Taskrabbit launches in the UK, gets the jobs you don’t have time for done
Taskrabbit, the web service that finds someone willing to do the jobs you don't have time for, has arrived in the UK
If you’re among the 45% of Brits that dread cleaning, or make up the 73% of Londoners that wish they had more time in the day, we’ve got some good news. Taskrabbit, the US start-up service that aims to help you get the jobs you don’t have time to do, or just don’t fancy doing, has officially launched here in the UK.
For anyone that can’t cope with DIY, needs someone to fetch a suit from the dry cleaners or just needs a little help around the house, Taskrabbit will put them in touch with someone trained, willing and with free time to do the job. The service launched in London this week, and will be expanding to cover the rest of the country next year.
The crowdsourced platform lets ‘Taskers’ upload a profile with a picture, some background information and a list of skills, along with rates charged for services. Customers can post requests that Taskers can respond to, with either flat rates or bid offers made to secure the job.
Taskrabbit runs background checks on all the Taskers it approves, and you only have to pay once the job is completed and you’re happy with the work. It has been compared to AirBnB, the online service that puts travellers in touch with anyone willing to rent out a room, which saves money over booking a hotel. Taskrabbit operates in the same way, in that many jobs cost less than hiring a professional.
Taskrabbit COO Stacy Brown-Philpot was in London for the launch. She said “TaskRabbit has come a long way from its start-up roots. In just five years we have over 20,000 vetted, approved and skilled ‘Taskers’ in 19 cities across the US.
“coming to the UK is a major milestone for the company. However, London is just the beginning of our journey, with aspirations for the rest of the UK in 2014 and beyond.”
You can sign up now, either as a tasker or simply as a customer, at www.taskrabbit.co.uk