Fix Radio: How has Depher (Disability and Elderly Plumbing and Heating Emergency Repair) been doing since you won your award?

James Anderson: The last two years have been very up and down. Very trying, very emotional. We have attended over 22,000 properties with 22,000 families.

We have expanded with another two vehicles, we have another three engineers onboard, two apprentices, [and] we’re going from a [Community Interest Company] to a charity, with a subsidiary company, so we can get more help.

We’re trying to get more funding from other places because we are a charity.

We are going national next year, where we will deliver plumbing gear, food, electric, gas and basic necessities to members of the public – single parent families [and] low-income families.

The expansion is going to be massive next year.

Fix Radio: What are some of the challenges of taking Depher national?

Anderson: It is a huge effort, and we are seeking the help of subcontractors and engineers from local areas where the work comes from.

We had one two weeks ago in Northampton. We had an elderly couple that couldn’t afford a boiler, so we paid for the boiler, and a local company in Northampton fitted [it] for free.

We will have a connection with companies – we will ask them to go in and do the job and we will pay them an agreed rate.

Fix Radio: How did winning the Overall Tradesperson of the Year Award change things?

Anderson: It made people turn their heads and notice us.

It made people go ‘wow, Tradesperson of the Year’ that is a good to get.

It made me very humble, and I met Clive [Holland].

Something like that tells you that somebody is watching, that somebody is listening, and understands why we established Depher, and why we do, what we do.

It is unbelievable, I was really humbled.

Fix Radio: You got a donation from Hugh Grant, tell us about that?

Anderson: Yes, we’ve had £15,000 off Hugh Grant. One donation of £10,000, another donation of £5,000. And he ordered 59 presents from our Amazon wishlist, which we give to children because we have a children’s appeal every Christmas.

Fix Radio: Did you strike up the relationship with Hugh, or did he come to you out of the blue?

Anderson: When we got it [the donation], it was obviously a shock. I double checked it, and then I double checked it again. Then I found out that he follows us on Twitter. I went to Go Fund Me and I asked them to double check. They got in contact with his people and confirmed it was him.

So yeah, we have done something he likes, and it is absolutely beautiful. It is brilliant! It is very humbling. He still follows us.

I put a twitter post up last week about some of the complications and scrutiny we face every day and the backlash from some people because with the good, comes the bad.

And Hugh put a comment on ‘Don’t worry, we’ve all got your back.’

For someone like Hugh to say that; it is overwhelming, because you know he is watching and if we need help then he is there.

Fix Radio: There is a bit of a backlash?! What are they talking about?

Anderson: You get some people that are jealous, they think you’re taking work away from them, which we’re not, some people are angry because we publicise what they’re doing in the community.

Rough traders are taking a lot of money off people and not doing the job – putting people’s lives at risk. We publicise it because life is more important than making a profit.

Fix Radio: Do you think Gas Safe and other regulatory bodies need to do more to educate the market?

Anderson: Yeah, they need to look at it. They have got to educate people on what they can do. You could have a boiler that has low pressure, and it is an easy educational video – this is how to repressurise your boiler’. It is a two-minute video, and it will make a lot of people safe and will reduce the amount of people getting scammed.

Companies are now charging people £200, just to put a bit of pressure in a boiler. It is stupid.

Fix Radio: What advice would you give young apprentices?

Anderson: If you are looking to get into plumbing and heating for the money; don’t bother! Do something different.

It is not about the money, it is about safety, it is about what you’re giving the customer. The customer relies on you to do a good job. They rely on you to keep them safe and that is what they ring you for.

They don’t ring you to make you enough money so you can buy the latest trainers, the latest holiday, or the latest car.

But if you are in it for safety, or to promote a good trade, the money will come to you eventually. But you have to start at the bottom, and you will make the money you want, to live the lifestyle you want.

Fix Radio: What advice would you give to your fellow plumbers in the trade?

Anderson: Obviously, we must look to being greener.

But at the same time, air-source heat pumps are not going to do it. A lot of people are saying they are too dear. By the time you have upgraded everything in your home to go in line with the air-source heat pump, you could be looking at £20-£25,000 and people haven’t got that kind of money.

But it is all about insulating the home, it is all about consumption.