The Electrical Show

Thomas Nagy and Paul Meenan zig zag through the different career paths available to electricians. They reflect on their own journeys, discuss the roles they’ve found most rewarding, and reveal the jobs they would — and wouldn’t — want to take on.

From solar PV and battery storage to EV charging, industrial maintenance, fire alarms, data centres and smart home technology, they explore the pros and cons of a range of specialisms.

Thomas Nagy and Paul Meenan take a look at the tools and equipment that genuinely earn their place in the van, the gadgets that turn out to be a waste of money, and whether expensive tools really make you a better electrician.

They discuss the pros and cons of buying duplicate tools, managing stock and supplies, keeping up with new innovations and avoiding equipment becoming obsolete.

Thomas Nagy and Paul Meenan explore whether electricians should have their own compulsory accreditation scheme, following SELECT’s campaign in Scotland to protect the title of electrician.

They’re joined by plumbing and heating industry expert Jimmy Hendry to discuss how Gas Safe works in practice, how engineers are vetted, the benefits and frustrations of the system, and what reforms might be needed.

Thomas and Paul debate what a register of competency could look like in the electrical sector, whether it would genuinely tackle poor workmanship, and what a good or bad version of the scheme migh...

Thomas Nagy and Paul Meenan are joined by Neil Claxton, the Scottish electrician recently named Screwfix Top Tradesperson 2026, to find out what sets the very best tradespeople apart.

They discuss the skills, attitude, professionalism and work ethic that can take an electrician from simply getting by to becoming one of the best in the business. 

Thomas and Paul debate who else in the electrical and wider construction industry deserves recognition — and whether industry awards should be about technical ability alone, or also recognise customer service, helping others and running a great business.

Thomas Nagy and Paul Meenan are joined by Keith Sanderson, Head of Education and Skills at the ECA, to discuss the challenges facing apprentices, employers and colleges.

They look at the shortage of work placements, the quality of college training, rogue training providers and how competency standards could be improved.

They also look into whether the electrical industry needs a licensing system similar to the Gas Safe Register, how to encourage more mature students into the trade, and what needs to change to get more electrical contractors taking on apprentices.

Thomas Nagy and Paul Meenan explore the booming opportunities for electricians in the UK’s data centre expansion - and ask the big question: would you move for work?

They’ll discuss the growing demand for skilled electricians, whether domestic sparks could move into commercial data centre work, the skills and qualifications needed, and whether the money and opportunities are enough to tempt electricians away from home.

They’re joined by Danny Webb from Alpha Tech Group and Nathan Sheridan from JS Electrical NE LTD to get their perspectives on the opportunities, skills and challenges around data c...

Thomas Nagy flies solo for a Q&A featuring questions from listeners. Thomas tackles juicy questions about pricing, hiring, training and the future of the industry, reflects on his contracting journey and answers some controversial questions along the way!

Thomas Nagy is joined in the studio by 28-year-old electrical contractor Callum Biscoe from C&B Electrical Contractors Ltd.

Callum talks Thomas through his journey into the electrical trade, his experiences qualifying, the people who helped him along the way and what he wishes he’d been taught when he was training.

He also reveals how he built his business, the lessons he’s learned as a business owner and how he grew into taking on medical and education-based electrical contracts.

Thomas and Callum also discuss managing staff, the challenges and opportunities of commercial work...

Paul Meenan puts electrician Mark Pink and his 16-year-old apprentice son Teddy to the test with a series of real-world electrical trade dilemmas.

From dealing with unsafe work and difficult customers to site banter, pricing jobs, buying tools and investing in training, Teddy gives his answers first before Mark draws on his years of experience to explain what he would do.

Paul Meenan is joined by electrician and site agent Mark Pink and his 16-year-old son Teddy, who is beginning his apprenticeship journey and following the family into the electrical trade.

From the traditional methods and experiences of Teddy’s grandad, through Mark’s career in the industry and working around the world, to Teddy taking his first steps into the trade.

Mark reflects on how much the electrical industry has changed, what has improved and what may have become unnecessarily complicated, while Teddy explains why he has chosen the trade, what he’s looking forward to and wh...

Thomas Nagy and Paul Meenan are joined once again by fire safety consultant Dan Jackson to discuss one of the most important responsibilities for electrical contractors: understanding and maintaining the fire integrity of the buildings they work in.

Paul asks Dan for his thoughts on the fire safety guidance within the 18th Edition Wiring Regulations, what could change in future editions and the key things electricians need to understand when working on buildings where fire integrity could be compromised.

The conversation also looks ahead to the impact of plug-in solar, battery storage and emerging technologies, and...

Thomas Nagy and Paul Meenan are joined by fire safety expert Dan Jackson to debate whether the way standards are applied on construction projects can sometimes create unnecessary costs, delays and setbacks.

They’re also joined by Dan Rossiter, Head of Standards, Built Environment at the British Standards Institution, to get BSI’s perspective on how standards are developed, how much they listen to the industry, when contractors can deviate from them, and how standards need to evolve alongside new technology.

Are British Standards keeping construction safe — or sometimes holding it back?

Thomas Nagy and Paul Meenan talk about how to handle setbacks and challenges from other people letting you down and when to pick your battles... to problems with deliveries and also some hypothetical situations that many in the trade encounter.

Thomas Nagy and Paul Meenan talk about how to manage time as a contractor and the art of delegation. Danny Webb joins the chat to explain why he thinks this could be his greatest attribute and shares some insight into how he's mastered it.

Callum Biscoe from C&B Electrical explains how he's able to oversee a successful business while working reasonable hours/days and also how he's learnt to delegate effectively. 

Thomas and Paul then discuss their experiences and how there's still a lot to learn from their perspective and Paul shares a plug-in solar u...

Paul Meenan and Thomas Nagy address what they feel is worthwhile or a waste of time from their perspective in the Electrical sector. There's also a chat around the wider construction industry and some controversial takes (as you might expect) 

Thomas Nagy and Paul Meenan chat to Jamie Blatant (known as Actual Electrical Content) and get his thoughts on training and discuss some of the problems that he sees with how it's currently approached. Tom and Paul discuss the issues a bit further once Jamie's segment is over and Tom shares what he feels is an interesting fact towards the end of the show.

Thomas Nagy and Paul Meenan talk about Tom's business growth in the past 5-10 years and the story behind how Tom has gone from closing down a business, to starting fresh with a small team that he's now built to over 20 people. Thomas talks about the trial and error, how he's done it, what you should do if you would like to emulate this success and the ongoing growth of his business.

Thomas Nagy and Paul Meenan look into meter tampering and requests from customers that Electricians engage in meter tampering and other illegal work. Kimmy The Sparks joins the show to talk about her past experiences with this request from the public, Jimmy Hendry shares a Plumbing & Heating perspective on the topic and Tom and Paul talk about their own first hand and anecdotal experiences.

Thomas Nagy and Paul Meenan look into efforts to improve competency through training and how we could provide a better standard of training within the industry. Adrian Davey joins the show to talk about a real world example of poor workmanship being allowed to continue and why much of the industry seemingly doesn't care or at least allows poor standards to continue.

Craig Wiltshire shares his vision to unionise training in the industry and talks about the reality of what he found when he entered the world of training with regards to poor standards and roadblocks in front...

Thomas Nagy and Paul Meenan look into the approach to putting together tenders and bids for work. Thomas talks about his experiences as a Contractor, Paul gives some insight into what he's looking for when he gets tenders from those looking for work and Jason Cooney from TSAKs Consulting joins the discussion to explain what he thinks are the key steps in putting together tenders that are most likely to be successful.

Thomas Nagy and Paul Meenan talk about how and why projects and jobs of all scale go wrong. They chat about past experience, dissect the issues and what caused them, talk about what happens next, how major projects end up badly done, over budget and running over the time alloted and also touch on the kind of work they wouldn't touch with a barge pole.

This week, Thomas Nagy and Paul Meenan go back to the very start of their careers in the electrical trade.

They share memories from their first days on site, discuss the challenges they faced as apprentices, and reflect on the moments that shaped their careers.The lads talk about the jobs they'll never forget, what became easier with experience, and whether their expectations of the trade matched the reality.

They also discuss how the industry has changed over the years, from life before smartphones to the rise of LED lighting, certification software, Part P regulations and...

Lack of sleep is fast becoming one of the biggest health concerns for tradespeople, with new research from Tradesman Saver revealing that 59% say poor sleep is affecting their mental health. In this episode, Thomas Nagy and Paul Meenan discuss their own sleep habits, routines, and whether power naps at work should be encouraged. Guests include GP and Sleep Specialist Dr. David Garley who gives expert insights on why sleep matters, how it impacts mental wellbeing, and the simple changes that can improve it. Electrician Callum Biscoe also joins the conversation to share the realities of balancing proper rest with the...

This episode explores apprenticeships, skills, and the future of the next generation of tradespeople, featuring a wide-ranging discussion on training, opportunity, and workforce development. Thomas and Paul are joined by Keith Sanderson from the Electrical Contractors' Association, who shares his perspective on the future of apprenticeships, how to encourage more employers to take them on, and why protecting the value of long-term training matters. They also speak with Tony York of Yorkman Group, who offers his thoughts on developing and supporting the next generation entering the industry. Later in the episode, Thomas and Paul chat with Nathan Sheridan about his...

Thomas Nagy and Paul Meenan catch up to discuss their recent experiences, both professionally and personally. Paul reflects on his recent trip to America, while Thomas shares work updates and how he has recently sold a vehicle to Ukraine. There is also conversation on key industry developments, such as the latest amendment to BS 7671.

Plug-in solar is coming to the market in the UK.

Before heading off to the States, Paul gave us an early look at what this could mean. Now he’s back, and we’ve been holding onto the follow-up for just this moment.

In this episode, we dive deeper into the potential of plug-in solar, what’s changed, and what it could mean for households across the country. Plus, we bring in Mark Coles - Head of Technical Regulations from the IET to get another perspective on where things stand.
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