Chris Frediani - Plastering Show

In this episode, Chris Frediani explores the opportunities in his hometown due to tourism.

Joining Chris in this episode is John Butler - a builder from Devon who works across renovations of homes in the area.

We also hear from Mark Revell from Olympus Building Supplies Ltd. Chris and Mark discuss rising material and fuel costs, supply and delivery challenges in Devon, local building trends, demand from newcomers and DIY renovators, rural logistics, and upcoming concerns in the building supply trade.

Finally, we’ll hear from Andy Vallance of Peninsula Custom Construction LTD - who explores the demand from retirees and holiday homeowners in Devon, success in that market, renovation and property investment opportunities, and working with locals, farmers, and planning.

Chris Frediani talks to builders and finds out how tough it is for them out there currently after the FMB reported big hurdles for builders around material cost increases and wage hikes. Chris talks to Ben Rayner about his experiences with this and whether demand is slowing for him too. Chris invites Simon Hodson from Worcester to join him and explain why some issues for builders need to be addressed and talks about how tax is creating more challenges than ever before. Chris also invites DIY SOS Line Producer, Ally Jenkins onto the show to talk about how this could affect their ability to get the materials they need donated for future projects.

Tape Slayer AKA Leigh Griffiths & Ben Kerslake from Carrington Lime join Chris Frediani to talk about the current approach to lime. Chris feels like not enough younger members of the trade are learning lime skills and developing an understanding of lime and asks Leigh for his thoughts on why this might be and Ben talks about it from a training perspective.

Tom Davis joins Chris Frediani once more in a run of three shows to discuss his journey to starting up a business and then his experiences managing a business. Tom talks about all the current challenges faced due to the unpredictable nature of recent times and also shares some of what he's learnt from more than 20 years in the building trade.

Chris Frediani is joined again by DIY SOS Build Manager Tom Davis so that they can sit down with Hugo Helms, a young Tradesperson who created 'Toolkit Conduct' - a guide for apprentices that can help them figure out how to behave properly on site and create a good foundation for career success. 

Hugo created this after he completed his Carpentry Apprenticeship and realised no one really guides young people with making that step up into the working world after school. 

Hugo, Tom and Chris talk about good and bad behaviour, they talk about the relationship between mentor and apprentice and share a few of their own stories and real world examples.

Chris has invited Tom Davis, a Bricklayer and Builder who joined the industry in 2003 to join him as they both share a passion for bringing new blood into the trade but feel like the pathways have become muddled and is simply not working to the best of it's abilities. Tom shares the key changes he thinks need to be made and issues that need addressing.

Skillbuild Plastering and Dry-lining Lead Judge Colin McGaughey joins the show again to talk through some of the issues with Chris and Tom, explains what he's seen in Northern Ireland and Scotland where some of Tom's ideas are actually in place and talks about the roadblocks from all sides of the industry when it comes to getting Apprentices placements in the numbers required as well as bringing school leavers into Construction based further education.

Chris Frediani looks into what is going on with teaching the trade and delivering plastering courses to newcomers. Leslie Lewis from West London College shares his concerns with how the trade is being taught by many training providers around him and the unnoticed warning signs that we're heading down the wrong road. Colin McCaughey shares the good and bad of what he's seen in terms of skills demonstrated by learners and tutor, Steven Syers from Craven College shares his experience becoming a teacher of the trade and why you should seriously consider it.

Chris Frediani talks to a range of different trades from construction about their best and worst days and experiences on the tools. Becky Bates, a Plumbing & Gas Engineer talks about memorable working locations and the fears of flooding, Electrician Callum Biscoe explains why bad days can have serious consequences in his trade and James Reeve, an award winning Painting & Decorating business owner (Royal Spa Decoration Ltd.) talks about what can be the difference between a good day and a bad one as a business owner. Chris also asks James about his good and bad experiences following the Plasterers.

Chris Frediani catches up with Plasterers, Simon Green & Andy McCauley and finds out how business has been for them so far this year, after a tough 2025 and also a wild start to the year with site hold ups and bad weather.

Chris Frediani is joined one more time by Nick Knowles so that they can discuss getting older and the aging workforce in construction. John Thomson from The Fast Show, 24 Hour Party People & Cold Feet joins in to share what he's noticed about getting older and how to avoid becoming too much of a grumpy old man. John Bedford, an 89 year old Tradesperson who has been plastering since 1965 joins the discussion to talk about working on the tools when he could have been retired for almost two decades. Chris and Nick talk about getting older from their own perspective and whether they would ever retire.