Handy Help NE
Meet Andrew Johnson, who turned his lifelong talent for fixing things into Handy Help NE, his own property maintenance business. From plumbing to joinery, no job is too small. After years of different trades – and even driving wagons – he finally found his calling. Tracey Hughes provided guidance along the way and he made it happen. “I absolutely love it!”
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We both got the Spaniels. Honey is the lighter-coloured one. This one’s Lizzie. They’re both crazy. Hold on.As far back as I can remember, I was building bird tables in the back garden for people over the street, just out of scrap wood. I’ve always been the one that people ring—“Can you do this? Can you do us?” And now I’m making a living out of it, which is great.
At college, Andrew trained to be a plumber but couldn’t get an apprenticeship to complete his course. He worked in a factory for something to do, went back to college, and then got a job as a roofer. And then Covid hit. We got laid off.
The only work I could think of that you were allowed to do was as a wagon driver. So I went and got my wagon licence. I did that for about two years until Covid passed. It just wasn’t for me. It was too lonely. You’re driving and it was just boring. So I came out of that and started my own business.
I do property maintenance, anywhere from plumbing and joinery to flatpack furniture. I’ll even go and put a shelf up. It’s going really, really well. I’ve gotten some work with a well-known bakery—I don’t want to say the name—but I absolutely love it.
Working for myself, choosing what hours I work (which at the minute is 24/7), but I get to choose what I do and when I do it. I can come home during the day, which is great with having these two. No regrets at all.