The study of 2,000 people across the UK examined modern perceptions of today’s handymen and found the humble sparky was the most trusted.

Electricians were also voted to have the best manners and to be the most punctual and presentable looking of all tradesmen. And people clearly see window cleaners in a good light, voting them the second most-trusted profession, followed in third place by plumbers.

But scaffolders, glaziers and tilers still have a lot to do – featuring bottom of the list of trusted tradesmen.

Plumbers were voted as the friendliest workers and the most likely to have a joke, followed by window cleaners.

However, on the debit side, plumbers, along with builders, were named as the professions most likely to overcharge a customer.

Builders were also perceived by the public to be the tradesmen who worked the shortest number of hours per day, followed by window cleaners.

Cost is still the driving factor when choosing a tradesman but a professional appearance was key for nearly half of those polled, while getting recommendations from other people played a big part in picking the right person.

A spokesman for Helly Hansen Workwear, which commissioned the study, said: “When it comes to hiring a tradesman, we are placing a lot of faith in allowing that person to work in our home, so we want to know that trust is well placed.

“The way someone dresses, holds themselves and the manners they have still has a powerful impact and can go a long way to reassuring potential customers that they have the right skills and attitude for the job.”

The spokesman added: “The results show that overall the majority of Britain’s tradesman have a solid reputation, but we still associate certain trades with certain characteristics.”