26.11.07
Britain built on tea says new study
• British builders drink over three million cups of tea a day
• It took approximately six million cups of tea to help build the
new St Pancras International station
Modern Britain is built on bricks, mortar and tea – that's the verdict of a new study released today which reveals that thirsty builders have drunk their way through approximately six million cups of tea during the build of the recently opened St Pancras International station.
The research which was specially commissioned to launch new tea brand Make Mine a Builders, also reveals that over seven in 10 (75 per cent) tea drinking builders believe that taking regular tea breaks makes them more productive at work.
The study canvassed over one hundred building companies* via an online poll with the Federation of Master Builders to reveal a series of compelling insights behind the nation's favourite drink.
The research team asked builders how often they took tea breaks and the average hours worked on projects ranging from a three bedroom house to large scale architectural icons to find just how much tea Britain's builders consume whilst on the job and how much tea it takes to complete a building project in 2007.
The survey reveals that during the build of a three bedroom house, a team
of builders will drink their way through approximately 9,500 cups of tea3.
The results also highlighted that a good cuppa remains the favourite drink
for British builders who take an average of four tea breaks a day. And not
only do tea breaks make builders more productive, nearly seven in 10 (68
per cent) also found tea to have relaxing and stress relieving properties.
The majority (81 per cent) of builders polled also revealed that the daily
tea ritual helped them bond with fellow workers and seven in 10 (70 per
cent) believe that tea breaks provide the opportunity to make important
decisions about work and keeps them focused on the job in hand.
And while coffee may be a popular drink amongst other professions, only eight per cent of builders would choose it over tea, and three quarters (75 per cent) of workers believe that tea is more refreshing than fizzy drinks, fruit juice and energy drinks.
The results also challenge the common belief that a builder’s tea comes with milk and two sugars, with more than four in 10 (42 per cent) of workers revealing that they don’t take sugar, compared to only 28 per cent who like two sugars or more.
Richard Gowar, Managing Director, Make Mine a Builders, said: “Tea has been the drink of choice for builders in the UK for many years, and as the survey results show it still plays an important role in the daily life of British builders today.
“Here at Make Mine a Builders, the only builder approved brew, it is great to know that we are keeping the tradition alive and that tea is helping to build some of Britain’s most iconic buildings.”
The study also reveals that the ancient art of making a good builder's
cuppa is best practiced by young apprentices for whom tea making is the
number one responsibility –young builders are often expected to know
their team's preferences within the first day of work.
The Make Mine a Builders blend was selected by a panel of over 300 builders
to ensure that the tea brings both refreshment and a satisfying tea break
to the nation’s workers.