Episodes
It’s Thursday, which means we’re kicking back and getting into a lighter mood – and this week, we’re asking about one of the great perks of trade life: the early Friday finish. From long lunches to sneaky rounds of golf, we heard your best routines and how you make the most of a few extra hours of freedom at the end of the week. Plus, we had the Pub Lunch Quiz and your top messages from the site – enjoy!
Today on the Clive Holland Show with the countrys biggest trade shows just round the corner we were talking all about the benifits of attending a trade show! We asked what the benifits of attending a trade show are and what you should look for when deciding what ones to attend. To give his oppion on this subject we were joined by freind of the show and a man who regulary attends trade events John Cruickshank to hear why he loves attending events within our industry. Plus as always theres the pub lunch Quiz and youll have a chance to bag yourself 6 points in the Pub Lunch Quiz and youll here...
Today we discussed commuting specificaly how far trades people are traveling each day to get to work. We wanted to know if you're one of the lucky ones getting work right on your doorstep or if your traveling miles to get a job. We wanted to know just how far you're traveling and if you're passing your travel costs onto the customer! We were joined by freinds of the show James and Liam to hear how many miles they're doing. Plus theres also the Pub Lunch quiz and you'll hear the very best messages we recived!
It’s Lighthearted Thursday, and today we had a laugh at those classic timing mix-ups – from turning up on the wrong day to rocking up at the crack of dawn only to realise you’ve got your dates completely wrong. We heard some brilliant stories from the trade, shared a few of our own, and of course, squeezed in the Pub Lunch Quiz and your top messages from site – Enjoy!
Today we explored the world of PPE - how much are tradespeople really spending, and is it worth investing in branded workwear versus standard protective gear? Joining us are Jack Auletta and Jason Dunsford to share their insights on staying safe on site without breaking the bank. Plus, don’t miss the Pub Lunch Quiz and your top messages from the site.
Today, we asked the big question – is it better to specialise in a single trade or take a broader approach as a general builder? We were joined by James Lawrence, a plumber who’s built his business on mastering one skill, and Dave Finnegan, carpenter and owner of Elwood Enterprises, to hear why they’ve taken different paths. Plus, there’s the Pub Lunch Quiz and your top messages from the site – Enjoy!
Today we discussed Labour’s proposed immigration changes and how they could impact the UK’s trades. With tougher visa rules, extended settlement periods, and stricter English language requirements on the table, we asked whether this approach will help protect British jobs or just make the skills gap worse. We heard from Dr. David Crosthwaite, chief economist at the Building Cost Information Service and Damian Walters, CEO of the British Institute of Kitchen, Bedroom & Bathroom Installation, who shared their thoughts on what these changes could mean for the industry. Plus, there’s the Pub Lu...
It’s lighthearted Thursday, and today we had a bit of fun putting together the ultimate Trade Football XI – From Bricky Lambert, to Groutinho and even Mason Mount… let’s see who makes your dream team Plus, we had the Pub Lunch Quiz and your top messages from site – Enjoy!
Today, we took a closer look at the government’s plans for renewables. Are schemes like the Boiler Upgrade Scheme doing enough to support tradespeople, or is there still a long way to go? We were joined by Miatta Fahnbulleh, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, to talk about the big picture, and had a chat with Kevin Pocock, managing director of Renew East, about what’s really needed to make the green transition a reality. Plus, we had the Pub Lunch Quiz and your top messages from the site – Enjoy!
I’m fed up. For YEARS we have been banging the drum, trying to force some action, and nothing. Your tools... your livelihoods... your chance to put food on the table for your families are being taken by thugs, by scum. Tools are being stolen every twelve minutes in the UK. Every. Twelve. Minutes. It’s unacceptable. I’m not having it anymore. We want to know what is going to stop these scumbags once and for all, and when politicians from both sides are going to take the issue seriously, rather than treating us like a political football. We’re talking about this again because nothing is being...
Hiring your first member of staff is a massive step for any small business, and today we talked to two tradespeople who’ve been through it. We were joined by John Argyle, a carpenter from Enfield Refurbishments, who shared his experience of making that first hire and the challenges he faced, and by Robert "Pointy" Clarke from PPH Pointy Plumbing & Heating, a Fix Radio regular, who gave us his tips on finding the right person and managing those early days of building a team. Plus, we had the Pub Lunch Quiz and loads of your messages from site. Enjoy!
Today was Lighthearted Thursday and we wanted to know: what’s the weather like where you are? Whether it was glorious sunshine, pouring rain or anything in between, we asked you to send in your pics and let us know what it’s like on site today. Loads of you got involved from all across the UK. Plus, there’s the Pub Lunch Quiz and your best messages from the Fix community - Enjoy!
Tool theft continues to hit the trades hard, with over 11,200 vans stolen in the UK last year alone. Weasked: how much have you spent securing your van? From new locks and alarms to full security systems, we spoke with tradesman Marc Firkins, whose van was broken into a few years back, about how he's still recovering and what he's learned. We also spoke to Jeff Scott of Sussex Installations who gave us his view on van theft and why van manufacturers aren't doing enough to protect their customers. Plus, the Pub Lunch Quiz and your top messages from site - Enjoy!
As demand increases and customers get more price-conscious, accurate cost estimation is more important than ever for tradespeople. With online tools from Checkatrade and more builders working with Quantity Surveyors, we asked: how do you put your cost estimates together, and how accurate are they? We were joined by Ash Mahoney, Bricklayer and host of The Bricklaying Show on Fix Radio, to talk about the common pitfalls in pricing up a job, how digital tools are changing the game, and what makes a solid quote. And Connor Price from Price My Project to explain how professional support can tigh...
Ahead of the bank holiday, we want to know - if there was a national “Tradesperson Day Off,” what would it include and what would be the rules?
Thankfully, as the year goes on, the sun is becoming a more frequent view on site. But with hotter daysand more outside jobs being made possible there is also a level of risk involved with working in the sun.A study by Imperial College London estimated that occupational sun exposure leads to approximately 48 deaths and 241 new cases of melanoma skin cancer annually in Britain, with construction workers accounting for 44% of these deaths. I want to talk about how you’re protecting yourself from this often forgotten risk. Do you have your sun cream with you? And if so, how often do you apply?...
In construction the biggest unknown on any job is often the client! And when they don't hold up their end of the bargain it can be infuriating! And with 81% of trades people being reported to be chasing onaverage £6000 in late payment or no payment today I wanted to know how you would deal with a client who refuses to pay?We were joined by friends of the show Reece Stewart and James Reeve to hear about the experiences they’ve had with late payers and how they’ve dealt with that.Plus there's also the pub lunch quiz and you’ll hear the very best messages we received - Enjoy.
Fake Reviews are a plague in our industry - They can make a cowboy look just as good as you to acustomer or damage the reputation you’ve worked so hard for. However with new legislation coming into effect to fight these reviews they could soon be a thing of the past.Today we were joined by Damien Walters, the Founder and CEO of the The British Institute of Kitchen, Bedroom & Bathroom Installation, and Steve Gray to learn more about the new legislation and discuss whether it will actually help.Plus here's also the pub lunch quiz and you’ll hear the very best messages we received - Enjoy.
Today was Lighthearted Thursday and as it's turning out to be a great year for construction, Clive wanted to know the best thing to happen to you or your business this year? We received some great messages on the topic which you will hear. Plus there is also the pub lunch quiz - Enjoy.
Whether it’s helping out a neighbour, taking on a project for a good cause, or lending your skills to someone in need - most tradespeople have done a bit of free work or charity work at some point. It might not pay the bills, but it can make a big difference. So today, we’re shining a light on the generosity in the trade-have you ever given your time or skills for free? What inspired you to do it, and what did you take away from the experience? And in an industry where time is money, how do you make space to give back? Plumber Lee Ellerker and joiner Ben Brindley joined us to tell us about ...
Profit margins - they’re the bit that keeps the business ticking over after the dust has settled and the job’s done. But how much are trades actually making? Is it 10%, 20%, 30%… or are rising costs and tight budgets squeezing it even lower? Today, we talked money - specifically, what profit margin do you aim for on each job, and is it realistic in the current climate? From pricing up to getting paid, we want to know how you keep things profitable without pricing yourself out of the market. Danny Madden and Steph Leese - the Pink Plasterer - joined us to tell us what sort of margin they mak...
Today was Lighthearted Thursday and we were talking about all the bills and subscriptions you hate to pay. I wanted to know the bill you hate paying the most? With research suggesting it's the TV licence i wanted to know if thats true or if instead its something like ULEZ? We received some great messages on the topic which you will hear. Plus there is also the pub lunch quiz - Enjoy.
For most people in the trades their van is the most important tool! Recent changes to the Zero Emission Mandate will allow new diesel vans to stay on sale until 2035, which could be good news for tradies but could also have a major environmental impact. With major government provided benefits for going electric but a low take up due to concerns such as range, payload and downtime, Is this good or bad news for the trade? And what else can the government do to promote the move to electric?! We were joined by David Byrne and Mandy Dean - Commercial Vehicle Director for Ford to hear their view...
When you’re running your own business in the trades you don't get certain benefits that are considered normal to everyone else. One of those being paid bank holidays! So today with the bank holiday weekend approaching I wanted to know who would be taking it off and if so what their plans are? We were joined by friends of the show Kevin and Freya to hear about their bank holiday plans, whether they ever fully switch off and how their clients react to them taking off the holidays. Plus there's also the pub lunch quiz and you’ll hear the very best messages we received.
Tool theft continues to plague tradespeople across the UK, causing significant financial and emotional distress. On April 25th, the Theft of Tools of Trade (Sentencing) Bill is scheduled for its second reading in Parliament. This bill, introduced by Amanda Martin, Labour MP for Portsmouth North, aims to impose tougher penalties on those convicted of stealing trade tools. So today we spoke with Amanda to discuss how we can support the bill. And heard from Steve about how it affects every aspect of a tradesperson's life. Additionally, we want to hear from you if you’ve been victims of tool t...
Today it was lighthearted Thursday and we think anyone who works in the trade providing quality work and saving their clients from cowboys are superheroes. So today we wanted your ideas for Trade Super Heroes. Clive wanted to know what they would be called? And more importantly what powers they would have? We got some great suggestions which you will hear plus there's also the pub lunch quiz for your chance to grab yourself 6 points. - Enjoy
In the trade how you communicate with a client is very important, However how a client communicates with you is often overlooked! Clive believe that sometimes you can tell if someone is going to be a bad client from before you’ve even started the job. So today Clive wanted to know what you would do if a client sent you a message at midnight? Would you reply and think nothing of it, or see it as a massive red flag? He was joined by Kimmy The Sparks and plumber Pete Withers to hear what experiences they’ve had communicating with a client and what they would do in this situation - Plus there's...
The importance of apprenticeships when getting people into construction can not be understated and for many an apprenticeship is the first step into the industry. But recently the government shortened the minimum length of apprenticeships to just 8 months meaning that an additional 10,000 apprentices could qualify each year! So today I asked are short apprenticeships necessary to fight the shortage of tradespeople OR could they cause a major problem?! I was joined by the Government's Skill Minister RT Hon Baroness Jacqui Smith and DIY SOS' Chris Frediani to hear their views - Plus there's a...
Today it was lighthearted Thursday and in the spirit of our very own Fix Radio approved pubs that bring you the pub lunch quiz, we wanted to hear you some of your ideas for trade related pub names. We had a great time reading all the messages with your ideas and as always there's also the pub lunch quiz for your chance to grab yourself 6 points. - Enjoy
April is Stress Awareness Month, and in the construction industry, mental health is a conversation many still struggle to have. In fact, 70% of builders say they’ve suspected a colleague was seriously depressed but found it too difficult to talk about. The stigma runs so deep that 71% admit to giving their employer a different reason—like a physical illness—when taking time off for mental health. Even more concerning, 4 in 10 builders say they’d rather quit their job than speak up. We were joined by Ross Comer from St Johns ambulance and Band of Builders CEO Gavin Crane to hear the best way...