Labour hiring guide
How to hire vetted construction workers
Updated 2 October 2026 · 5 min read
Hiring construction labour directly is straightforward when you know what to check. This guide walks through the six steps, from defining the job to paying your crew, and shows how to tell a reliable worker from a risky one.
1. Define the trade, numbers and rate
Start with the basics: which trade you need, how many workers, what hourly rate you're offering and when they need to start. Being clear about the rate matters — on LabourBase, workers see the rate and receive their full chosen hourly rate. Your company pays LabourBase a separate £1 per hour fee.
2. Post the job
On LabourBase you post a job with the trade, your rate, the site location and the start date. Workers from a labour pool of 2,000+ qualified and vetted workers can apply straight away — no waiting for an agency to ring round.
3. Check each worker before you choose
This is the step agencies keep hidden from you. When you hire directly, you see the evidence before the worker sets foot on site:
- CSCS card — verified on every LabourBase profile
- Qualifications — verified, not just claimed
- Ratings from previous employers
- Attendance percentage — a track record of turning up
- Work history and experience
4. Choose your crew
You pick exactly who works on your site. Because ratings and attendance are visible, you can build a reliable crew you keep coming back to, rather than taking whoever happens to be available that morning.
5. Manage attendance and approve timesheets
Workers log their hours in the app and you approve timesheets as the job runs. Attendance is recorded, so you always know who was on site and when — no more chasing paper or arguing over hours at the end of the week.
6. Pay your workers directly
You pay workers directly, and each worker receives their full chosen hourly rate. Your company pays LabourBase a separate £1 per hour fee. LabourBase provides the platform, the vetting and the records; it does not employ or pay the workers.
Workers on LabourBase are verified sole traders, which keeps CIS straightforward. LabourBase does not provide legal, tax or accountancy advice, so confirm the specifics with your accountant.
Questions
How do I check a construction worker is properly qualified?
On LabourBase every worker's CSCS card and qualifications are verified and shown on their profile, alongside ratings from previous employers, attendance percentage and work history.
How fast can I get workers on site?
Post a job with your trade, rate, location and start date, and workers from the LabourBase pool can apply straight away. You choose who to hire from the applications.
Who pays the worker?
You do. Companies pay their workers directly. LabourBase charges the hiring company a flat £1 per hour per worker and does not employ or pay workers itself.
Ready to hire directly?
Post a job and choose from 2,000+ qualified and vetted construction workers. Your company pays LabourBase a flat £1 per hour per worker; workers keep their full rate.