n this powerful episode of the Torque Up Podcast Will and Jay sit down with Stephen “Compo” Comparetto, director and shareholder at 7 Core Electrical, to pull back the curtain on the world of electrical wholesalers.

Compo’s story is one of true grassroots grit. From starting out on the tools to leading a multi million pound independent wholesaler, he shares the highs, the challenges, and the bold decisions that shaped his career including a management buyout (MBO) and a major buying group switch.

This conversation goes beyond business. We explore:
🟢 The real role wholesalers play in supporting electricians every day
⚫️ How buying groups influence the trade and why changes matter
🟢 The risks and rewards of going through an MBO
⚫️ The pressures politics and economics place on the wholesale sector
🟢 What it takes to rise from apprentice to director in the UK electrical industry

If you are an electrician, wholesaler, or anyone connected to the trade, this episode gives you the insider view you will not hear anywhere else.

👉 Sponsored by Chauvin Arnoux UK, experts in test and measurement solutions trusted worldwide.

Subscribe now and do not miss this deep dive into the business and politics of UK electrical wholesaling.

#TorqueUpPodcast #NavitasCP #7CoreElectrical #ElectricalWholesaler #ElectricianLife #AllAboutPower

BIG BRANDS ARE LYING TO YOU | SPDs, BS 7671 & The Truth They Do Not Want You To Know

🎙️ Torque Up Podcast | Episode 23 | With Kirsty Johnson

Big brands are controlling the industry and installers are paying the price.
In this explosive episode, we sit down with Kirsty Johnson, Technical Director at Surge Protection Devices Ltd and member of the JPEL committee, to reveal what is really happening behind the scenes of BS 7671, SPDs and product marketing.

If you are an electrician, contractor, wholesaler or trainer, this episode will change the way you think about the industry.

🟢 The hidden politics shaping BS 7671 and JPEL decisions
⚫ The truth about SPDs and why busbar fed installs can be unsafe
🟢 How big brands influence installers and wholesalers through marketing
⚫ The conflict between best practice, safety and commercial agendas
🟢 Why RCBOs are changing the way we protect circuits
⚫ How electricians can protect themselves and their customers

🎥 Watch on YouTube → https://youtube.com/@TorqueUp
🎧 Listen on Spotify → https://spotify.com/TorqueUp
🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts → https://podcasts.apple.com/TorqueUp

What You Will Learn In This EpisodeListen To More Episodes

In this episode of the Torque Up Podcast we sit down with Mitch, aka Bright Spark from the Midlands, to talk about one of the biggest challenges facing the trade today – the government’s failure to protect electrical apprenticeships.

We discuss the impact of rising costs, why apprentices are at risk of being priced out of the industry, and what this means for the next generation of sparks. Mitch also shares real site stories, the struggles of running a business, and how social media is changing the game for electricians.

⚡ Sponsored by Chauvin Arnoux UK – test and measurement instruments trusted by professionals.

00:00 – Welcome to Season 3

01:40 – Meet Mitch aka Bright Spark

04:50 – Social media and the trade

10:10 – Tesla chargers and PEN protection

16:20 – Running your own business as a spark

31:30 – Apprenticeships: then vs now

40:00 – Why government policy is failing apprentices

44:40 – Rising costs and National Insurance impact

50:00 – Will weekend courses replace apprenticeships?

This is it. The final episode of Season 2 and it's the one that could change everything.In Episode 21 of the Torque Up Podcast, host William Winter is joined by John Bagley and James Watkins for one of our deepest and most thought-provoking conversations yet.We dive headfirst into the world of AI and the trades, asking the big questions no one else is daring to tackle:🧠 What does artificial intelligence mean for the future of electricians, wholesalers, and manufacturers?🔧 How can tradespeople use AI to grow their businesses, save time, and stay ahead of the curve?📉 Will it disrupt or empower the next generation of apprentices and skilled labour?💷 And what about tax, national insurance, and the rising pressure on small business owners?This episode explores the real world impacts of technology, government policy, and cultural shifts on the trades and why the electrical industry cannot afford to ignore them. We talk openly about the future of apprenticeships, the cost of doing business, and how policy decisions are shaping the lives of young people entering the trade.Whether you are on the tools, managing a wholesaler, or leading a brand, this is the episode you cannot afford to miss.🔥 Available now on Spotify and Apple Podcasts🎧 Listen on the go or watch the full video here on YouTube💻 Learn more at www.torqueup.co.uk💥 Proudly sponsored by Wiha UK (@WihaUK)One of the world’s leading names in precision tools for professionals in the trade.📍Do not forget to like, subscribe, and hit the bell so you do not miss Season 3. Bigger guests, bigger topics, and even more truth from the heart of the electrical industry.#TorqueUpPodcast #ElectriciansUK #AIintheTrades #SmallBusinessUK #TradeTalk #ElectricalIndustry #WihaTools #NationalInsurance #Apprenticeships #TalkUp #torqueuppodcast

🔌 TORQUE UP PODCAST EPISODE 20 – PART ONE: LIVE FROM THE ELEX SHOW EXETER 🔧We’re back with another massive two-part special – and this time, it’s recorded live on the road at the ELEX Show in Exeter. This is Torque Up like you’ve never seen it before.In Part One of Episode 20, we took the mics to the South West to bring you the raw energy, unfiltered opinions, and real conversations happening on the floor at one of the UK’s biggest electrical trade shows. Whether you were there or missed it, this episode captures everything that makes ELEX a cornerstone of the trade calendar.💥 TOOL WARS. FUSEBOARD FIGHTS. INDUSTRY CHAT. BUSINESS REAL TALK.We kicked things off with our now-infamous "Fuseboard and Tool War" challenge – putting brands to the test and putting installers on the spot. Which fuseboards do electricians actually rate? Which tools make the cut in real-world installs? And what’s the real word on the ground from those who do it every day?Expect laughs, debates, and a few controversial takes as we pit some of the UK’s biggest electrical brands against each other in a format that’s becoming a fan favourite.🎤 WHAT ELSE DID WE COVER IN EXETER?We didn’t just play games – we dug deep into the real issues electricians care about:✅ Trade shows: Are they still worth it in 2025?We asked the crowd – is the cost of travel, time away from site, and effort still worth what’s on offer? The answers were mixed and honest.✅ Electrical business in 2025: What's changed?We sat down with electricians, contractors and suppliers to hear their take on how the game is shifting. From compliance to competition, pricing to product support – nothing was off limits.✅ Why some wholesalers are winning, and others are falling behindThis one hit home with a lot of visitors – especially the ones fed up with bland service and poor product knowledge. As always, we said what others are thinking but won’t say out loud.✅ Industry gossip, honest opinions, and good vibesIf you know Torque Up, you know it’s not just business. We bring the banter, the laughs, and the connections that make the electrical community stronger.🚨 THIS IS ONLY PART ONEPart Two is coming in hot from the ELEX Harrogate show – and trust us, if you liked Exeter, you do not want to miss what’s coming next. Bigger crowd. Bolder opinions. And a few surprise guests that shook up the show.Make sure you’re subscribed to @TorqueUp on YouTube and following us on all socials so you don’t miss the next drop.📍 FILMED ON LOCATION AT ELEX EXETER 2025Big thanks to everyone who came up, shared their stories, and got involved. Whether you’re a spark on the tools, a wholesaler, a manufacturer, or just someone who loves the trade – this episode is for you.🔥 DON’T MISS PART TWO – ELEX HARROGATE SPECIAL 🔥It’s the follow-up you’ve been waiting for – more voices, more energy, more raw talk from the North of England. Coming next week. Hit the bell and stay locked in.🎧 Available on Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTube | TikTok | Instagram🎙️ Hosted by William & Junii from NavitasBacked by real experience. Driven by passion for the trade.#TorqueUp #ELEXShow #ElectriciansUK #ToolWars #FuseBoardGame #CircuitProtection #Navitas #TradeShowVibes #ElectricianLife #PodcastUK #ElectricalBusiness #Wholesalers #ToolsOfTheTrade #ELEXExeter #HarrogatePreview

Episode 19 | Theo Webster: From £40K Debt to Industry Respect

This is the one.From building a 13-person electrical business at 22, to falling off a ladder, breaking his back, and facing £40,000 in debt — Theo Webster’s story is one of grit, pain, and the relentless will to rebuild.

In this two-hour deep-dive, Theo joins Will & Junii for a brutally honest conversation about:🔌 What no one tells you about running a business in the trades⚡ The dangerous mindset of “just getting the job done”💰 Why social media courses for sparks might not be worth your cash🧠 Mental pressure, managing staff, and learning leadership the hard way🏆 How he came back stronger — and what it really took

This isn’t just another podcast.It’s a survival story, a business masterclass, and a reminder that the job can take everything if you’re not careful.

Whether you’re just starting out or ten years deep — this episode will hit home.

🎙️ Hosted by Will & Junii🛠 Powered by @WihaUK⚡ Supported by Navitas Circuit Protection & Doncaster Cables

WATCH on YouTube or LISTEN on Spotify & Apple Podcasts.

#TorqueUpPodcast | #TheoWebster | #SparkyTalk | #ElectricianLife | #TradesPodcast | #ContractorJourney | #UKTrades | #ElectricianPodcast

We’re back with a monster episode — LIVE (well, filmed live) from the buzzing ELEX Show at Alexandra Palace!

Episode 18 of the Torque Up Podcast brings you a full mix of laughs, honesty, trade talk, and behind-the-scenes realities from some of the biggest personalities in the industry.

Featuring:

• Tall Sparky & Ryan Davis – raw takes on content burnout, chasing dream lives, and what people don’t see behind the posts

• OM Electrical – from bored spark to content beast, saying no to brands, and why filming a consumer unit isn’t always worth it

• Charlie from Wiha UK – tools, backpacks, and his first-ever trade show experience

• Julian & Elliot from Chauvin-Arnoux – banter, testing talk, and rescuing pigs during a year off

• Plus reflections on social media pressure, holiday cover systems, and the truth about making content in the trade

This episode is a proper celebration of trade creators, community, and graft — filmed in the middle of the busiest tool show in the UK.

AND this is just the beginning. Torque Up will be at EVERY ELEX SHOW for the rest of the year.

Come find us, jump on the mic, and be part of the movement.

🎧 Watch on YouTube. Listen on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.

Follow @TorqueUp for all episodes, shorts, and trade content with no filters.

Torque Up Ep 17: The Cable Crisis No One Is Talking AboutIn this explosive episode of Torque Up, we sit down with Aaron from Doncaster Cables, one of the last remaining UK manufacturers of electrical cable, to uncover the hidden danger threatening our trade.⚠️ Substandard cable is flooding the UK market.⚠️ Electrical wholesalers with zero manufacturing expertise are importing it.⚠️ And thousands of UK jobs have been lost because of it.We’re talking about a product that goes into almost every single circuit in the country, yet barely anyone is questioning where it’s coming from... or what’s really inside it.Doncaster Cables is one of the few standing tall — testing, certifying, and manufacturing right here in Britain. In this episode, we dig deep into:🟢 The alarming rise of cheap, dangerous cable in the UK⚫ The real-world consequences of losing UK manufacturing🟢 Why sparkies NEED to know what they're installing⚫ How unregulated imports are putting your reputation, and your customers at riskWith the full squad in the studio, Will, Junii and James, this one is honest, emotional, and essential viewing for every electrician who cares about standards, safety, and the future of our industry.If you’ve ever trusted that the cable on the shelf is safe… you need to watch this.🔌 Sponsored by @WihaUK — trusted tools for tradespeople who demand more.🔗 Watch now and subscribe to stay powered up with the best in the game.#TorqueUpPodcast #DoncasterCables #ElectriciansUK #MadeInUK #ElectricalSafety #SubstandardCable #UKManufacturing #CableCrisis #WihaTools #SupportUKManufacturing

Torque Up Podcast - Episode 16: Inside South & City College Birmingham’s Trade Day!

In this action-packed episode of the Torque Up Podcast, Will & Jay travel to South & City College Birmingham to attend their highly anticipated annual Trade Day—an event dedicated to helping electrical apprentices, trainees, and students connect with leading electrical brands, manufacturers, and employers.

This episode is all about giving future electricians a deeper insight into the electrical industry, from the latest tools and technology to career opportunities and professional growth. If you're an apprentice, a newly qualified electrician, or an experienced spark looking to stay ahead, this is an episode you don’t want to miss!

We sit down with some of the key figures behind the event to get their thoughts on the state of the industry, emerging electrical technologies, and how trade events like this shape the future workforce.

🔹 Richard Fort – The organiser of the event explains why Trade Days are vital for students, how they bridge the gap between education and employment, and what apprentices can do to maximise their opportunities.

🔹 Emma from SOLAX – Discussing the latest developments in solar energy, battery storage, and renewable technology, plus how electricians can upskill to work with EV charging, solar PV, and home energy management systems.

🔹 Connar from Navitas – Breaking down the importance of circuit protection, RCBOs, surge protection devices, and electrical safety, while also sharing his insights on BS 7671 wiring regulations and best practices for modern installations.

💡 Get insider knowledge on the best brands, electrical products, and career pathways for electricians.
⚡ Learn about new trends in renewable energy, EV charging, and smart home technology that are shaping the future of the trade.
🔧 Hear from experts about the skills electricians need to stand out in a competitive industry.
🛠️ Discover how apprentices and trainees can gain hands-on experience and network with potential employers at events like these.

Whether you're just starting your electrical apprenticeship, considering becoming a self-employed electrician, or looking to grow your career in commercial, industrial, or domestic electrical work, this episode is packed with actionable insights and industry updates.

👉 Hit play now to dive into the latest trends and opportunities in the electrical industry! Don't forget to like, subscribe, and turn on notifications so you never miss an episode of the Torque Up Podcast.

📺 Watch now on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts!

#ElectricianPodcast #TradeDay #ElectricalApprentice #TorqueUpPodcast #SolarEnergy #EVCharging #ElectricalTraining #WiringRegulations #SmartHome #ElectricalSafety #RenewableEnergy #BS7671 #CircuitProtection #ElectriciansLife #ElectricianBusiness

Exclusive Interviews with Industry ExpertsWhy You Should Watch This Episode

The electrical industry is changing fast, and online platforms are at the heart of it. In Episode 15 of the Torque Up Podcast, we sit down with Alert Electrical to unpack the massive shift happening in the trade. With e-commerce, social media, and online wholesalers reshaping the landscape, electricians, suppliers, and brands are facing new challenges—and not all of them are good.🚨 Key Topics We Cover in This Episode:⚡ The Rise of Online Electrical Sales: How the shift to e-commerce is affecting electricians, wholesalers, and manufacturers.⚡ Are Electrical Wholesalers at Risk? Could traditional wholesalers be creating a market that ultimately harms their own business model?⚡ The Social Media Effect: While online platforms have opened up new opportunities for electricians, are they also spreading misinformation, undercutting expertise, and damaging the trade?⚡ Brands Under Pressure: How electrical brands are being forced to adapt to this changing marketplace—or risk being left behind.⚡ The Knock-On Effect: What does this all mean for the future of the electrical industry? Will convenience kill quality?This episode is a must-watch for electricians, electrical wholesalers, and anyone in the trade who wants to stay ahead of the curve. Whether you’re an independent contractor, a wholesaler, or a manufacturer, the way electrical products are bought and sold is shifting rapidly.💥 Exclusive Discount for Our Listeners!Alert Electrical are sponsoring this episode and offering an exclusive deal—use the code NAVITAS10 for 10% off the entire Navitas range of circuit protection. But hurry—it’s only valid until the next episode drops!🎧 Watch & Listen Now on:📺 YouTube – Full video podcast🎙️ Spotify & Apple Podcasts – Listen on the go👊 Join the Conversation!Have you felt the impact of online selling in your work? Are wholesalers adapting the right way? Drop a comment below and let’s talk about it.#TorqueUpPodcast #ElectricalIndustry #Electricians #ElectricalWholesaling #OnlineSales #Ecommerce #ElectricalSupplies #TradeTalk #CircuitProtection #Navitas #AlertElectrical