Mark Oellermann, Leza Riley and Neil Duttson launching their new website Kenttradesmen.com Picture: Terry Scott

by Martin Jefferies

mjefferies@thekmgroup.co.uk

Thanet tradesmen will be rated and reviewed on a new website that lets people praise or criticise work they have had done.

Consumers can use Kenttradesmen.com to post jobs and receive quotes from registered traders, including plumbers, electricians, painters and decorators and builders.

Users can then view a company's profile and read comments left by previous customers, who can also leave a rating of between one and five stars, helping them avoid falling foul of rogue traders.

The concept is the brainchild of Mark Oellermann, his fiancée Leza Riley and Neil Duttson.

Mark, 29, who also runs his own aerial installation company, said: "It can be difficult to work out which companies are the most reputable and reliable when you're searching on the internet or flicking through business directories. Kenttradesmen.com aims to bridge that gap.

"It's a really simple concept that allows consumers and tradesmen to connect easily. It's also about securing local work for local tradesman, who should eventually find an abundance of work when they search for jobs in Thanet."

Leza, 27, manager at the Marlowe Innovation Centre in Marlowe Way, Ramsgate, where Kenttradesmen.com has a virtual tenancy, said: "We're aiming to save consumers time and money and put Kent first.

"We're already looking at ways to develop the website. We plan to launch text alerts for tradesman who work on their own, so they can be informed of jobs wherever they are, even if that's up a ladder."

Tradesmen can sign up for either three, six or 12 months, with membership starting at £8.25 per month.

Dozens of companies have already signed up to website, which was launched eight months ago and Mark hopes it will become a household name within a year.

He said: "We've pumped plenty of resources into the website and spent many sleepless nights getting it up and running. We're determined to make it a success."