Press

The bricklayer who built the app he wished he had

Everything you need to write about Hard Hat Way and Stu Crompton: the facts, quotes, a few angles and images you can use. For interviews, email support@hardhatway.com with "Press" in the subject.

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Key facts

Founder: Stu Crompton, bricklayer from Wigan, 22 years on the tools
What it is: A UK app and website where customers post jobs free and get quotes from local trades, and where trades are rated by other trades on real work they post
Built: Self-taught. iOS app in 114 days, Android 25 days later: 139 days in total, between shifts
Based: Wigan, Greater Manchester
Before Hard Hat Way: First bricklayer to reach 100,000 YouTube subscribers (around 2019). Ran a bricklaying academy for five years. Spent six years developing a patented bricklaying trowel, launched December 2023, sold with his corner blocks and Crompton Dori blocks at CromptonTool.com
On the platform: More than 1,000 people, including 942 tradespeople (October 2026)
Audience: About 1.6 million followers across TikTok (699K), Facebook (524K), YouTube (271K) and Instagram (94K), where Stu posts bricklaying videos
Price: Free for customers. Trades: free tier, Pro £12.99 a month. No lead fees
Available on: iPhone (App Store), Android (Google Play) and hardhatway.com

Story angles

What people ask about

The bricklayer who built an app

Stu Crompton laid bricks for 22 years, taught himself to code, and built Hard Hat Way in 139 days around work. No investors, no agency.

Rated by your own trade, not by stars

Star reviews can be bought or faked. On Hard Hat Way a plumber is rated by other plumbers on the work they post, and every customer rating is tied to a finished job.

Trades stuck after Rated People closed

Rated People's trade memberships ended in September 2026 when the company went into liquidation. Hard Hat Way offers those trades a flat price with no lead fees and no contract.