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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 business
• Starting with just £20,000
• Growing a successful trade business
• The biggest mistakes self-employed tradespeople make
• What builders' merchants really think about tradespeople
• How the construction industry has changed
• Business growth, leadership and hiring the right people
• AI, technology and the future of the trade industry
• Advice for anyone looking to start or scale a business

Whether you're a plumber, gas engineer, electrician, builder, carpenter, roofer, painter & decorator or running your own construction business, this episode is full of practical advice, honest conversations and real business lessons from someone who's spent years in the trade industry.

👇 Let us know in the comments:
If you had £20,000 to start a business today, what trade would you choose?

📣 Sponsored by Flexigas – the flexible gas pipe specialists: https://flexigas.com/
💥 Powered by Ridgeline – seamless copper tubes built for the trade: https://ridgelinetubes.com/

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⚠️ Warning: Contains adult humour and strong language. Tradesmen banter ahead.

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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.

Along the way, the lads also chat about:

• Fair call-out charges for plumbers, gas engineers and tradespeople
• Should you charge elderly customers less?
• The true value of a tradesperson's time
• Pricing jobs with confidence
• Customer service vs making a profit
• Stories and opinions sent in by the Off The Job community
• Running, work-life balance and switching off outside of work
• Plenty of tradie banter and honest conversations

Whether you're a plumber, gas engineer, electrician, builder, carpenter, roofer, painter & decorator or running your own trade business, this episode is guaranteed to get you thinking and probably arguing in the comments too.

👇 We want to hear from you:

Would you charge £450 for that job, or was it too much? What's your standard call-out charge?

📣 Sponsored by Flexigas – the flexible gas pipe specialists: https://flexigas.com/
💥 Powered by Ridgeline – seamless copper tubes built for the trade: https://ridgelinetubes.com/

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Use code: POD30 at checkout

📲 Download the Gas Certificate App now
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⚠️ Warning: Contains adult humour and strong language. Tradesmen banter ahead.

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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 underway.

In this episode:

• The latest IGEM gas update explained
• Gas engineer reactions and industry opinions
• Domestic vs commercial gas engineering
• InstallerSHOW 2026 highlights
• Trade Wars preparations
• Site work vs domestic work – which is better?
• Gas engineering, plumbing and heating discussions
• Formula 1, football and life outside the tools
• Your comments, opinions and trade debates
• Plenty of Off The Job banter along the way

Whether you're a gas engineer, plumber, heating engineer, apprentice or self-employed tradesperson, this episode is packed with industry discussions, honest opinions and the conversations that tradespeople are already having on site and online.

👇 Let us know in the comments:
What's your opinion on the new IGEM update? Has it changed the way you'll work?

📣 Sponsored by Flexigas – the flexible gas pipe specialists: https://flexigas.com/
💥 Powered by Ridgeline – seamless copper tubes built for the trade: https://ridgelinetubes.com/

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Use code: POD30 at checkout

📲 Download the Gas Certificate App now
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⚠️ Warning: Contains adult humour and strong language. Tradesmen banter ahead.

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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:

•  AI answering service prank calls 
•  Life as a self-employed plumber 
•  Growing a trades business 
•  Running 5K & 10K personal bests 
•  Leaving rugby behind 
•  Social media for tradespeople 
•  Boxing & Misfits discussion 
•  Funny stories from the week 
•  Installer Show chat 
•  Listener updates and community discussion

📣 Sponsored by Flexigas – the flexible gas pipe specialists: https://flexigas.com/
💥 Powered by Ridgeline – seamless copper tubes built for the trade: https://ridgelinetubes.com/

🎁 EXCLUSIVE PODCAST OFFER
Get 30% OFF your Yearly Subscription to Gas Certificate App!
Use code: POD30 at checkout

📲 Download the Gas Certificate App now
https://onelink.to/hbv69u

⚠️ Warning: Contains adult humour and strong language. Tradesmen banter ahead.

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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 tradespeople
The reality of running a plumbing or heating business
Tool theft and criminals facing court
InstallerSHOW 2026
Trade Wars preparations
Social media in the trades
Trade industry community spirit
General trade banter and stories from the week
 
As always, it's a mix of industry discussion, real experiences from life on the tools, and plenty of Off The Job chaos along the way.
 
Whether you're a plumber, gas engineer, electrician, builder, apprentice or self-employed tradesperson, this episode is packed with relatable conversations and opinions from the trade community.

📣 Sponsored by Flexigas – the flexible gas pipe specialists: https://flexigas.com/
💥 Powered by Ridgeline – seamless copper tubes built for the trade: https://ridgelinetubes.com/

🎁 EXCLUSIVE PODCAST OFFER
Get 30% OFF your Yearly Subscription to Gas Certificate App!
Use code: POD30 at checkout

📲 Download the Gas Certificate App now
https://onelink.to/hbv69u

⚠️ Warning: Contains adult humour and strong language. Tradesmen banter ahead.

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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 tools, and why being yourself is still the best strategy for social media success.
 
In this episode:
How Wilson gained 140,000+ followers in under a year
Going viral on TikTok, Instagram and Facebook
The reality of social media growth
Comedy, stand-up and life as a carpet fitter
Why authenticity beats trends
Creating content for the trades
Social media pressure and burnout
Trade humour and industry stereotypes
Going from fitting carpets to performing comedy gigs
Advice for anyone starting content creation
 
Wilson also opens up about the challenges that come with a growing audience, how social media has changed his life, and why chasing followers isn't always the answer.
Whether you're a plumber, gas engineer, electrician, builder, carpenter, carpet fitter or someone trying to grow an audience online, there's plenty to take away from this conversation.
 
👇 Let us know in the comments:
What's the funniest trade stereotype you've heard?

📣 Sponsored by Flexigas – the flexible gas pipe specialists: https://flexigas.com/
💥 Powered by Ridgeline – seamless copper tubes built for the trade: https://ridgelinetubes.com/

🎁 EXCLUSIVE PODCAST OFFER
Get 30% OFF your Yearly Subscription to Gas Certificate App!
Use code: POD30 at checkout

📲 Download the Gas Certificate App now
https://onelink.to/hbv69u

⚠️ Warning: Contains adult humour and strong language. Tradesmen banter ahead.

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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 nicotine habits 
•  Installer Show preparations 
•  Speaking to apprentices entering the trades 
•  Life, travel and trade industry banter 

If you enjoy plumbing, heating, gas engineering, apprenticeships, trade business discussions and behind-the-scenes stories from the industry, make sure to subscribe and leave a review.

📣 Sponsored by Flexigas – the flexible gas pipe specialists: https://flexigas.com/
💥 Powered by Ridgeline – seamless copper tubes built for the trade: https://ridgelinetubes.com/

🎁 EXCLUSIVE PODCAST OFFER
Get 30% OFF your Yearly Subscription to Gas Certificate App!
Use code: POD30 at checkout

📲 Download the Gas Certificate App now
https://onelink.to/hbv69u

⚠️ Warning: Contains adult humour and strong language. Tradesmen banter ahead.

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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, business owner, or someone considering a career in the trades, this episode is packed with honest advice, real experiences, and valuable lessons from someone who's recently been through it all.
 
👇 Let us know in the comments:
What's the biggest challenge facing apprentices in the trades today?

📣 Sponsored by Flexigas – the flexible gas pipe specialists: https://flexigas.com/
💥 Powered by Ridgeline – seamless copper tubes built for the trade: https://ridgelinetubes.com/

🎁 EXCLUSIVE PODCAST OFFER
Get 30% OFF your Yearly Subscription to Gas Certificate App!
Use code: POD30 at checkout

📲 Download the Gas Certificate App now
https://onelink.to/hbv69u

⚠️ Warning: Contains adult humour and strong language. Tradesmen banter ahead.

🔗 Follow us on Socials
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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 during one of the toughest periods he's ever faced.

In this episode:

• The reality of being self-employed in the trades
• Losing a parent unexpectedly
• Mental health and therapy for tradesmen
• Difficult customers and payment disputes
• Why builders struggle to get paid
• The future of payment protection in construction
• Starting and growing a business from scratch
• What success actually looks like as a tradesman

Whether you're a builder, carpenter, plumber, gas engineer, electrician or running your own trade business, this episode is packed with honest conversations about life, business, mental health and the challenges that come with working for yourself.

👇 Let us know in the comments: What's the biggest lesson the trades have taught you?

BuildBoss are offering Off The Job listeners their first job completely free. Use code OFFTHEJOB100 for 100% off your first project (for both the customer and tradesperson). Offer valid until 30th June.

📣 Sponsored by Flexigas – the flexible gas pipe specialists: https://flexigas.com/
💥 Powered by Ridgeline – seamless copper tubes built for the trade: https://ridgelinetubes.com/

🎁 EXCLUSIVE PODCAST OFFER
Get 30% OFF your Yearly Subscription to Gas Certificate App!
Use code: POD30 at checkout

📲 Download the Gas Certificate App now
https://onelink.to/hbv69u

⚠️ Warning: Contains adult humour and strong language. Tradesmen banter ahead.

🔗 Follow us on Socials
📱 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@offthejobpodcastuk
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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 trades
• Heat pumps vs gas boilers
• Self-employed stress
• Plumbing & heating industry changes
• Magaluf rugby tour chaos
• Missing flights abroad
• Tradie stereotypes
• Apprenticeships & colleges
• Which trade would survive prison 😭
• Trade banter & absolute nonsense

A proper mix of real trade talk and complete chaos.

If you’re a plumber, gas engineer, electrician, builder, apprentice or self-employed in the trades… this one will probably feel very relatable.

👇 Let us know in the comments:
 Has work gone quiet where you are?

📣 Sponsored by Flexigas – the flexible gas pipe specialists: https://flexigas.com/
💥 Powered by Ridgeline – seamless copper tubes built for the trade: https://ridgelinetubes.com/

🎁 EXCLUSIVE PODCAST OFFER
Get 30% OFF your Yearly Subscription to Gas Certificate App!
Use code: POD30 at checkout

📲 Download the Gas Certificate App now
https://onelink.to/hbv69u

⚠️ Warning: Contains adult humour and strong language. Tradesmen banter ahead.

🔗 Follow us on Socials
📱 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@offthejobpodcastuk
📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/offthejobpodcastuk