Advertise on podcast: The Heating & Plumbing Show

Andy Cam and Todd Glister can feel that it's getting tough out there for many. Fuel costs are impossible to keep on top of and have a knock on effect for many aspects of running a business. Enquiries are dipping for some, it's harder to afford to employ people and even find people to employ. Even the cost of butter is too much for Andy. Todd talks about getting his business back up and running after focussing on his house build.

Andy Cam and Todd Glister look into the rise in big companies getting their engineers trained up in renewables. But - does this make it harder for the SME and sole trader to find work?  Andy and Todd talk to Ian Edgeworth about his experiences training engineers who work for Octopus Energy as well as sole traders. John Cruickshank talks about how much he's found himself in demand since getting trained up and how it's created a need for him to take on more people and grow his business.  Todd is on the fence, He's trained, he's completed an install in his own home but there's certain aspects of taking on the work that he's struggling with.

Andy Cam and Todd Glister talk to the women working in Plumbing & Heating who are also mums and find out what their experiences are essentially juggling two full time jobs that have a lot of challenges and time specific pressures. Kaz Boardman joins to talk about her family life and being married to regular guest and friend of the show, Billy Boardman. Kaz talks about what it's like in a household where both parents work in the same trade.  Alice Illidge talks about her experiences taking on work and managing jobs while also being mum to her five year old daughter. Sophie Keepence, known online as Plumby Mummy talks about the joy being a mother of 2 brings her but also some of the sacrifices she needs to make to care properly for her children while also providing an income and upskilling.

Andy Cam and Todd Glister talk about being fathers and working in the trade. Todd is now almost a year and a half into his journey as a Dad and talks about his experiences so far. James Ray, who has written books on being an authentic father and man joins the discussion to talk about what being a good or good enough Dad looks like. Fellow Fix Radio Presenter, Daryl Robinson joins to talk about being a tradesperson and a father of four. He talks about the school drop off, the best bits of being a Dad, The stuff that if you had known before would make you think twice and also touches on the thhings you should NEVER say to your other half.  Next week - we will have the mothers who are on the tools in the trade to share their perspective on motherhood and challenges faced by them while trying to also earn a living in the trade.

Andy Cam is back from the American version of the Installer Show that took place last week in New York City as part of the Build show. Andy talks about what he saw, Andy and Todd get into a chat about ideas for invention and innovation in the trade from there and more.

Andy Cam and Todd Glister share their own apprenticeship stories and experiences, while applying them to modern day and reflecting on how you can use those experiences to mentor the gurrent generation. They get into talking about being branded 'snowflakes' and whether every generation thinks this about the one that follows, or whether there really is a line in the sand moving forward with regards to work ethic and willingness to graft.

Andy Cam and Todd Glister talk to fellow tradespeople who have had success on social media about their approach and thoughts on whether the space is too crowded, where it's all heading and the things to avoid doing if you want to grow a following. Guests: James from Plumber Parts & Screed Papi.

Andy and Todd invite three Plumbing & Heating Engineers to join them and discuss their approach to pricing work and protecting their profit. Whether you go for day rate or price the total job, how you take on or avoid the 'little jobs on the way home' and also what the best current approach is with regards to factoring in material costs. There's also conversation about how you approach adjusting pricing for certain customers and circumstances. Guests: Dan Tempest, Alice Illidge & James Broadbent.

Todd Glister talks about the challenges he's faced getting his house build over the line and the impact it's had on his earnings and business. Andy Cam on the other hand has been to Iceland (the country, not the supermarket) but needs to get back on the tools after finding out how much everything costs there! 

Andy Cam and Todd Glister share some of their worst moments of disaster... (and talk about speed awareness courses!)

Andy Cam and Todd Glister look into the latest options for van racking, find out what is going on with insurance costs at the moment and get advice on how to get the best deal. They also talk about their approach and more. Guests: Mark Cropley (Whitebox UK) & Kara Gammell (MoneySuperMarket - https://www.moneysupermarket.com/van-insurance/) 

Andy Cam and Todd Glister talk about how apprenticeships have become so much of a burden in terms of cost and effort that many small to medium sized businesses in construction are now turning away from the system. They talk to a Carpenter who has gone from 16 apprentices in 2019 to 0 today - to find out what's going wrong. They catch up with a Plumbing & Heating business owner that still can't justify the cost to the business and find out what JTL think about the current system. Guests: Andrew Green, Darren Dimmock, Clair Bradley.

Andy Cam and Todd Glister talk about being honest and the importance of honesty with customers, from those that work with you and even yourself. Guests: Dan Tempest & Steve Thompson.

Darren Dimmock from Into Plumbing & Heating Ltd. talks about how he's scaled his business alongside targeting higher value, long term contracts in domestic and social housing. Darren talks about the relentless marketing and email campaign that he's used to drum up business and shares insight into how to do the same.  Darren talks about bringing people in to carry out these high value contracts, the strategy now he's won some good quality contracts and more.

Andy Cam and Todd Glister discuss how honest they are and when, if ever, it's okay to tell lies to customers. Guests include: Billy Boardman & John Cruickshank