Advertise on podcast: Off The Job: A Tradesman Podcast

Send us Fan Mail Should tradespeople be charging for quotes, and are rising costs making it harder than ever to actually make money on the tools? Pete and Keiran are back with another Off The Job Overtime, talking all things trades, business, industry news and the debates that have been getting tradespeople talking. This week they go through your comments on charging for quotes, who should be responsible for making good after plumbing work, the rising cost of running a trade van and some worrying stories from the electrical and heating industries. They get into: Should plumbers, electricians and other tradespeople charge for quotes?Whether customers should pay extra for a detailed quote breakdownWho should make good after a plumber removes a radiator?Plumber vs decorator, where does one trade's job end?More customer and trade horror storiesA heating engineer who felt unsafe while working inside a customer's homeReports of false electrical certificates being issued for unsafe installationsWhy signing off work you haven't properly checked can have serious consequencesCounterfeit boiler flues entering the marketWhy genuine boiler parts and safety critical components matterNew apprenticeship requirements on large government construction projectsWhether 3% apprentices on major sites is actually enoughWhat's stopping more businesses from taking on apprentices?Rising diesel prices and the real cost of running a trade vanWhether tradespeople are properly accounting for fuel and travel in their pricesWhy knowing your numbers matters when you're self-employedThe lads also discuss an HSE case involving electrical installations at two car washes where certificates were supplied stating the sites were safe, but an inspection later found that the certificate details did not match what had actually been installed. It raises an important point for electricians and electrical contractors, a certificate isn't just paperwork, you're putting your name against the safety of that installation. Gas engineers also get a topic of their own as Pete and Keiran react to reports of counterfeit boiler flues and Baxi introducing a way for installers and merchants to check whether products are genuine. When you're dealing with a safety critical part of a boiler, is saving a few quid on an unknown component ever worth the risk? There's also a big discussion around construction apprenticeships. The lads talk about a new requirement discussed in the episode for apprentices to make up at least 3% of the workforce on large government construction and infrastructure projects, and whether that will genuinely help more young people get into the trades. And with fuel continuing to be a major expense for anyone working from a van, they ask whether tradespeople really know how much every mile is costing their business. If you're a plumber, gas engineer, heating engineer, electrician, apprentice, construction worker or self-employed tradesperson, this episode gets into plenty of issues affecting the trades right now. 👇 Let us know in the comments: Should tradespeople charge for quotes? 🎁 EXCLUSIVE PODCAST OFFER Get 30% OFF your Yearly Subscription to Gas Certificate App! Use code: POD30 at checkout 📲 Download the Gas Certificate App now https://onelink.to/hbv69u ⚠️ Warning: Contains adult humour and strong language. Tradesmen banter ahead. 🔗 Follow us on Socials 📱 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@offthejobpodcastuk 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/offthejobpodcastuk

Send us Fan Mail How do you go from being a one-man band heating engineer to building a £15.5 million trade business?   CoachClaytonUK Instagram https://www.instagram.com/coachclaytonuk?rpxt=MWZ3b3FuN3JnNDg4cg== Clayton Brown joins Pete and Keiran on Off The Job to share the full journey behind CB Heating, from starting out on his own at just 18 years old to building one of the UK's largest heat pump installer networks and eventually exiting the business after its acquisition by EDF.   After being kicked out of school at 15, Clayton found plumbing, completed an apprenticeship and started his own business with very little money or support.   Over the next 27 years, he went from working out of a van to growing a business turning over around £15.5 million, fitting more than 5,000 heat pumps and training over 4,000 heating engineers and installers.   But Clayton is open about the mistakes and pressure that came with growing a trade business.   They get into: Starting a plumbing and heating business at 18 Going from a one-man band to building a team Taking on apprentices and why they became so valuable How to get off the tools and become a business owner Why tradespeople need to understand their numbers The £1 million turnover ceiling many businesses struggle to break Sales, marketing, finance, systems and processes Winning bigger commercial contracts Cash flow and the reality of being owed large amounts of money Why rapid business growth can become dangerous Building a national heat pump installer network Why Clayton backed heat pumps early EDF investing in and eventually acquiring CB Heating What Clayton would do differently if he started again Finding purpose after selling the business   One of Clayton's biggest lessons is that being a great plumber, gas engineer or heating engineer doesn't automatically make you a great business owner.   As the company grew, Clayton had to learn about contracts, cash flow, leadership, sales, marketing and building the right team around him, things he says tradespeople are rarely taught when they first start on the tools.   The episode also gets into the future of the UK heating industry and heat pumps.   Clayton explains why he backed renewables long before they became mainstream, why he doesn't see heat pumps as the enemy of gas engineers and why learning new skills can create opportunities for tradespeople.   After eventually leaving the company he had spent almost his entire working life building, Clayton also talks honestly about losing his sense of purpose, getting help and figuring out what comes next.   Now he wants to use the lessons from his own journey to help other self-employed tradespeople and trade business owners avoid some of the mistakes he made.   If you're a plumber, heating engineer, gas engineer, electrician, self-employed tradesperson or trade business owner, this episode is packed with practical business lessons, mistakes and advice from someone who has experienced the full journey.   👇 Let us know in the comments: Would you rather grow a large trade business, or stay a one-man band? And what's the biggest lesson running your own business has taught you? 🎙 Off The Job: A Tradesman Podcast – Season 12 🎁 EXCLUSIVE PODCAST OFFER Get 30% OFF your Yearly Subscription to Gas Certificate App! Use code: POD30 at checkout 📲 Download the Gas Certificate App now https://onelink.to/hbv69u ⚠️ Warning: Contains adult humour and strong language. Tradesmen banter ahead. 🔗 Follow us on Socials 📱 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@offthejobpodcastuk 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/offthejobpodcastuk

Send us Fan Mail After losing his wife to cancer, Karl Batterbee suddenly had to navigate running his electrical business, raising his young daughter and adjusting to a completely new normal. Better known online as Karl Sparky, Karl joins Pete and Keiran to talk about more than 20 years in the electrical trade, becoming self-employed and the experiences that have completely changed the way he looks at work and life. Karl started out at college before eventually securing an electrical apprenticeship, although getting qualified wasn't straightforward. He worked across several companies before finishing his apprenticeship and went on to gain experience across domestic, commercial and industrial electrical work. He also spent time working for a heating company, where he built up his knowledge of heating controls, wiring and fault finding, something that still forms a big part of his work today. They get into: Karl's route into becoming an electricianStruggling to secure and complete an apprenticeshipMore than 20 years working in the electrical industryDomestic vs commercial and industrial electrical workHeating controls and where plumbing and electrics overlapAir source heat pumps and changing technologyStarting an electrical business after years of employmentFinding work through word of mouthLearning how to price jobs properlyWhy customers disappearing after receiving a quote shouldn't be taken personallyThe real costs involved when you become self-employedRunning a one-man electrical businessElectrical testing, fault finding and older installationsGetting electric shocks on the toolsSocial media and building friendships within the tradesWhy Karl started creating content as Karl SparkyBut the conversation becomes much more personal when Karl talks about losing his wife to cancer at the beginning of the year. Alongside dealing with his own grief, Karl suddenly had to take over parts of the business his wife had previously helped him with, including paperwork and admin, while also raising their seven-year-old daughter and keeping his electrical business running. He talks openly about learning to navigate that new normal, the support he's received from friends and family, and the importance of having people around you when life changes completely. Karl also explains how things like music, trade events and spending time with friends have helped him switch off, and why the experience has made him look at life differently. One of the biggest lessons he has taken from everything he's been through is simple: Life's too short, do the things that make you happy and build your own village of good people around you. Social media has played a surprisingly big part in that too. What originally started with Karl posting a few tools and electrical jobs online eventually led to brand opportunities, trade events and, more importantly, genuine friendships with people who have checked in and supported him through one of the hardest periods of his life. If you're an electrician, apprentice, self-employed tradesperson, parent or someone trying to keep moving through a difficult period, there's a lot to take away from Karl's story. 👇 Let us know in the comments: What's one thing working in the trades, or life outside of work, has taught you not to take for granted? And who makes up your own village? 🎁 EXCLUSIVE PODCAST OFFER Get 30% OFF your Yearly Subscription to Gas Certificate App! Use code: POD30 at checkout 📲 Download the Gas Certificate App now https://onelink.to/hbv69u ⚠️ Warning: Contains adult humour and strong language. Tradesmen banter ahead. 🔗 Follow us on Socials 📱 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@offthejobpodcastuk 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/offthejobpodcastuk

Send us Fan Mail What's the worst customer, job or house you've ever walked into as a tradesperson?   Pete and Keiran are back with a Halloween special of Off The Job Overtime, and this week they're getting into some proper trade horror stories sent in by the audience.   From nightmare customers and dangerous boilers to strange things found on jobs, there are some stories in this one that every plumber, gas engineer, electrician, builder or self-employed tradesperson will relate to.   One of the biggest comes from a carpenter who says a customer locked him inside her house after a disagreement over the job. After delivering bespoke cabinets and under-stairs storage, the customer complained about the finish and refused to pay anything until the work was completed.   When he started removing the units, he says she locked the door and told him he wasn't leaving until he finished the job.   He eventually had to call 999, at which point the door was opened and he was able to leave.   They also get into: The strangest things tradespeople have found in customers' homesFinding a dead cat while digging for a condensate soakawayA petrol saw accidentally filled with urine instead of fuelA dangerous boiler discovered after a previous serviceEngineers becoming complacent on the jobThe customers who stand over your shoulder while you workCustomers who agree to a quote and then try to negotiate afterwardsThe "YouTube expert" who thinks they know more than the tradespersonCustomers disappearing when the invoice arrivesThe customer who always finds "one more little job"Late-night customer phone callsWhy you can't always trust a customer's description of the problemCreepy houses and jobs that just don't feel rightTrade partners picking up plumbing and electrical lingoThe fear of getting a callback after finishing a big jobPlumbing leaks and mistakes that every experienced tradesperson eventually deals withPete also shares one of his own customer nightmare stories, involving a boiler replacement, a late-night phone call and a customer demanding that the old boiler be put back after the new one had already been installed.   And then there's the fear every plumber knows.   You've finished a heating install, left the job and everything seems fine.   Then a week later, the customer's name appears on your phone.   Pete explains why even experienced tradespeople immediately assume the worst when that happens, especially when you're dealing with water, fittings and pipework where problems can sometimes appear days after you've left.   If you're a plumber, gas engineer, heating engineer, electrician, carpenter, builder or self-employed tradesperson, there's a good chance you'll recognise at least one of these customers or situations.   👇 Let us know in the comments: What's the worst customer horror story you've ever had? And what's the strangest thing you've ever found while working in someone's house? 🎁 EXCLUSIVE PODCAST OFFER Get 30% OFF your Yearly Subscription to Gas Certificate App! Use code: POD30 at checkout 📲 Download the Gas Certificate App now https://onelink.to/hbv69u ⚠️ Warning: Contains adult humour and strong language. Tradesmen banter ahead. 🔗 Follow us on Socials 📱 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@offthejobpodcastuk 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/offthejobpodcastuk

Send us Fan Mail Gas engineers are moving into air conditioning in growing numbers, but should they be? On one side, Thomas Milham, an experienced air conditioning engineer with more than 20 years in the industry. On the other, John Cruickshank, a plumbing and heating engineer with around 30 years of experience who has now moved into air conditioning himself. With hotter UK summers, growing demand for domestic air conditioning and more heating engineers looking for additional work, the two trades are beginning to cross over more than ever. But that raises a controversial question: Can you really complete a five-day F-Gas course and call yourself an air conditioning engineer? Tom and John debate whether experienced plumbers and heating engineers already have many of the transferable skills needed for HVAC, including pipework, electrics, condensates and working with pressures, or whether getting the qualification is only the very beginning of learning another trade. They also get into: Gas engineers moving into domestic air conditioningCan you really become competent after a five-day F-Gas course?F-Gas qualifications vs real-world experienceWhy installation and fault finding are completely different skillsAre experienced AC engineers right to protect their trade?Why some heating engineers see air conditioning as a new business opportunityWhether domestic AC could become a race to the bottomGas boiler installs vs air conditioning installsHow much money you can actually make fitting ACWarranty differences between boiler and air-con manufacturersThe mistakes new engineers make when entering refrigerationThe cost of setting yourself up properly for air conditioningHeat pumps, renewables and the future of heating and coolingWhether gas, plumbing, renewables and air conditioning could eventually become one trade One of the biggest arguments is whether F-Gas is becoming too easy to enter compared with gas. The lads discuss how someone can potentially complete their F-Gas qualification and start working on domestic split systems relatively quickly, while becoming a gas engineer involves qualifications, portfolios, supervised experience and a probationary period. But this isn't simply air-con engineers vs plumbers. Tom acknowledges that good heating engineers can bring strong transferable skills into HVAC, while John argues that anyone moving across needs to treat it as learning an entirely new trade, not something they suddenly know because they've passed a course. And the opportunity is clearly there. They discuss rising demand for domestic air conditioning, stock shortages during hot weather and why more gas and heating engineers are looking at AC as another way to stay busy throughout the year. The conversation eventually becomes much bigger than gas vs air con. Could the future engineer simply be trained across heating, cooling, ventilation, refrigeration, heat pumps and plumbing, rather than these remaining completely separate trades? John believes that over the next 10 to 15 years, that crossover could become increasingly normal as renewables and HVAC continue to grow. If you're a gas engineer, plumber, heating engineer, air conditioning engineer, HVAC engineer, refrigeration engineer or apprentice, there's plenty in this debate to disagree with. 👇 Let us know in the comments: Should experienced gas and heating engineers be moving into air conditioning? Or does completing a short course risk people entering a trade before they've built enough real-world experience? 🎁 EXCLUSIVE PODCAST OFFER Get 30% OFF your Yearly Subscription to Gas Certificate App! Use code: POD30 at checkout 📲 Download the Gas Certificate App now https://onelink.to/hbv69u ⚠️ Warning: Contains adult humour and strong language. Tradesmen banter ahead. 🔗 Follow us on Socials 📱 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@offthejobpodcastuk 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/offthejobpodcastuk 🎁 EXCLUSIVE PODCAST OFFER Get 30% OFF your Yearly Subscription to Gas Certificate App! Use code: POD30 at checkout 📲 Download the Gas Certificate App now https://onelink.to/hbv69u ⚠️ Warning: Contains adult humour and strong language. Tradesmen banter ahead. 🔗 Follow us on Socials 📱 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@offthejobpodcastuk 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/offthejobpodcastuk

Send us Fan Mail How do you go from being a one-man-band electrician to building a specialist trade business turning over around £1.5 million?   Richard Pearson, founder of London Basement Pumps, joins Pete and Keiran to break down how he went from electrical work and subcontracting to finding a niche, building a team and creating a trade business with more than 2,500 recurring service customers.   Richard started his career working on neon signs and electrical systems across London before eventually becoming a qualified electrician and running his own electrical contracting work. But general electrical work wasn’t where he saw his future. After being asked to work on his first pumping system, he spotted an opportunity in a specialist area that eventually became London Basement Pumps.   The conversation gets into what actually happens when a self-employed tradesperson decides to grow beyond being a one-man band- hiring your first employees, learning how to run a business, building systems, dealing with 24-hour emergency call-outs and creating a service that customers return to year after year.   Richard also explains why moving towards recurring servicing and service agreements completely changed the business. Instead of constantly relying on Google and chasing the next job, London Basement Pumps now has thousands of existing customers who require ongoing maintenance, something Richard believes has helped make the company more stable and ultimately more valuable.   They also discuss: Finding a profitable niche within the tradesGrowing from sole trader to employing a teamWorking inside multi-million-pound London propertiesBuilding repeat and recurring customersPricing, risk and the real costs of running a trade businessMental health and the pressure of owning a companyPensions, exit strategies and building a business you can eventually sell  There are some unbelievable stories from Richard’s years working in high-end residential properties too, including a flooded two-storey basement where a diver had to be sent into the property before the water could even be pumped out. And perhaps the biggest question of the episode: is growing a trade business actually better than staying a highly profitable one-man band?   If you’re an electrician, plumber, gas engineer, heating engineer, sole trader or trade business owner, this episode gives a real look at the opportunities and pressures that come with turning your trade into a business.   👇 What would you choose: stay a one-man band earning good money, or build a company you could eventually sell? 🎁 EXCLUSIVE PODCAST OFFER Get 30% OFF your Yearly Subscription to Gas Certificate App! Use code: POD30 at checkout 📲 Download the Gas Certificate App now https://onelink.to/hbv69u ⚠️ Warning: Contains adult humour and strong language. Tradesmen banter ahead. 🔗 Follow us on Socials 📱 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@offthejobpodcastuk 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/offthejobpodcastuk

Send us Fan Mail From sleeping on a kitchen floor to becoming the UK's first National Plumber of the Year, Louchavan Lemard's journey is unlike any other.   Pete and Keiran sit down with Louchavan Lenard, founder of PH247, Master Plumber and the first-ever National Plumber of the Year, to discuss the challenges that shaped his career and why he believes the trade industry deserves far more respect than it gets.   Louchavan opens up about growing up in difficult circumstances, leaving school with no GCSEs, experiencing homelessness, overcoming discrimination during his apprenticeship and building a successful plumbing and heating business through resilience, professionalism and a commitment to giving back to the next generation.   Throughout the episode, the conversation explores:   How plumbing completely changed Louchavan's lifeWhy attitude matters more than exam resultsApprenticeships, work experience and the future of the trade industryWhy tradespeople deserve more respectThe difference between plumbers, fitters and engineersBuilding a profitable plumbing and heating businessWhy so many self-employed tradespeople underchargeBusiness mentors, coaching and creating long-term successFinding your niche and growing a sustainable trade businessWhy professionalism is the future of the construction industry  Whether you're a plumber, gas engineer, heating engineer, electrician, builder, carpenter, apprentice or running your own trade business, this episode is packed with honest advice, real-life experiences and practical lessons that every tradesperson can learn from.   👇 Join the conversation: Do you think schools still undervalue careers in the trades? And what's the biggest lesson you've learnt since starting your apprenticeship or business? 🎁 EXCLUSIVE PODCAST OFFER Get 30% OFF your Yearly Subscription to Gas Certificate App! Use code: POD30 at checkout 📲 Download the Gas Certificate App now https://onelink.to/hbv69u ⚠️ Warning: Contains adult humour and strong language. Tradesmen banter ahead. 🔗 Follow us on Socials 📱 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@offthejobpodcastuk 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/offthejobpodcastuk

Send us Fan Mail What happens if you were the last gas engineer to work at a property before something goes seriously wrong?   Pete and Keiran are back for another Off The Job Overtime, getting into one of the more serious conversations they’ve had recently after discussing a suspected gas explosion that destroyed a bungalow and sadly resulted in a fatality.   It leads into a proper conversation about the responsibility that comes with being a gas engineer, what happens when an incident is investigated and why keeping evidence of your work could be one of the most important things you do.   Photos, gas safety records, certificates and proof of how an installation was left might seem like extra admin at the time, but if something happens weeks or months later, could you prove that your work was safe when you left?   The lads also get into: Why gas engineers should keep photographic evidence of their workGas safety, investigations and protecting yourself after a jobWhether people should be able to buy gas appliances without being Gas Safe registeredThe reality of never fully switching off when you work in plumbing and heatingMate rates, customer favours and knowing when you’re charging too little  And on the slightly less serious side, Pete tells the story of doing a £2,500 boiler conversion for a mate, including radiator valves, an outside tap and three days of graft, only for his mate to then start negotiating over the scrap and the flowers he’d given him.   So naturally, that turns into another debate every tradesperson will recognise: How far should mate rates actually go?   From gas safety and boiler installations to pricing jobs, customer expectations and the pressure of being responsible for work long after you’ve left site, this is another Overtime full of the conversations plumbers, gas engineers and heating engineers are already having in vans, merchants and WhatsApp groups.   👇 Let us know in the comments: Do you take photos and keep evidence of every gas job you complete? And would you have done that boiler conversion for £2,500? 🎁 EXCLUSIVE PODCAST OFFER Get 30% OFF your Yearly Subscription to Gas Certificate App! Use code: POD30 at checkout 📲 Download the Gas Certificate App now https://onelink.to/hbv69u ⚠️ Warning: Contains adult humour and strong language. Tradesmen banter ahead. 🔗 Follow us on Socials 📱 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@offthejobpodcastuk 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/offthejobpodcastuk

Send us Fan Mail Tool theft is changing… and for the first time in years, there's some positive news.   Pete and Keiran are joined by Dave from the Metropolitan Police and Shoaib, better known as The Gas Expert, to discuss the latest developments in the fight against tool theft across the UK. With reported tool theft down by 26%, the conversation explores what's driving that change, how stolen tools are being recovered and what tradespeople can do right now to better protect their vans, tools and businesses.   This episode covers:                                                     Why tool theft has fallen by 26%The major police raids targeting stolen toolsHow car boot sales are being tackledThe latest plans to make selling stolen tools even harderHow stolen tools are recovered and returned to their ownersWhy tool marking is becoming one of the biggest deterrents against tool theftSelectaDNA, police partnerships and new technology helping recover stolen equipmentNew vehicle security initiatives for tradespeopleHotel parking schemes designed to protect trade vans overnightPractical ways plumbers, gas engineers, electricians, builders, carpenters and every self-employed tradesperson can reduce the risk of tool theftDave shares what the Metropolitan Police are doing behind the scenes to target organised criminals, while Shoaib explains how the trade community has come together to create real change over the past few years. The episode also looks ahead to what's next in the fight against tool theft and why every tradesperson should be taking simple steps now to protect their livelihood.   If you're a plumber, gas engineer, electrician, heating engineer, builder, carpenter, roofer, painter & decorator or anyone who relies on tools to earn a living, this episode is packed with practical advice, industry updates and real stories from the people helping drive change across the UK trade industry.   👇 Join the conversation: Have you ever had tools stolen? What security measures have made the biggest difference to your van or business? 🎁 EXCLUSIVE PODCAST OFFER Get 30% OFF your Yearly Subscription to Gas Certificate App! Use code: POD30 at checkout 📲 Download the Gas Certificate App now https://onelink.to/hbv69u ⚠️ Warning: Contains adult humour and strong language. Tradesmen banter ahead. 🔗 Follow us on Socials 📱 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@offthejobpodcastuk 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/offthejobpodcastuk

Send us Fan Mail If you've ever wondered what life is really like as a self-employed electrician, this episode is for you.   Pete and Keiran are joined by Liam, better known online as Tall Sparky, for an honest conversation about the realities of working in the electrical industry. From apprenticeships and landlord work to social media, running your own business and the banter between different trades, nothing is off limits.   Throughout the episode, Liam shares the experiences that have shaped his career, how creating content has opened unexpected opportunities, and why staying true to yourself matters both on and off the tools. The conversation also touches on a personal health scare that changed his perspective on work, business and life.   You'll hear discussions about:   Life as a self-employed electricianBuilding a personal brand in the trade industryCreating trade content on social mediaApprenticeships and getting started in the electrical tradeDomestic work, landlord jobs and self-employmentTrade banter and the rivalry between different tradesMental resilience, health and work-life balanceHonest stories, laughs and opinions from someone who isn't afraid to speak his mind  Whether you're an electrician, apprentice, plumber, gas engineer, builder, carpenter, painter & decorator or another self-employed tradesperson, this episode is packed with relatable stories, practical insights and plenty of laughs from the world of UK trades.   👇 Join the conversation: What's one opinion about the trade industry that always starts a debate on site? 🎁 EXCLUSIVE PODCAST OFFER Get 30% OFF your Yearly Subscription to Gas Certificate App! Use code: POD30 at checkout 📲 Download the Gas Certificate App now https://onelink.to/hbv69u ⚠️ Warning: Contains adult humour and strong language. Tradesmen banter ahead. 🔗 Follow us on Socials 📱 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@offthejobpodcastuk 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/offthejobpodcastuk

Send us Fan Mail What actually makes a trade business valuable?   This week, Pete and Keiran dive into the conversations every self-employed tradesperson ends up having—from building a loyal customer base and winning repeat work to quoting jobs, marking up materials and planning for the future of your business. If you're a plumber, gas engineer, electrician, builder, carpenter or any other tradesperson running your own business, there's plenty to take away from this one.   In this episode, you'll hear:   Why repeat customers are the biggest asset in a trade businessHow service reminders can help keep your diary fullShould you charge for quotes or provide estimates?How much should you really mark up materials?The difference between building a job... and building a businessPreparing your trade business for the futureReal trade stories and comments from the Off The Job communityBoiler servicing, plumbing chat and plenty of honest opinions from Pete and Keiran  The lads also discuss why so many tradespeople spend their careers chasing the next job instead of creating a business with long-term value, inspired by the recent conversation with Richard from London Basement Pumps about building a business that's worth selling.   👇 Join the conversation: Do you charge for quotes? What's your markup on materials? And what's one thing you've done that's brought you more repeat customers? 🎁 EXCLUSIVE PODCAST OFFER Get 30% OFF your Yearly Subscription to Gas Certificate App! Use code: POD30 at checkout 📲 Download the Gas Certificate App now https://onelink.to/hbv69u ⚠️ Warning: Contains adult humour and strong language. Tradesmen banter ahead. 🔗 Follow us on Socials 📱 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@offthejobpodcastuk 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/offthejobpodcastuk

Send us Fan Mail Most people know Kevin Brown as The Prestige Painter, but decorating wasn't where his career started.   After leaving professional football and building a successful career with the Volkswagen Group, Kevin made the decision to start again and retrain as a painter & decorator at 30 years old. What followed wasn't just another decorating business, it was a completely different way of thinking about marketing, pricing, customer service and building a personal brand.   Pete and Keiran sit down with Kevin to unpack the journey, from launching his business with a simple Facebook marketing campaign to becoming a recognised name in the painting and decorating industry and working alongside some of the biggest decorating brands in the UK.   Expect plenty of honest conversations about: Starting a trade later in lifeBuilding a successful painting & decorating businessMarketing that actually wins workPricing decorating jobs with confidenceCreating repeat customers through great serviceThe power of personal branding and social mediaDecorating products, tools and industry trendsLife as a self-employed tradesperson  Whether you're a painter & decorator looking to grow your business, or you're a plumber, electrician, gas engineer, carpenter or builder wanting to attract more customers and stand out from the competition, there's plenty of practical advice you can take from this episode.   👇 Question for the comments: If you had to start your trade business from scratch tomorrow, what's the first thing you'd do differently? 🎁 EXCLUSIVE PODCAST OFFER Get 30% OFF your Yearly Subscription to Gas Certificate App! Use code: POD30 at checkout 📲 Download the Gas Certificate App now https://onelink.to/hbv69u ⚠️ Warning: Contains adult humour and strong language. Tradesmen banter ahead. 🔗 Follow us on Socials 📱 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@offthejobpodcastuk 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/offthejobpodcastuk

Send us Fan Mail Nobody teaches you how to run a trade business… until now. This week on Off The Job, Pete and Keiran are joined by Gio, who shares the business lessons every self-employed tradesperson should know. From pricing jobs and understanding your numbers to finding more work, building repeat business and creating systems that actually help your business grow, this episode is packed with practical advice for anyone in the construction industry.   In this episode we cover: How to start and grow a successful trade business The biggest mistakes self-employed tradespeople make Why most tradespeople struggle with business, not the trade itself Pricing jobs properly and knowing your numbers Winning more work without relying on cheap leads Google Business Profile, reviews and getting found online Building repeat customers and long-term relationships Business structure, organisation and customer service Marketing your trade business the right way Practical advice for plumbers, electricians, gas engineers, builders, carpenters, decorators and every self-employed tradesperson   Whether you're just starting out, thinking about going self-employed or already running your own trade business, this episode is full of practical tips, real experiences and honest conversations that could help you avoid costly mistakes and build a stronger business.   👇 Let us know in the comments: What's the biggest business lesson you've learned since going self-employed? 🎁 EXCLUSIVE PODCAST OFFER Get 30% OFF your Yearly Subscription to Gas Certificate App! Use code: POD30 at checkout 📲 Download the Gas Certificate App now https://onelink.to/hbv69u ⚠️ Warning: Contains adult humour and strong language. Tradesmen banter ahead. 🔗 Follow us on Socials 📱 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@offthejobpodcastuk 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/offthejobpodcastuk

Send us Fan Mail From old boilers and rising costs to air conditioning, heatwaves and the future of the trade industry... this week's Off The Job Overtime covers it all.   Pete and Keiran are back for another honest conversation about what's really happening across the UK trades. From debating whether it's worth repairing old boilers anymore, to discussing why so many self-employed tradespeople feel it's getting harder to make money, this episode is packed with opinions, real experiences and plenty of tradie banter.   In this episode, you'll hear: Why Pete says he's stopped repairing old boilersWhen it's better to replace a boiler instead of fixing itWhy tradespeople are finding it harder to make a profitThe rising cost of vans, tools and running a trade businessAir conditioning installs and whether they're the next big opportunity for plumbers and heating engineersThe hottest trades to get into over the next 20 yearsWho's responsible for deep joist notches when replacing pipework?England's Club World Cup performance, Trade Wars 2026 and plenty of off-topic conversations along the way  Whether you're a plumber, gas engineer, heating engineer, electrician, builder, carpenter, painter & decorator or running your own trade business, there's plenty to get involved with in this episode.   👇 Join the conversation in the comments: Would you keep repairing a 25-year-old boiler, or would you recommend a replacement? 🎁 EXCLUSIVE PODCAST OFFER Get 30% OFF your Yearly Subscription to Gas Certificate App! Use code: POD30 at checkout 📲 Download the Gas Certificate App now https://onelink.to/hbv69u ⚠️ Warning: Contains adult humour and strong language. Tradesmen banter ahead. 🔗 Follow us on Socials 📱 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@offthejobpodcastuk 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/offthejobpodcastuk

Send us Fan Mail How do you turn £20,000 into a £30 million builders' merchant business?   This week on Off The Job, Pete and Keiran sit down with Shane Watts, who shares the journey of building one of the UK's leading independent builders' merchants. From the early risks and business decisions to the challenges of growing a company in the construction industry, this episode is packed with lessons for anyone working in the trades.   In this episode we cover: Building a £30 million builders' merchant businessStarting with just £20,000Growing a successful trade businessThe biggest mistakes self-employed tradespeople makeWhat builders' merchants really think about tradespeopleHow the construction industry has changedBusiness growth, leadership and hiring the right peopleAI, technology and the future of the trade industryAdvice for anyone looking to start or scale a business  Whether you're a plumber, gas engineer, electrician, builder, carpenter, roofer, painter & decorator or running your own construction business, this episode is full of practical advice, honest conversations and real business lessons from someone who's spent years in the trade industry.   👇 Let us know in the comments: If you had £20,000 to start a business today, what trade would you choose? 🎁 EXCLUSIVE PODCAST OFFER Get 30% OFF your Yearly Subscription to Gas Certificate App! Use code: POD30 at checkout 📲 Download the Gas Certificate App now https://onelink.to/hbv69u ⚠️ Warning: Contains adult humour and strong language. Tradesmen banter ahead. 🔗 Follow us on Socials 📱 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@offthejobpodcastuk 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/offthejobpodcastuk