly 2000 trade members and, via the Royal Mail, distributes 4 million directories into communities throughout Hampshire, Surrey, Sussex, Dorset and Berkshire, while the website includes traders from across the UK. In 2007, the company has seen a turnover of 1.2 million - an increase of 50% on 2006. After its humble beginnings in a shed, Checkatrade – still based in Selsey - now employs around 40 staff.

Checkatrade was recently nominated for a ‘Sussex Enterprise Business of the Year Award’ and currently sponsors ‘The Rip Off Files’ on Wave 105 FM, the recent SpiritFM ‘Local Hero Awards’ and Bright FM’s ‘Community Christmas Awards’. They also sponsored Dorset based radio station 2CR FM’s “Top Trader Competition”, in November 2007.