Advertise on podcast: Off The Job: A Tradesman Podcast

Send us Fan Mail Makita, Milwaukee or DeWalt, which power tool brand actually comes out on top when you’re the person repairing them?   Billy Jobson from Jobson Tools joins Pete and Keiran to give a completely different perspective on the power tools tradespeople use every day, what breaks, what’s worth repairing and which brands make life much harder when something eventually goes wrong.   Having grown up around tools and now working alongside his dad buying, selling and repairing power tools and machinery, Billy has seen inside everything from Makita and Milwaukee to DeWalt, Bosch, Hilti and more.   And his verdict isn’t as simple as saying one brand is the best.   Billy explains why he rates Milwaukee for performance but finds some Milwaukee tools expensive to repair, why Makita stands out for repairability and access to individual parts, and why different brands can be better depending on the actual tool you’re buying.   They get into: Makita vs Milwaukee vs DeWaltWhich power tool brands Billy rates and whyThe easiest and hardest tools to repairCommon power tool failuresWhy some tools cost more to repair than replaceWhether cheaper tool brands are actually worth buyingWhy every tradesperson should consider having backup toolsSimple power tool maintenance that could extend their lifeLithium battery safetyBattery adapters and whether Billy recommends using themHilti’s tool hire and fleet modelWhy so many tradespeople throw repairable tools awayTool theft, marking tools and buying second-hand equipment  Pete also discovers that the Makita drill he recently threw away because of a broken chuck could potentially have been repaired for around £30–£40 - which leads into a bigger conversation about the amount of perfectly usable trade equipment being thrown away instead of repaired.   With power tools becoming more expensive, is constantly replacing broken equipment really the best option?   If you’re a plumber, electrician, carpenter, builder, gas engineer or anyone who relies on power tools for a living, this episode could make you think differently before you throw your next drill, impact driver or multi-tool in the skip.   👇 Let us know in the comments: Makita, Milwaukee or DeWalt - which are you choosing? 🎁 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 27 years in plumbing, what would Pete actually do differently if he had to start all over again?   Pete and Keiran are back for another Off The Job Overtime, getting into the reality of working in the trades, running your own business and whether the path most tradespeople are encouraged to follow is actually the right one.   Pete looks back at his career in plumbing and heating and talks honestly about what he would change if he was starting again today, from getting qualified earlier and learning as much as possible, to keeping overheads down, choosing the right work and thinking more carefully about how he builds his business.   That leads into a bigger conversation around whether staying a one-man band is underrated. Is growing a trade business, employing people and taking on more responsibility always the goal? Or can keeping things simple, reducing your outgoings and focusing on profitable work give you a better lifestyle?   They also get into:  * The real cost of being self-employed in the trades  * Why retraining later in life can be so difficult  * Rising fuel, food, tools and business overheads  * Whether tradespeople feel pressured to grow their businesses  * The types of trade work that can offer better margins and less stress  * Why apprenticeships and getting proper experience are still so important   There’s also a debate around a new government-backed home improvement scheme and why Pete and Keiran think the conversation around “trusted trades” also needs to include protecting tradespeople from customers who don’t pay.   And, as always, Overtime goes off in a few other directions, from a customer asking whether £160 was Pete’s day rate, to the cost of everyday life, haircuts, supermarkets, possible career changes and whether Pete could eventually swap plumbing for training guide dogs.   If you’re a plumber, gas engineer, electrician, heating engineer, sole trader or self-employed tradesperson, this episode gets into the questions most people only start asking after years on the tools.   👇 If you could start your trade career again, what would you 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 How does a simple flooring idea turn into 400 emails overnight, sell out in minutes and end up stocked by flooring suppliers around the world?   Sam Prosser, the floor layer behind MyScribe, joins Pete and Keiran to talk about his journey through the flooring trade, building a following on social media and turning a simple idea he created on the tools into a real product business.   Sam started in flooring young, following his dad and brother into the trade, but his route there was anything but straightforward. He talks openly about spending part of his childhood in the care system, leaving school without GCSEs and eventually building a career for himself through flooring.   The conversation then gets into how MyScribe actually started. After one of Sam’s homemade herringbone flooring templates gained millions of views online, he realised there could be a better way of doing it. A 3D printer bought by his wife gave him the chance to turn the idea into a physical product — and the response was bigger than he expected.   After putting a small batch up for sale, Sam received around 400 emails in one night. Later batches sold out within minutes, leading to outside investment, bigger production and MyScribe eventually being stocked by flooring suppliers and shipped internationally.   They also get into: How Sam got started as a floor layerGrowing a flooring business and working in commercial vs domestic jobsCreating MyScribe from a simple on-site ideaSelling out stock and dealing with sudden demandFinding investors and scaling a trade productProtecting an idea with trademarks and design protectionBuilding a brand rather than relying on one productHow social media helped grow the businessOne YouTube video reaching around 17 million viewsDealing with trolling and criticism onlineThe pressure facing the flooring industry from DIY and other tradesSam’s long-term goal of eventually opening his own flooring shop  It’s a great example of how an idea born from actually working on the tools can turn into something much bigger.   If you’re a floor layer, carpet fitter, tradesperson, self-employed business owner or anyone with a product idea you’ve never acted on, this episode is packed with lessons around starting small, testing an idea, using social media and building something from your own experience.   👇 Let us know in the comments: Have you ever had an idea on the tools that you thought could become a real product? 🎁 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 does it actually take to leave a secure job at British Gas and build your own heating business?   James Davis from JWD Heating joins Pete and Keiran to talk about spending 17 years at British Gas, why he finally decided to leave, and what the reality of going self-employed as a gas engineer was actually like.   James opens up about starting out in plumbing straight from school, joining British Gas at 19, spending years working in service and repair, and eventually leaving during the fire-and-rehire period to start building JWD Heating for himself.   The episode gets into the parts of self-employment that tradespeople don’t always see from the outside — pricing jobs properly, understanding your real business costs, taking on apprentices, managing a team, dealing with customers, keeping cash flow healthy and learning how to stop charging like an employee when you’re running a company.   They also cover: What working at British Gas was really likeWhy James stayed for 17 years before leavingBoiler breakdowns, fault finding and when replacement makes more sense than repairStarting JWD Heating from scratchUsing local Facebook groups and social media to win workPricing jobs and learning what your company actually costs to runTaking on apprentices and growing a heating businessSocial media hate, showing real jobs and not pretending every install is perfectAir conditioning as an extra income stream for gas engineersDeposits, unpaid invoices and protecting yourself financiallyThe pressures of employing people and learning how to manage a teamWhy James still wants to stay on the tools  James also talks about the early days of self-employment, when simply earning more than his old daily wage felt like success, before realising that once you factor in vans, wages, VAT, tax, materials and overheads, turnover and profit are two very different things.   There’s plenty of honest trade chat too, from customers tampering with boilers and difficult breakdowns to apprentices, mate rates, social media comments and the constant balancing act between staying competitive and actually making money.   If you’re a gas engineer, heating engineer, plumber, apprentice or self-employed tradesperson thinking about leaving employment, growing your own business or taking on staff, this episode gives a realistic look at what that journey actually involves.   👇 Join the conversation: Would you leave a secure job after 17 years to go self-employed? And if you already run your own trade business, what was the hardest lesson you had to learn? 🎁 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 do people outside the trades actually think the job is like, and how close is that to reality?   In this episode of Off The Job: Overtime, Pete and Keiran get into some of the biggest misconceptions around working in the trades, from how much tradespeople really earn to the physical toll of doing the job year after year.   They also discuss the latest progress around tool theft, whether advertising “no call-out fee” can be misleading, why the UK still has an electrician and apprenticeship shortage, and how rising material prices are affecting quotes and trade businesses.   Plus, Pete shares one of those plumbing jobs that reminds you exactly why some jobs are better left to the drainage engineer… 💩   In this episode:  • The biggest misconceptions about working in the trades  • What customers don’t see behind a tradesperson’s price  • The physical reality of staying on the tools  • Progress being made against tool theft  • Are “no call-out fee” adverts misleading?  • Why so many people want apprenticeships but shortages remain  • Financial support for businesses taking on apprentices  • Rising copper and material costs  • Should your quotes increase when materials do?  • Boiler prices, warranties and servicing  • Would Pete and Keiran encourage their own kids into the trades?   👇 Get involved in the comments and let us know your take on this week’s debates.   Got a story, rant or topic you want Pete and Keiran to discuss on Overtime? Send it over and it could feature in a future episode. 🎁 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