Off The Job: A Tradesman Podcast
Welcome to 'Off The Job: A Tradesman Podcast,' the ultimate destination for tradespeople across the UK, hosted by Keiran Yates and Pete Withers (Tradie Tales aka Plumber Tales). This podcast is a toolbox of insights, humour, and real-life stories from the heart of the trades industry.Each episode of 'Off The Job' is crafted with the tradesperson in mind, whether you're a Gas Engineer, Plumber, Electrician, or just passionate about the trade world. Our hosts, Keiran and Pete, bring their unique perspectives and humour to the table, making every discussion engaging and relatable.What sets 'Off The Job' apart...
Should Tradies Finish Early? Diesel Costs, Free Quotes & Job and Knock | Overtime
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Should you be allowed to finish early if you've completed all your work, or should your boss find you something else to do?
Keiran Yates and Pete Withers are back for another episode of Off The Job Overtime, tackling the everyday frustrations, rising costs and workplace debates affecting UK tradespeople.
Inspired by a clip featuring Liam the Tool Sparky, the lads get into the age-old argument around 'job and knock'. If you've finished your allocated work, have you earned an early finish?
They also discuss rising diesel...
What Happens If Self-Employed Tradespeople Can’t Work? | Off The Job Podcast Overtime Episode 95
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If you're self-employed and your body suddenly stops you working… how long could you actually afford to be off the tools?
Pete and Keiran are back for another Off The Job Overtime, and this week Pete’s back injury sparks a conversation that every self-employed tradesperson should probably think about.
After struggling with severe sciatic pain, Pete was told to rest for up to 12 weeks, but when your income depends on physically turning up and doing the job, taking three...
Every Tradesperson Needs To Know What’s Changing In 2027 | Off The Job Podcast Overtime Episode 94
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Big changes are coming to new homes in 2027, but what could they actually mean for tradespeople?
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Pete and Keiran are back for another Off The Job Overtime, and this week they get into the upcoming Future Homes and Buildings Standards and what they could mean for gas engineers, plumbers, electricians, heating engineers, renewable installers, builders and developers.
The lads look at what is expected to change from March 2027, including new-build heating, heat pumps, s...
UK Trades: Skills Shortage… Or Is There Just Not Enough Work? | Off The Job Podcast Overtime Episode 93
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Is there really a skills shortage in the UK trades, or is there simply not enough work to go around?
Pete and Keiran are back for another Off The Job Overtime, and this week they get into a question a lot of tradespeople are starting to ask.
We constantly hear that the UK needs more builders, plumbers, electricians and skilled tradespeople, but at the same time apprentices are struggling to find placements and plenty of trades are saying work ha...
Makita, Milwaukee or DeWalt? A Tool Repair Expert Gives His Verdict | Billy Jobson from Jobson Tools
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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 se...
27 Years As A Plumber… Here’s What I Wish I Knew Sooner | Off The Job Podcast Overtime Episode 92
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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 an...
The Flooring Tool That Sold Out In 10 Minutes | Sam Prosser from MyScribe
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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 th...
Why British Gas Contract Changes Pushed Me To Start My Own Business | James Davis from JWD Heating
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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 ev...
What People Get WRONG About Working in the Trades | Off The Job Podcast Overtime Episode 91
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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...
He Built A £1.5M Trade Business From One Niche! | Richard Pearson from London Basement Pumps
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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 run...
How He Went From Homeless To National Plumber Of The Year | Louchavan Lemard PH247
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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 ho...
A Gas Explosion... Can The Engineer Be Blamed? | Off The Job Podcast Overtime Episode 90
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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 i...
Tool Theft Is Down 26%... Here's Why | Dave & Shoaib (The Gas Expert)
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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 bus...
The Truth About Being An Electrician | Tall Sparky
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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 un...
He Sold His Trade Business... Here's Why It Was Worth Buying | Off The Job Podcast Overtime Episode 89
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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...
He Started Decorating At 30... Now Brands Pay Him To Promote Their Products | Kevin Brown as The Prestige Painter
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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 hi...
The Biggest Mistake Self-Employed Tradespeople Make | Giovanni Barreca from GRFT Academy
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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 sel...
I Refuse To Repair Old Boilers Anymore... Here's Why | Off The Job Podcast Overtime Episode 88
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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:
Wh...He Built A £30 Million Builders' Merchant Business From Just £20,000 | Shane Watts
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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 succ...£450 To Change A Basin Waste... Fair Or A Rip Off? | Off The Job: A Tradesman Podcast Overtime Episode 87
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Is £450 to change a basin waste a fair price… or has the trade gone too far?
This week on Off The Job Overtime, Pete and Keiran dive into one of the biggest debates affecting the trade industry right now: call-out charges, pricing jobs and where you draw the line between charging your worth and looking after your customers. After hearing about a homeowner being charged £450 for a simple plumbing repair, the conversation quickly turns into a debate every self-employed tradesperson will have an opinion on.
A...
Gas Engineers Are Divided Over This New IGEM Update | Off The Job: A Tradesman Podcast Overtime Episode 86
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This week on Off The Job Overtime, Pete and Keiran are back discussing one of the biggest talking points in the gas industry right now – the latest IGEM update and why it's dividing gas engineers across the UK. If you're a domestic or commercial gas engineer, this is one conversation you won't want to miss.
The lads also look back at InstallerSHOW 2026, share their favourite moments from the event, talk about the woodworking, painting and decorating halls, and discuss what's next for Off The Job as Trade Wars gets und...
AI Answered My Plumbing Calls | Off The Job: A Tradesman Podcast Overtime Episode 85
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In this episode of Off The Job Overtime, the lads catch up on everything from busy weeks on the tools and growing social media opportunities to AI-powered call handling for tradespeople, personal bests in running, and the realities of self-employment.
They also share hilarious AI phone call recordings, discuss leaving rugby, balancing work and content creation, social media, boxing, and the importance of staying safe in today's world. It's a relaxed, unfiltered conversation packed with laughs, honest chat, and plenty of trade banter.
In this episode:<...
The Government Is Changing Tax For Tradesmen | Off The Job: A Tradesman Podcast Overtime Episode 84
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This week on Off The Job Overtime, Pete and Keiran tackle a question that seems to be coming up more and more across the trades...
Why is work so quiet right now?
The lads discuss the current state of the plumbing, heating, electrical and construction industries, whether self-employed tradespeople are feeling the pinch, and the challenges that come with running a trade business in 2026.
The conversation also covers:
Why some trades are experiencing quieter periods
Self-employed life in the UK
Tax changes affecting tr...
How A Carpet Fitter Gained 140,000 Followers In Less Than A Year
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This week on Off The Job, Pete and Keiran are joined by Wilson Milton – carpet fitter, comedian, content creator, and one of the fastest-growing personalities in the trades.
In less than a year, Wilson went from posting videos from his van to building an audience of over 140,000 followers across social media. But as he explains in this episode, going viral isn't quite as glamorous as people think.
Wilson shares how a single video kickstarted his growth, the reality of creating content every day, balancing comedy with life on the tool...
What Plumbing Is Really Like in Sweden | Off The Job: A Tradesman Podcast Overtime Episode 83
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Pete is back from Sweden and shares his experience of Swedish plumbing systems, wood pellet boilers, air source heat pumps, and how life in Scandinavia compares to the UK. The lads also discuss paintball injuries, quitting vaping, singing lessons, the upcoming Installer Show, Trade Wars, and what it's like speaking to the next generation of apprentices.
In this episode:
Plumbing and heating systems in Sweden Wood pellet boilers and renewable heating Air source heat pumps overseas Differences between UK and Scandinavian homes Paintball injuries and Trade Wars filming Vaping, smoking and nicotin...I Nearly Quit Gas Engineering at 18... Here's What Changed | Nathan Harber
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Why so many young people quit the industry
Pricing jobs and knowing your worth
Gas engineering, boiler breakdowns and servicing
Social media in the trades
The future of plumbing and gas engineering
Advice for apprentices, employers and young tradespeople
Nathan also shares practical tips for anyone struggling to find an apprenticeship, explains why confidence is one of the biggest challenges for young engineers, and discusses the lessons he's learned from qualifying at just 19 years old.
Whether you're a plumber, gas engineer, apprentice, heating engineer, bu...
From Building to Payment Protection | Johan Dyer from BuildBoss
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This week on Off The Job, Pete and Keiran sit down with Johan Dyer, carpenter, business owner, and founder of BuildBoss.
Johan shares the story behind growing up on building sites, becoming self-employed, dealing with difficult customers, and why one unpaid job can put a trades business at risk.
The conversation takes a deeper turn as Johan opens up about losing his dad in a tragic accident, being told not to come back to work shortly afterwards, and how he rebuilt his life and business du...
Where Has All The Trade Work Gone?! | Off The Job: A Tradesman Podcast Overtime Episode 82
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This week’s Off The Job Overtime starts with Pete asking the question loads of tradespeople are thinking right now…
Has work gone quiet?
The lads get into how slow things have felt recently for some engineers, whether the trades industry is changing, and why more people seem worried about where the next job is coming from.
The episode also goes completely off the rails as usual 😂
Pete and Keiran get into:
Quiet periods in the tradesHeat pumps vs gas boi...40 Plumbing Apprentices Started… Only 8 Finished | Daisy Turner
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This week on Off The Job, Pete and Keiran are joined by Daisy Turner - plumber, gas engineer, award-winning apprentice, and one of the most down-to-earth people we’ve had on the podcast.
The conversation gets into the REAL side of getting into the trades, from apprenticeships and college struggles, to plumbing competitions, heat pumps, site life, influencer culture, and why so many people are getting into the industry for the wrong reasons.
Daisy talks honestly about:
Starting out in plumbingWhy schools push university over...How Painting & Decorating Changed Her Life | Sian Francis
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What’s it really like being a female decorator in the UK trades industry?
This week on Off The Job, Pete and Keiran are joined by Sian Francis - painter, decorator, business owner, mum, and the first female decorator to sit down on the podcast.
Sian talks about starting out in painting and decorating at a young age, building her business from Facebook posts, taking on apprentices, working on DIY SOS, and why people seriously underestimate decorators.But this episode goes much deeper than the trad...
Gas Engineers Are Getting JAILED For This | Off The Job: A Tradesman Podcast Overtime Episode 81
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This week’s Off The Job Overtime gets into illegal gas work, AI madness, trade regulations, stolen vans and the random chaos that somehow always happens when Pete & Keiran start talking 😂
The lads react to stories of illegal gas engineers being sent to prison after dangerous boiler installs and fake sign-offs, while also discussing how common illegal gas work still is across the UK trades industry.
They also get into:
AI using Pete’s face in fake advertsGas engineer & electrician regulation updatesFord Transit vans being the...The First Ever Labourer Song? | Sam Guariglia-Smith (Musical MoobSlap)
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If you’ve ever been sent for a sky hook, a glass hammer, or got screamed at for having your hands in your pockets… this episode is for you!
This week on Off The Job, we’re joined by Sammi AKA Musical Moob slap, ex-labourer, musician, comedian, and one of the funniest guests we’ve ever had on the podcast.
From getting sacked on site, labouring disasters, ADHD struggles, busking, homelessness, gym addiction, tradie banter, and becoming a stay-at-home dad… this episode goes completely off the rails in...
Tradespeople Are Undercharging | Danny & Mike from Alpha Tech
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In this episode of the Off The Job Podcast, we’re joined by Danny and Mike from Alpha Tech to break down one of the biggest issues in the trades—pricing jobs correctly.
If you’re an electrician, plumber, or tradesperson struggling to make consistent profit, this episode covers:
How to price jobs properly (and stop undercharging) Why day rates don’t work for growing a business The real costs most tradespeople ignore Moving from on the tools to running a scalable business Domestic vs commercial work—where the real money is ...What Makes a Good Tradie | Off The Job: A Tradesman Podcast Overtime Episode 80
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In this episode of Off The Job Overtime, Pete and Keiran dive into the realities of life in the trades. From skyrocketing fuel prices and builder markups to the unwritten rules of being a good tradesperson, nothing is off limits.
They also explore fasting, diet habits, and growing concerns about processed food—plus share honest opinions on industry standards across plumbing, electrics, roofing, and more.
Whether you're a tradesperson or just curious about the trade world, this episode is packed with insights, humour, and real talk.
...
Why Tiling Isn’t Easy | Dean Gray from DBS Tiling
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Dean shares his powerful journey from starting tiling at 15 to battling addiction and rebuilding his life through hard work, discipline, and the trade that gave him everything. Now clean and thriving, he’s using social media to grow his business and help others along the way.
We also dive into the realities of the tiling trade, including:
Why tiling is harder than it looks The truth about charging per square metre vs pricing jobs properly Common DIY tiling mistakes The ongoing debate: Who should...From Addiction to Entrepreneurship | Steve Potter’s Journey to Building Bear Garden Rooms
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This powerful episode of Off The Job Podcast features Steve Potter, founder of Bear Garden Rooms, who opens up about his extraordinary journey from addiction and homelessness to becoming a successful business owner.
Steve shares raw, honest insights into his years battling alcohol and cocaine addiction, describing how it spiralled from weekend use into daily dependency: “I was functioning for a long time, but it was just turning me into somebody that I didn’t really know who I was.”
He talks about hitting rock bottom...
Massive iGEM UP/1b Change | Off The Job: A Tradesman Podcast Overtime Episode 79
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Pete and Keiran dive into the latest iGEM UP/1B gas regulation updates, including the new rules on permissible pressure drops and purging requirements that every gas engineer needs to understand before 2026.
The lads also tackle a listener question on radiator installation pricing, debating what’s reasonable for labour‑only vs. supply‑and‑fit, and sharing their unfiltered thoughts on how plumbers actually quote jobs.
Things take a wild turn when they read a shocking story about human remains discovered during p...
Escaping the Rat Race | Alfie’s Journey to Van Life
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In the first episode of Season 10, Pete and Keiran welcome painter‑turned‑traveller Alfie Davis, who’s selling his house, converting a bus, and taking his family on the road for a new life of freedom, travel, and simplicity.
Alfie talks openly about:
✅ 20 years in painting & decorating
✅ The realities of trade work, site stress & working with multiple trades
✅ How steam cleaning led him to travel across the UK
✅ Earning money through TikTok & social media
✅ Pulling his kids out of mainstream school & homeschooling
✅ Why today’s education sys...
The Unpredictable Life Of Tradespeople | Off The Job: A Tradesman Podcast Overtime Episode 78
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In this episode of Off The Job Overtime, Pete and Keiran deliver a fully unfiltered mix of trade talk, chaos, and comedy. From Cheltenham race antics to weird sleep habits and volleyball mishaps, nothing is off limits.
The headline story?
A full‑blown gas engineering nightmare — low working pressure, a massive 28mm rerun, solder leaks buried under fresh plaster, flu issues, and the endless battle with Gas Safe regulations. The lads get into:
✅ Gas pressure rules, appliance safety & boiler MIs
✅ The reality of cowboy job...
What Makes a Great Tradesperson | Off The Job: A Tradesman Podcast Overtime Episode 77
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In Episode 77 of On The Job, Off The Tools, the crew dives into the real conversations happening across the trades—whether you're an apprentice, a seasoned spark, or somewhere in between.
We kick things off with a chat about team‑based sports and how being benched mirrors early apprenticeship life. From there, we get into one of the most common industry debates: domestic work vs site work—which path builds better skills, and which one pays off long‑term?
The episode also tackles:
Whether apprentices should go st...