A high-performance hybrid mobile application designed to bridge the gap between main contractors and skilled sub-contractors within the UK building and construction industry.
View siteWhat we did
- Full-cycle hybrid mobile application development for iOS and Android
- Custom UI/UX design tailored for on-site construction environments
- Engineering of a real-time job posting and bidding engine
- Implementation of a geolocation-based "Map Search" for local labour sourcing
- Development of a comprehensive profile and trade-verification system
- Ongoing technical support and platform maintenance since launch
About the project
Super Subbie is a disruptive digital marketplace designed specifically for the UK’s construction sector. In an industry where timing is everything and project delays can cost thousands, the ability to source reliable, skilled labour at short notice is a critical competitive advantage. The platform acts as a dedicated bridge, allowing main contractors to post site work and find professional “subbies”, from bricklayers and electricians to specialist trades, in their immediate vicinity.
Tinderhouse was commissioned to design and build the mobile ecosystem that powers this connection. Given the diverse range of devices used by tradespeople on-site, we opted for a high-quality hybrid app development strategy. This allowed us to deploy a consistent, high-performance experience to both the Apple App Store and Google Play Store simultaneously, ensuring that no part of the workforce was excluded from the marketplace.
To ensure the platform could scale with the needs of the industry, we initially focused on a minimum viable product strategy. This allowed Super Subbie to launch with core job posting and geolocation features, validating the marketplace model before expanding into more complex trade verification and rating systems. This MVP approach ensured that the client could enter the market quickly and begin building a user base of contractors and sub-contractors, providing immediate utility while establishing a roadmap for future technical evolution.
The Challenge
The UK construction industry has traditionally relied on "word of mouth" and informal networks to source sub-contractors, a method that is often slow and geographically limited. Super Subbie identified several critical pain points:
- Sourcing Bottlenecks: Main contractors often struggle to find specific trades available for immediate start on short-term or emergency site work.
- Geographical Friction: Finding workers who are actually local to a specific site is difficult without a dedicated map-based search tool.
- Underutilised Labour: Skilled sub-contractors often face "down-time" between major projects but lack a direct channel to find smaller, fill-in jobs nearby.
- Communication Barriers: Negotiating availability and skills via traditional phone calls and texts is inefficient and leads to lost project time.
- Trust and Verification: The industry requires a way to view a worker’s previous experience and trades at a glance before an on-site engagement.
- Platform Accessibility: The solution needed to be lightweight and fast enough to work reliably on-site, even on older mobile handsets or patchy data connections.
Our Solution
High-Efficiency Hybrid Architecture
To meet the requirement for a dual-platform launch with a single codebase, we utilised the Framework7 environment. This allowed our team to create an interface that feels truly native while maintaining the agility of web-based technologies. The resulting app is lightweight and fast, ensuring that users can check for jobs or workers while on a busy building site without the lag associated with poorly optimised web-wrappers.
Geolocation and Map-Based Search
The core of the Super Subbie experience is the map search. We integrated high-precision geolocation services that allow contractors to see available sub-contractors in a radius around their site. Conversely, sub-contractors can browse a map of nearby job opportunities, filtering by trade and start date. This visual approach to recruitment transforms a traditionally manual process into a modern, on-demand app development experience, similar to leading ride-sharing or delivery platforms.
Trade-Specific Job Posting Engine
We developed a structured job posting workflow that allows contractors to specify the exact trade, duration, and rate for a project. Sub-contractors receive push notifications as soon as a job matching their specific skill set is posted in their area. This "push" rather than "pull" model ensures that roles are filled rapidly, often within hours of the initial posting. The availability toggle within the user profile ensures that only those looking for work are visible, reducing wasted time for hiring managers.
Continuous Support and Maintenance
Since the initial launch in 2017, Tinderhouse has remained a dedicated partner to Super Subbie. The construction industry moves quickly, and so does mobile technology. We provide regular updates to ensure compatibility with the latest iOS and Android versions, while also refining the user experience based on real-world feedback from the "subbies" on the ground. This commitment to long-term reliability is a key part of our service, ensuring the platform remains a trusted tool for the UK's building trade.
The Results
Super Subbie has successfully modernised the way construction labour is sourced in the UK, creating a more fluid and transparent marketplace.
Streamlined Recruitment: Contractors can now find and contact available tradespeople in minutes, rather than spending hours on the phone.
Reduced Downtime: Sub-contractors using the app report a significant reduction in gaps between projects by picking up local site work.
High User Engagement: The platform has seen consistent growth in its user base, with thousands of professional tradespeople registered across the UK.
Optimised Project Timelines: By filling labour gaps quickly, the app has played a direct role in keeping major construction projects on schedule.
Digital Transformation: The project has successfully migrated a traditional "old school" industry into a modern, mobile-first environment.
Technical Highlights
Framework: Framework7 for a high-performance hybrid mobile experience.
Platforms: Native distribution for iOS and Android via a unified codebase.
Search Engine: Keyword and geolocation-based search algorithms.
Messaging: Integrated push notification system for real-time job alerts.
Database: Robust SQL architecture to manage thousands of user profiles and job histories.
UX Design: High-contrast, touch-optimised interface for outdoor and on-site usage.
Need to Build a Custom Marketplace?
Whether you are looking to connect professionals in a specific industry or need an MVP development plan to test a new business model, our Kent and London based team can help. We specialise in high-performance web and mobile solutions that solve real-world problems.