The Electrical Show Podcast: Recent Episodes
Fix Radio
Join Thomas Nagy as he takes a look at all the latest topics from the world of electricals including product launches, top tips, and special guests.
Thomas will also be joined by some of the biggest names from across the industry giving their view on the latest news and developments.
The Electrical Show on Fix Radio is brought to you in partnership with Schneider Electric.
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 update.
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 of those wanting to make changes.
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 lithium battery technology.
Plus, they consider whether today's newcomers have it easier or harder than previous generations.
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 demands of life on the tools.
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 inspiring journey to the Screwfix Trade Apprentice 2026 finals.
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.
Is this the breakthrough moment for accessible solar in the UK? Let’s find out.
Thomas Nagy is joined again by Danny Webb & Mike Toulson from Alpha Tech to discuss the variety of issues and challenges affecting the average Electrical Contractor. They talk about retirement and the challenge of being able to save enough for this, Problems with keeping on top of fuel costs recently and more!
Thomas Nagy is joined by Mike Toulson & Danny Webb from Alpha Tech while Paul is away enjoying some well deserved time off. Tom asks Danny and Mike about the defining moments from the early days, some best and worst moments that shape you and also some of those fork in the road moments we are faced with as the years roll on.
Paul Meenan talks about value engineering and the issues he's had with how it's applied to many projects and working enviornments. This gets Tom and Paul onto talking about plug in solar panels and why the industry has serious concerns around this emerging technology.
Thomas Nagy and Paul Meenan talk about what they believe is a clear downturn in trade across not only domestic but industrial and commercial as well. It's affected many trades and fellow Fix Radio Presenter and Plasterer, Steph Leese (The Pink Plasterer) joins the show to talk about what she's experiencing in the North West of England. Thomas invites his Business Development Manager (Ryan Ricard) and asks him to share advice as he's been key in keeping workflow and schedule of works together for Tom's business.
Thomas Nagy and Paul Meenan talk about the manosphere and how it's impacting young men in the construction industry. They talk through the concept and how it's all come about, what it means to be a man in 2026 and where we can find examples of good role models online and in life. James Ray, Author of 'Responsibility: Becoming The Authentic Man' joins to share an insight into the manosphere culture, talks about what a good man might be, how banter plays a role in professional and personal relationships for many men and gives a perspective on why online trends don't always reflect the reality of the society that we actually live in.
Thomas Nagy talks to Leon Rygol, who covered the story of a seven year old boy killed by faulty wiring at a pub and discusses the risks posed to the public due to sub standard work. Tom and Leon discuss learnings from this tragic case, how prevalent poor workmanship is, How we could better protect the public and tradespeople and Leon explains why he covered this story and what he took from the experience. Site Manager and friend of the show, Mark Pink joins the discussion to talk about risks posed to Electricians and whether we're in a better place on-site with regards to safety than we have been in years gone by. Tom talks about a recent real world experience that he had.
Thomas Nagy and Paul Meenan look into plans to try and incentivise routes into teaching the trade, specifically for the aging workforce and discuss why there's not attractive enough benefits for those willing to teach but not prepared to sacrifice most of their income in the process. Kay Allen from Age Irrelevance talks about ConstructED which aims to try to incentivise pathways into teaching and help those still on the tools make a role in education work for them. Tom talks about what it would take for him to teach and Paul explains why roadblocks in industry are creating problems.
Paul and Tom talk about the way things were and how the trade has changed around them for better or worse. They cover things like cash vs. digital, robot electricians in China, the requirement for NVQs, Power tools, value, morals and more.
Thomas Nagy is joined again by Danny Webb & Mike Toulson about approach to pricing jobs and calculating your profit. Danny & Mike have put so much thought into getting this right for their business (Alpha Tech Group) that they've literally written the book on it. They talk about how you can do better at protecting your profit, how you can avoid the race to the bottom, work smarter not harder and also touch on how to check out their book!
Thomas Nagy is joined in the studio by Danny Webb (Sparky Milan) and Mike Toulson to discuss 'Alpha Tech Group', their business partnership which first began in April 2025. Mike and Danny explain how this partnership came together and why it made sense. They talk about the work they're able to take on together, that would have been to difficult solo. They discuss delegation and playing to each other strengths, how they deal with disagreements and why domestic has become less worthwhile.
Thomas Nagy explains how he has got his business to the point where he can be more ambitious with regards to the area he covers and therefore takes on work across the country.
Thomas Nagy looks at the approach to insurance for your business and how to protect your livliehood in event of the worst possible situation. Rob Driscoll from the ECA provides an overview on the essential steps to getting the correct cover and ammending the cover as your business grows. Richard Egan from Sentio, a commercial insurance broker, shares some hard hitting case studies of what the consequences can be if you're not suffciently covered.
Thomas Nagy and Paul Meenan look again into data centres. They react to some listener comments from the last show or two and are joined by Jay Newman, who has first hand experience working in a data centre.
Paul Meenan and Thomas Nagy look into the rise of data centres and discuss what the rollout might look like across the UK in the near future. They invite John Ward to share his thoughts on what this means for the Electrical trade and towards the end there's a chat about Tom's office expansion.
Paul Meenan and Thomas Nagy talk about the rise of AI in the Electrical sector. Tom and Paul talk about the current good uses of AI, touch on what the future might looks like with AI implemented in a variety of ways and also where we might be heading down the wrong road...
Thomas Nagy and Paul Meenan talk about how to be a good apprentice and make the most of your opportunity. Tom and Paul discuss their all-time worst and best apprentices and what made them so bad or good. They reflect on their own experiences as apprentices and also give insight into how they work with apprentices and help them find success and a career path in Electrical. Hugo Helms, a former apprentice who qualified in 2023 joins the discussion to give a perspective on the life lessons around conduct that were lacking when he was on his journey to become qualified. Hugo also discusses the current generational divide on site and how to bridge the gap and find some common ground.
Paul Meenan and Thomas Nagy talk about some of the big developments, evolving stories and situations that might define 2026 and the future of the trade. Thomas talks about how business looks from his perspective, Paul talks about the opportunities, the things to be cautious of and optimistic about in the wider industry.
Thomas Nagy and Paul Meenan talk about preventing falls from height. Thomas talks about his approach to protecting those that work for him, Dylan Skelhorn from the No Falls Foundation gives some facts and insight into working safely from height, and Paul talks about how get key points about risk assessment and safety protocol to stick with those that need to hear it. Thomas and Paul also give a bit of a wrap up of 2025 for the Electrical sector - The show will return from Christmas break on Thursday 8th January.
Thomas Nagy talks about working with Tier 1 Contractors and his honest experiences so far. Rob Driscoll from the ECA joins the show and shares their perspective and some advice for those working for Tier 1 contractors.
Thomas Nagy and Paul Meenan look into recently released reports with regards to solar fires from 2024 and the increase of solar installs in 2024 & 2025. Paul and Tom talk about why so many solar fires are happening and Solar PV Installer, Stuart Cato discusses what he's seen with regards to another goldrush in the industry.
Thomas Nagy and Paul Meenan catch up and talk about their recent professional experiences after having seven weeks taking turns hosting the show. Tom talks about challenges with schemes, work vehicles and more. Paul ponders his future involvement in certain aspects of the trade and talks about how this year has been for the Electrical sector as a whole.
Thomas Nagy asks fellow contractors and regular guests, Danny Webb & Callum Biscoe, to join him and talk about what business has been like for them in 2025. Thomas asks them what the focus has been, What they've had enquiries for this year, What setbacks they've faced and the plan for next year. Thomas also talks about his experiences working on highways and expanding the business.
Thomas Nagy is back from some time off and invites Dr. Laura Kudrna from the University of Birmingham to join him and talk about how money relates to happiness for sole traders and business owners. Thomas asks whether there's a limit to how much anyone needs to make to be happy, the fallacy in working to support a family you therefore have no time for and just tries to get some answers for anyone working hard to earn a living and to what point enough is enough.
Paul Meenan invites Mark Pink, well respected Electrician & Site Manager, back onto the show while Thomas is away on holiday. Paul talks to Mark about coming from a family with a trade background and the mentors that help you along. Paul and Mark then talk about coping with loss and the incredibly devestating loss of Mark Pink's son, Harry who passed six months ago at the age of 22 - after years working with Mark. Mark talks about how hard this has hit him and the family, Paul shares what the reaction of their workplace was to this loss and Paul talks about his own journey with grief after losing his frend Paul Skyrme, from the e5 Group.
Paul Meenan invites seasoned and skilled Electrician, turned Site Manager, Mark Pink to join him and chat while Thomas Nagy is away on holiday. Mark talks about his recent work and experiences as a Site Manager. Mark talks about what has become harder in trade nowadays, the pressure the trade is under due to lack of competancy, poor training, apprenticeship challenges and Paul answers some listener questions.
Thomas Nagy invites guests with success and understanding of how to brand and present a business, in order to win the kind of work you want. Thomas talks to Scott Mullins, son of Charlie Mullins (Pimlico Plumbers) and founder of 'We Fix', to find out what has made their family businesses so successful and scalable. Trade Business Expert and founder of The Trades Freedom Club, Craig Wilkinson shares ten minutes of solid advice that he should be selling to you about how to create a brand and image for your business. Craig also shares the mistakes so many make and how to avoid them.
Thomas Nagy takes the opportunity with Paul Meenan away, to invite contractors from other trades to join him, so that he can compare notes and experiences in the construction industry. Guests include: Dan Tempest (Plumbing & Heating), Allen Burt (Carpentry & Joinery) and Peter Clark (Painting & Decorating)
Paul Meenan finally brings Tony Hennessey onto the show to discuss Thomas Nagy's snagging journey on rail work. Tony talks about his role as the Clerk of Works, How he works with contractors to get the best quality out of every job, Tony talks about Tom and his employees going on a journey of competency and the positive results that brings to the industry when a contractor embarks on it.
Thomas Nagy and Paul Meenan talk to Electrical contractors who work in the domestic sector about the potential challenges and pitfalls. They discuss how to run a business in this marketplace successfully and get advice for any of you looking to make a success of it.
Thomas Nagy talks to Ashley Waines & Ashley Kanes - two Electrical Contractors who are finalists for The Screwfix Top Tradesperson Award - about what makes a good tradesperson. They discuss things others do that they wouldn't do in the trade.
Thomas shares a recent Band of Builders project completed to help the family of an Electrician who sadly took his own life at the end of 2023.
Paul Meenan and Thomas Nagy follow up last week's episode with a further look at good and bad inventions and the positive steps with regards to innovation. John Ward joins the show to discuss the role social media plays in pushing good and bad products on the market and more!
Paul Meenan and Thomas Nagy look at some of the good and bad products currently on the market and talk honestly about what they feel with regards to quality, usefulness and whether the marketplace is crowded with stuff not worth your time. Guests include: Tony York from Yorkman
Thomas Nagy and Paul Meenan share some of the mistakes they've made and confess their electrical sins. They also talk about why mistake occur and how to learn from your mistakes.
Thomas Nagy and Paul Meenan look into how to de-risk your business and why 90 day payment terms need to end. Contractor, Callum Biscoe returns to share his roadmap for de-risking your business and putting protection in place when sub-contracting to Tier 1 contractors. The Small Business Commissioner, Emma Jones joins the discussion to explain her plan to use the stick rather than the carrot to re-shape rules around payment terms and the detremental affect that waiting for payments has on small businesses.
Alex Wood tried to qualify in 2019, but due to the pandemic and lack of apprenticeships… he’s been left in limbo. In this episode, Alex joins Thomas and Paul to share the effects this has had on his mental health, and how this led to his involvement in Andy’s Man Club.
Adrian Davey shares his journey through divorce and recent self-discovery, exploring how understanding communication styles can change the way we relate, connect, and build healthier relationships.
Paul Meenan hosts a Q&A featuring some questions from listeners. Paul answers juicy questions about the industry, ponders sliding doors moments and more!
Paul Meenan flies solo and looks into what Electrical Contractors are currently making in domestic, comercial and industrial and whether money is going up in line with inflation. Paul talks to Contractor, Callum Biscoe about his move away from domestic and the great structure he has in place to account money accurately. Craig Wilkson, Trades Business Coach and founder of The Trades Freedom Club, explains why it's okay to expect your money to go up year on year and how to do it to beat the cost of living. Friend of the show, Danny Webb AKA Sparky Milan talks about whether the old cliche joke about electrician's money is still accurate and whether he feels the pinch currently.
Paul Meenan and Thomas Nagy talk about how the trade has changed, how their perception of the trade changes and ask two guests to join them and share their perspective. Screwfix Trade Apprentice 2025 winner, Dan O'Shea talks about his perception of the trade and how it's already been shaped by his experiences so far... Sparky Ninja, Dave Watts talks about how he's changed and how the trade has changed around him over the course of his career.
Thomas Nagy and Paul Meenan talk to Leadership Consultant and Author of 'Responsibility: Becoming the Authentic Man' about soft skills for leaders in the trade. James talks about the challenges everyone has when trying to figure out how to lead people on site and when running a business. James also gives some advice on how to have difficult conversations with people and Paul Meenan touches on how it all relates to how we communicate in the wider industry.
Thomas Nagy and Paul Meenan discuss the rising costs of health and safety and some of the illogical ways safety protocol is implemented and played out on sites. Paul gives some stats and research into how much it can cost, depending on the aspects of work you do. Thomas shares some training experiences and on-site instances of health and safety creating an obstacle in trying to get work done.
Thomas Nagy and Paul Meenan talk to Roofer John Lees about his approach to taking on Solar PV installs. They ask John how he goes about working with an Electrical contractor, the safety steps, communication around safety and observations on pre-existing intallations. Stuart Cato talks about the safety steps on larger scale domestic projects as well as thoughts about safety and competence as a whole
Paul Meenan and Thomas Nagy talk about the differences between domestic and larger/commercial Solar PV installs and some of the missing safety steps in domestic, that could be implemented from the larger/commercial installs
Paul Meenan and Thomas Nagy discuss the divide between HV and LV systems. Paul talks about the issues with chucking rubbish each over the fence, how to bridge the gap, why this divide exists and what can be gained from working closely and collaborating between HV and LV
Paul Meenan and Thomas Nagy talk about earthing after a recent conference attended by Paul, which he also spoke at with regards to diverted neutrals. Paul discusses the future of electrical infrastructure, reliability and performance, surge and lightning protection and other key take aways Paul had after attending
Paul Meenan and Thomas Nagy talk about the race to the bottom that's prevelant in all aspects of the electrical sector. Paul defines the race to the bottom, Thomas and Paul talk about the race that's present in commercial aspects of the trade and the 'too good to be true' emails blowing up your emails and LinkedIn inbox
Thomas Nagy and Paul Meenan talk to Electrical Contractor, Callum Biscoe about his aims to help raise £100,000 for his local boxing club. Callum shares his experiences in the trade and talks about why he's decided to try and help out the club. If you can help or would like to donate, please do - https://bbch.org.uk/
Paul Meenan returns to the show alongside Thomas Nagy. Paul gives an update of where he's been and what he's been up to. Thomas Nagy gives a bit of a professional update and discusses the challenges that come with accreditations. Paul also gives a lowdown on the latest developments from the industry as a whole
Thomas Nagy is joined by Principal and CEO of The Leeds College of Building, Nikki Davis to discuss the open letter she sent to the Government, requesting an open conversation around the challenges to attract people from the trade into education and pay those what they need to do it. Nikki discusses the inherent problems as she sees them as well as ideas for a solution. Nikki also touches on why you should really deeply consider teaching as an option and the lesser known benefits of doing so
Thomas Nagy answers some frquently asked questions and questions sent to him via social media and the radio show. Thomas gives some advice and talks through his approach to varous things like: protecting his vehicles and high value equipment, how to snag and access the quality of work completed by his company and more
Thomas Nagy takes the opportunity while Paul is on holiday to discuss business growth and development. Thomas talks about his own experiences, both good and bad, and what he's learnt from them. Tom also outlines the pros and cons of expanding a business and whether you even want the job you're creating for yourself
Paul Meenan is joined by guests involved with teaching the trade so that he can explore the challenges that we have in getting competent tradespeople with a wealth of knowledge and experience to give up their careers on the tools and get into teaching. Guests include: Dave Love & Adrian Davey
Paul Meenan is joined by Andy Leggat, known as Isolate 4 Life on Instagram to discuss the previous talking point of 'whether we need insulated tools'. Paul starts with a conversation around apprenticeships and how apprentices are taught health and safety. Paul and Andy discuss how diverted neutrals changes the conversation around insulated tools slightly and also leads us to a discussion about needed regs changes
Paul Meenan and Thomas Nagy are joined by Deborah Graham-Wilson from Eland Cables to discuss the degradation of cables. Tom and Paul ask about quality assurance, the impact of transportation and location of where cables are made, how to access quality of cables and there's much more insight into how cable quality is assessed and implemented
Thomas Nagy and Paul Meenan look at the latest developments and progress (or lack of) around tackling tool theft in the UK. Met Police Sergeant, Dave Catlow joins the discussion to explain the challenge the Police have in dealing with the issue, how you can improve the chances of getting back your stolen tools and touches on vigilante justice. Van Security Expert, Jeff Scott from Sussex Installations talks about why some van manufacteurs need to do more and discusses van security. Towards the end of the show, Thomas talks about his experiences with tool theft/van break ins and Paul talks about those using innovation to tackle tool thieves
Paul Meenan and Thomas Nagy discuss whether the wiring regs constrain innovation, discuss too fatigue and the cost and time black hole caused by keeping up to date with regs
Thomas Nagy and Paul Meenan talk about some random electrical things you should know, if you dont already. There's a conversation about what makes a good and bad cable, BS4163 & a global standards update
Paul Meenan and Thomas Nagy discuss the range of hidden dangers you might encounter on old installations. John Ward joins the show to discuss examples he's found in the real world and his approach to reducing these dangers
Thomas Nagy and Paul Meenan are joined by Leadership Development Consultant, James Ray (https://www.instagram.com/jamesacray?igsh=MXJmcXJydGcxbWh3Mw%3D%3D&utm_source=qr) to discuss how to manage people as the boss and also deal with HR issues that might arise with employees, subbies or apprentices
Paul Meenan and Thomas Nagy talk about the push for full electrification and whether it's realistic
Thomas Nagy and Paul Meenan about whether you 'sell them the dream' and how much of the 'hard realities' of the industry you share with apprentices. Guests include: Tony York from Yorkman
Paul Meenan and Danny Webb AKA Sparky Milan (in for Thomas Nagy) discuss the growing gap in competency in the trade among domestic installers and the reasons why this gap is becoming ever more apparent. Paul talks about the challenges with regards to antiquated technology and teaching at colleges, the hesistancy to embrace new tech and understanding the need for CPD, as well as many other factors
Paul Meenan and Danny Webb AKA Sparky Milan (in for a hard working Thomas Nagy) talk about instances of unreported shocks and why it could be important to change the mindset in the trade around reporting, of lack of. Andy Baker from Electrical Safety UK joins the discussion to share his thoughts on unreported shocks towards the end of the show as well!
Thomas Nagy and Paul Meenan talk about how they approach troubleshooting and problem solving in a variety of circumstances they find themselves in. Thomas talks about troubleshooting while on the tools and managing a business. Paul talks about choosing your battles, gives advice and disusses the process to take when troubleshooting different issues
Thomas Nagy and Paul Meenan are joined by Nathan Smoothy (Message Therapist) to discuss some of the ways you can combat, prevent and manage aches and strain that come from a lifetime on the tools
Thomas Nagy and Paul Meenan start 2025 with a look at what possible developments we might see across the Electrical sector and Construction Industry as a whole this year
Thomas Nagy and Paul Meenan debunk some common myths and misconceptions about the trade. Guests include: Bob Cairney, Director of Technical Services at SELECT
With Paul Meenan away for a second week, Stand in co-host Danny Webb (Sparky Milan) uses it as an opportunity to ask Thomas Nagy how he transitioned from more domestic based work to working on the highways and railway
Danny Webb AKA Sparky Milan joins Thomas Nagy while Paul Meenen is in Ireland to discuss their best and worst moments in the trade
Stuart Cato joins Paul Meenan to discuss his experiences installing Solar PV and working in the industry. Stuart talks about his time serving in the Royal Engineers, the leap he made into Solar PV, His positive experiences in Solar, Riding the Solarcoaster and the need for more guidance
Paul Meenan is solo on the show and uses the opportunity to get some reaction from the trade with regards to the budget. Paul is joined by an Electrician who made national news after he stated he would pack up his family & business and move to Spain due to the budget. Paul has also invited Brian Berry, CEO of the Federation of Master Builders to join him and add context and opinion with regards to the impact the budget will have on the trade
Thomas Nagy and Paul Meenan invite two well esteemed members of the trade to join them and offer some meaningful advice from their experiences in electrical. Dan Jackson talks wellness, alcohol, diet, work life balance and Mark Pink shares his experiences and lessons learnt from the variety of working environments he's found himself in over the years
Thomas Nagy and Paul Meenan are joined by guests to discuss the current approach to electrical apprenticeships here in the UK. Ruth Devine MBE, chair of TESP (The Electrotechnical Skills Partnership) joins to give an overview on what is going well with regards to the current apprenticeship scheme and also where there is still challenges as well as room for improvement. Adrian Davey, educator and friend of the show gives his thoughts on how apprentices move through the education system and where he feels there are some serious issues that need to be addressed
Thomas Nagy and Paul Meenan are joined by those that work in Solar PV currently, to find out what their experiences have been both good and bad. Paul talks about and puts some concerns around safety and guidance to the guests as well. Guests include: Rob Wade from RJW Electrical Services & Kevin Holland from The Solar Shed
Paul Meenan returns from his escapades in Turkey and discusses the latest technology and developments in tech that relates to the Electrical industry
Thomas Nagy is with Danny Webb AKA Sparky Milan one more time before Paul Meenan returns and brings his apprentices in for a chat. Thomas first of all introduces his first year apprentice to discuss his time so far and then introduces his apprentice that has just come out of his time and finds out what their education journey has been like
Thomas Nagy is joined again by Danny Webb AKA Sparky Milan where they look at the failure rate of businesses in the trade and how to keep your head above water. Danny talks about his experiences with his business, Craig Wilkinson from the Trades Freedom Club joins the show to give some insight into how businesses fail and offers some ways to avoid failure. Finally, Thomas Nagy talks openly about his own mistakes in the past with regards to running a business
Thomas Nagy is joined by Danny Webb AKA Sparky Milan for the first of three appearances while Paul is off on holiday and uses it as an oppertunity to find out what Danny has been doing workwise lately and discuss in detail his experiences re-training and joining the trade at 27
Thomas Nagy and Paul Meenan are joined by three Electricians who were nominated for Screwfix Top Tradesperson 2024. Thomas and Paul ask them about their careers, their challenges on and off the tools, get some background into what makes them worthy to be nominated for 'Top Tradesperson and also ask about thought on the industry. Guests include: Steve Cook, Richard Pullen & Gary Lynch
Paul Meenan returns to the show and brings a wealth of knowledge with regards to the latest on Amendment 4 to the wiring regs
Thomas Nagy is joined by Danny Webb AKA Sparky Milan to talk about what they perceive to be all the joys and pains of working as an electrical contractor
Thomas Nagy is solo this week and uses it as an oppertunity to pose some juicy 'would you ever' questions about the trade to himself
Adrian Davey joins Thomas Nagy and Paul Meenan to peel back the layers and expose the truth about the realities of teaching
Mark Pink returns to discuss apprenticeships, skills, challenging aspects of the trade and more with Thomas Nagy and Paul Meenan
Thomas Nagy and Paul Meenan are joined by Electrician, Mark Pink, who talks about all of the different aspects of the trade he's worked in, in places around the world like Saudi Arabia and Russia. There's also more on Amendment 3 of the 18th edition, which was published on 31st July
Thomas Nagy and Paul Meenan discuss tools. They cover what a new starter in the trade should get and why, whether it's the bosses responsibility to help apprentices get the tools they need, tools for employees and they discuss some of the best tools on the market
Thomas Nagy and Paul Meenan are joined by Charlie from Edmondson's Electrical, the largest Electrical wholesaler in the UK to give their perception on material quality, cost and also give some context on how the supply chain works and what their place is within it. Thomas and Paul also start a tools topic, which will continue on next week's show
Tom Milham & Will Watson join Andy Cam and Todd Glister to talk about their work in HVAC. They discuss their experiences running a business, memorable jobs and moments as well as tools, materials and the fufute of the HVAC industry
Thomas Nagy and Paul Meenan talk about the issues they've experienced with material quality and working with some wholesalers. They also look at how an Electrician's wages compare to other trades and whether it's time to leave the stereotypes behind and they also re-visit tendering for work from last week's show
Thomas Nagy and Paul Meenan are joined by guests from both domestic and commercial/public to discuss their approach to tendering for contracts and quoting for work in domestic. They also touch on waiting for money, dealing with clients and more
Thomas Nagy and Paul Meenan discuss the one aspect of the trade they've possibly struggled to get right most in their careers...... taking time off! Paul and Thomas discuss how whether you're a contractor, employee or sole trader, each aspect comea with it's own set of challenges when trying to take time off. They talk about how they've achieved a bit of a better work life balance and how you can do the same
Thomas Nagy & Paul Meenan invite Sparky Ninja (AKA David Watts) and Adrian Davey to talk about their experiences in education and the most concerning shortcomings with the current system
Thomas Nagy is joined by show regulars, Danny Webb and Pete Arrow so that he can find out how their quality of work, demand and how business is going generally in 2024. Thomas also reads out some messages on what the most common struggles are for contractors currently and shares his thoughts
Thomas Nagy takes a quick look at employment in the trade with two guests joining him to share their experiences as employees
Thomas Nagy and Paul Meenan discuss their working relationship and give you plenty of insight and advice on how to foester and build the client and sub-contractor relationship
Thomas Nagy and Paul Meenan react to amendment 3 of BS 7671. Sparky Ninja, David Watts from e5 joins the show and gives his thoughts as well
Thomas Nagy and Paul Meenan discuss the race to the bottom in the trade and how often you can find yourself engaged in a race to the bottom when trying to win work from potential clients
Paul Meenan and Thomas Nagy continue looking at how the trade are supported and protected by trade associations and accreditations. This episode, Alan Wilson MD from Select in Scotland talks about making Electrician a protected title and whether we would want one trade body regulating and maintaining safety standards
Thomas Nagy and Paul Meenan take a look at the role trade associations and accreditation bodies have in the trade and whether members feel they're properly supported. Paul and Thomas talk to Danny Webb AKA Sparky Milan about why he's chosen to avoid accreditations and schemes and Thomas and Paul ponder what should and shouldn't be expected from these organisations with regards to support and policing the industry
Thomas Nagy and Paul Meenan draw from their own experiences on YouTube to discuss what role it plays in the electrical industry, the positives, the negatives, everything in between. There's also an exclusive from Thomas on his YouTube and some advice if you intend to post electrical or trade content on the platform
Thomas Nagy talks about electric vehicles, mental health, upskilling and dating (yes, really!)
Thomas Nagy is joined by two guests to discuss the dangers faced by electricians while working. Peter Bennett from The Ladder Association shares some evidence and advice with regards to the dangers of working from height. Electrical contractor, Tom Bickerton joins Thomas to talk about his own first hand experience with an electrical shock while working and also talks about his father's death while working
Thomas Nagy and Paul Meenan take a look at how burnout culture might be causing some members of the trade to feel disillusioned with the nature of the work and also ask Adrian Davey to share his story of disillusionment as well
Thomas Nagy and Paul Meenan invite Chris Frediani, the UK's most famous spread, to discuss the damaged relationship between Electricians and Plasterers. Chris talks about where it all started, his experiences and perspective as a spread on the issue, and also offers some advice and solutions. Paul and Thomas also talk about kitchen fitters dabbling in electrics a little later on too
Thomas Nagy and Paul Meenan talk to Gary Alder, who has written the book 'So You Want To Be An Electrician?' They ask Gary about his career in the trade, his thoughts on the state of the industry in 2024, who the book is for and why he's decided to write it
Thomas Nagy and Paul Meenan talk about doing work the right way and why it's important to think about the work you've completed in the following weeks and months. Paul and Thomas talk about the difference between a lash up and properly conducted work. Paul gives some advice and uses some examples from the trade with regards to how to do things ethically
Thomas Nagy and Paul Meenan talk to two contractors about what causes them to feel disillusioned with the trade and their position within it
John Isherwood is in for Thomas Nagy and walks Paul Meenan through his professional life in a bit of an Electrical version of 'This is Your Life'
John Isherwood is in for Thomas Nagy, with Paul Meenan and they look at why potential apprentices are struggling to find placements and why some contractors struggle once they bring apprentices into the business
We've heard from listeners that as they get further into their journey as an Electrical contractor, they find themselves losing their passion for the industry and the job. Thomas Nagy and Paul Meenan discuss how this trade will test every fiber of your being and what you can do to stay passionate and avoided becoming jaded or even end up leaving the industry entirely
Thomas Nagy and Paul Meenan are joined by popular social media snagged John Cooper of New Home Quality Control to talk about snagging electrical work and the shocking state of new build homes. John talks about why het got into snagging, what he's witnessing on-site, how big an issue poor and dangerous work is for the construction industry. He also offers some advice for the younger tradespeople out on-site
John Isherwood is in for Thomas Nagy one more time and joined by Paul Meenan to take a look at tool theft, van theft, van break-ins, units being targetting by thieves and discuss what can be done about it. Tony York, an Electrical contractor talks about their awful experiences and Greg Smith MP joins the discussion to provide some context on what the government will do about this huge issue
Thomas Nagy is off for two weeks, but the show must go on and joining Paul Meenan on hosting duties is Fix Radio regular John Isherwood to take another look at health & fitness. It's January and therefore a time where many people attempt to get into some kind of exercise regime. John and Paul talk to Brooke Reeve, an apprentice spark about her experiences as a kickboxing world champion and personal trainer, Max returns to talk about the virtues of getting your employees into an at work fitness plan
Thomas Nagy and Paul Meenan pick out some of the key changes coming to the regs this year in the UK that you should know about and other things that might affect electrical contractors in 2024
Thomas Nagy and Paul Meenan are back after Christmas and start the year with a look at EV and what 2024 might hold for EV and those in the trade that work within this specialism. Paul talks about a show he went to in London at the end of 2023, where he was able to take a closer look at EV
Charlie and Lewis return to discuss their specialism which is taking on commercial contracts at hotels across the UK. They explain what this work is like, How they find it, What kind of business set up you need to take the work on, the challenges, benefits and more!
Thomas Nagy is joined by Charlie and Lewis from Quadrant to discuss their experiences setting up and running a business together as commercial contractors
Thomas Nagy and Paul Meenan discuss certain ways to behave, business practices, ways to learn and ask 'whether it's okay to...' act in these ways
They're not going on holiday, they're discussing all the insurance you need to have, should have and whether some in the trade are winging it when it comes to insurance. Thomas and Paul also talk about traveling for work and the pros and cons of doing so and what a cashless society would mean for tradespeople and their customers
Thomas Nagy goes through the Fix Radio Electrical Show mailbag and answers questions about his own professional development, YouTube, Specialisms, The meaning of life and more
Thomas Nagy is joined by two electricians so that he can ask them about their approach to diet and exercise as busy tradespeople with not much time to prep and workout
Thomas Nagy and Paul Meenan track the journey from apprentice to qualified electrician. The pair discuss what success might look like and reminisce about their own experiences
Thomas Nagy and Paul Meenan do something a bit different on this episode and take a look at how Electricians can approach health and fitness. Thomas invites personal trainer Max (herculesyum.com) onto the show to give some expert opinion on how to approach your workouts with an already busy and stressful schedule
Thomas Nagy and Paul Meenan are joined again by Dan Jackson, so that he can talk about his experiences in fire safety and explain to you what it's like building a career within this specialism
Thomas Nagy and Paul Meenan are joined by Dan Jackson, a fire safety principle consultant who has come into the studio to give advice to David McKeown, who specialises in fire safety but struggles to find good employees
Thomas and Paul look at what the liability is around safety for the average jobbing spark, the contractors like Thomas and the clients like Paul
Having recently been discussed in the House of Lords, Thomas and Paul look into diverted neutrals and how big an issue it could eventually become
Thomas and Paul re-visit Solar/PV as an 'ism' and are joined by Mark Kerr, Lead Electrician at Joju Solar. Mark joined Joju a few years ago and has built a team of Electricians that work with him. On this episode he explains what his job consists of and comments on some of the benefits of working in solar as well as some of the challenges the industry faces with recycling old panels and products. Thomas and Paul also chat a bit about green and how sustainable a lot of net zero focussed tech actually is
Louise and John return with their apprentice Lauren to discuss what it's been like bringing Lauren into their Smart Home Installation business. Lauren talks about what she's learnt, Louise and John discuss the benefits of bringing Lauren on and developing her skills and confidence
Louise Tarling and John Vauxhall met when John was working as a black cab driver, fast forward a number of years and they're moved into the Electrical sector and are completing smart home installations across Essex with their apprentice Lauren. On this episode they discuss their experiences working together and running the business. They also talk about how they stay on top of their CPD, learn about emerging new tech and talk about customers and how they've transformed their homes
Paul Meenan has tried to address his work life balance this year and discusses why he's chosen to do this and how he's gone about doing so. Thomas talks about the journey he has been on in recent years and how that's pushed him to the limit.
Show hosts Thomas Nagy and Paul Meenan shed light on how to specialise in solar PV and boost your revenue
Thomas and Paul take part in a 'fill in the blanks' exercise about the trade. Not sure what that means? Complete this sentence: I like listening to the Electrical Show podcast because...
Rich Hepple from the Art of Smart joins Thomas and Paul to talk about specialising in Smart Home Installation. Rich talks about what type of person you need to be and what skills be required. He talks about the clientele you'll work for, what you should know about training and the potential earnings that come with this 'ism'
Thomas and Paul look atgreen tech and how sustainable it is. Carbon footprints, net zero, is it all greenwashing? They're joined by ex-BBC environmental pioneer, speaker & advisor, Roger Harrabin as well as Stephen Robinson from Hyperion Executive Search to discuss all of this and the Government's Net Zero targets and EV strategy
Thomas and Paul are going to be looking at specialisms in the Electrical sector every fortnight or so on the show and they start with EV charge point installs. Danny Webb, Known as Sparky Milan on social media joins Thomas and Paul to talk about his experiences with EV installs so far
PAT Testing - is it taken seriously enough? Are we doing it properly? and what are the consequences for ignoring it entirely?
Thomas and Paul talking about posts regarding fake qualifications and gold cards available for sale on social meda. What can be done about this? Who is doing something about it? What is it doing to your safety on-site? How are scammers creating this fake paperwork? Paul talks about the history behind this problem and and also shares some anecdotal examples of where this has created accidents on-site
We keep getting asked - how do I know when I'm ready to work for myself and how should set my business up? So Thomas shares his experiences and shares a never before heard fact about a career he almost took up instead of Electrical. Bradley Jones returns to the show to give some advice and we're also joined by Screwfix Top Tradesperson & Electrician Toby Peacock to talk about why he went limited from the start and also offers some insight into how he grew his business in Cambridge
Thomas Nagy calls on Paul's wealth of knowledge to get some top tips and random facts from him as well as giving some of his own tips that he's picked up along the way
Thomas Nagy and Paul Meenan are joined by two guests to discuss the different ways that Electricians can approach learning and CPD and also look at some of the material on offer for free and from behind paywalls. Joining Thomas and Paul is award winning Electrical trainer Adrian Davey and ECA Technical Manager Darren Crannis returns as well
Apprenticeships are fantastic and a true and tested route into the industry. What comes next is amazing but also daunting and it can be hard to know what the best foot forwards is. So on this show Thomas and Paul share their post apprenticeship experiences and also get some insight into how the ECA offer support for those finishing their apprenticeship
Paul talks about some of the people he knows that have been blacklisted in the industry, offers some insight into what people are being blacklisted for, why it's such a damaging thing for those that are blacklisted and why it's a problematic culture in the Electrical sector
Paul gives you an update on the recent changes to the wiring regs and why it's important to stay informed and educated on everything related to BS7671
Thomas has found himself taking on increasingly larger work over the last few years but has found cash flow challenging during this time. Paul and Thomas discuss how long you could be waiting to be paid from larger work and how to outline your expectations in your terms and conditions. They also talk about how to factor in your expected expenses during this time and what else to expect and to avoid
Entitlement, thinking you know it all and knowing nothing, having all the gear and no idea, being confidently wrong and not being able to be told anything. These are all issues Thomas and Paul have come across again and again in the trade over the years and on this episode they discuss the very real consequences for everyone when this attitude is perpetrated.
Thomas Nagy and Paul Meenan ask what is an Electrician? Who can call themselves an Electrician? What's the difference between a Sparks and an Electrician? They also address some of the stereotypes thrown at them by other trades
Thomas and Paul discuss some of the new tech coming and already entering homes across the UK. They talk about what you will see added during construction of new build homes, what you could make some money from in the domestic market and the longevity of some of this technology
A recent survey found that Electricians were the trade most embracing eco-friendly business practices and offerring green solutions to customers here in the UK. Thomas and Paul talk about these oppertunities, what you could make some money from, what to watch out for and what to consider training in
Thomas Nagy is joined once again by Paul Meenan to look at the current state of play with regards to everything EV here in the UK
Thomas Nagy is joined by one of his employees to talk about what it's like to work for Thomas, What he's like as a boss and what both employer and employee could do better
Thomas Nagy is joined by Amy Barrett-Singh (Amy the Sparky) and Danny Webb AKA Sparky Milan to talk about their experiences in the trade. Amy and Danny talk about how they got started as sparks, what it's like working with each other while also in a relationship, social media, the community in the UK in the Electrical sector and more
Amy Barrett-Singh & Danny Webb, known as Amy the Sparky and Sparky Milan on socials join Thomas to talk about their experiences as judges for Spark's Magazine Female Skills Competition 2023. Amy talks about what the competition means to the trade and the women competiting as well as her experiences as a female in a male dominated industry. Danny and Amy also talk about how the competition was judged, the standard of skills they observed and the upcoming Sparks Learner of the Year finals
Thomas Nagy and Bradley Jones talk to fellow electrical contractor, Pete Arrow, about his trade accreditations, which ones he's gone for and why as well as what support he has had from them and would expect to get for the price of his membership. NAPIT Chief Technical Officer, Frank Bertie gives a perspective on supporting the industry from a trade body and more
Thomas and Bradley talk about what they would change about the electrical sector if given the chance. Joining them on the phone to share his thoughts on this topic is fellow contractor Ian Bedingfield. Thomas and Bradley give their top three they would change as well
Cancellations can be extremely frustrating and can leave you out of pocket. This is something that Bradley has really struggled with. Sam Clancy, a spark who helps the Prince of Darkness on many DIY SOS Builds joins the boys to talk about his experiences with cancellations
Following on from last week Thomas Nagy and Bradley Jones wrap up their look at the employment process as a business owner in the electrical sector. On this week's show the pair talk about how they handle the ongoing relationship with employed sparks and human resources processes in their businesses
Bradley Jones is struggling to find good sparks to join his growing business, Thomas Nagy has been there and bought the t-shirt. They discuss how they source leads for potential employees, how they approach the interview process and touch on how they try to keep hold of good employees too
Thomas Nagy and Bradley Jones react to some listener comments sent in after they discusses delayed and non payers. Claire Reed from EMW Law joins us to explain the process of taking non payers to court, what your chances are of a result in your favour, how much some aspects of this cost and what kind of evidence you will be expected to provide the courts
Bradley is fuming after dealing with multiple cases of non payers and customers stalling on paying invoices. Thomas and Bradley debate what is and isn't worth chasing, How you can tell the difference between someone stalling compared to someone that has no intentions of paying and more
Co-host Bradley Jones has been trying to increase productivity of his staff and to reduce time wasted in traffic, getting materials for jobs and more. Thomas Nagy and Bradley also talk about ways you can increase your own productivity as the boss
Chris Tidy, health and safety training provider and consultant and founder of Hard Hat Awareness Week joins Thomas Nagy and Bradley Jones to talk about how you can properly implement H&S in your business and become more aware of risks around you
Thomas Nagy and Bradley Jones talk about health and safety. Has it gone too far? What are some of the pain points for business owners? have you unkowingly put your co-workers or employees in dangerous situations?
Thomas and Bradley talk to Rick Gannon, Property Investor, HMO Specialist and best selling Author about his opinions on meter tampering. Would he expect Electricians to report illegal activity as a landlord, Why is it an Electricians responsibility and more
Thomas Nagy and Bradley Jones talk about an issue that's only going to become more widespread with electricity bills on the rise. Thomas and Bradley debate where their moral responsibilities lie, Is it there problem, How can not reporting it affect their business and discuss witnessing other illegal activity on-site
Thomas and Bradley look back at what 2022 has been like for them and the electrical sector as a whole. They talk about the effect world events have had on the trade, how the year has been for them as business owners, what they'll leave behind in 2022 and what to look into for 2023
Thomas and Bradley talk about how to make the money you earn work for your business. What you should be banking, what you should be investing in from a business growth perspective and more
Thomas Nagy talks about his experiences building a presence on social media and Bradley Jones talks about how he's used social media to network and forge partnerships. Thomas and Bradley also look at some advice from the experts on how to act on social media
Thomas Nagy and Bradley Jones apply a business analysis model to the Electrical sector to judge the financial strength and potential earnings within the industry
Thomas Nagy and Bradley Jones talk to Ian Bedingfield about his experience attending short courses. Ian left the army and decided to get into the electrical sector, he talks about his experiences ten years later and what the results of taking a short course were for him
Thomas Nagy and Bradley pick their short courses topic up and look at some of the listener reaction to the show two weeks ago. Later in the show Alan Wilson, Managing Director of Select, Scotland's largest trade association joins us to give his thoughts on short courses
Thomas Nagy and Bradley Jones are joined in-studio by Schneider Electric VP David Williams who discusses the impact of the energy crisis on Electricity 4.0. David also talks about the differences between retro fit and new builds and short term solutions for a long term vision
Thomas Nagy and Bradley Jones talk about the problem with short courses as they see it from where they stand as business owners and electrical contractors. They talk about how some courses might be misrepresenting potential earnings and employability as well as what they'd like to change about the courses given the chance
James Parkes from Schneider Electric joins Thomas and Bradley to discuss what the homes of the future might look like, what opportunities this presents to domestic contractors like Bradley and what Schneider Electric are doing to support the electrical sector
After Bradley has recently broken up with his girlfriend, Thomas and Bradley discuss whether it's possible to find some kind of work life balance as electrical contractors and business owners. Thomas shares his own similar experiences and observations he's made along the way
Thomas Nagy and Bradley Jones talk about the logistics of booking in work, sending employees out in the field to complete jobs, how far you should be booked up in advance and how much space you should leave in your diary for urgent enquiries
Thomas and Bradley are joined by Deepak Sharad, Market Development & Offer Manager for Schneider Electric to discuss Electricity 4.0 in the commercial and industrial sector. Deepak explains what Electricity 4.0 is, How contractors can take advantage and what support there is for those that do
Thomas and Bradley collect up the messages they've had in over the past month or two on a range of topics and cover them over the course of the show
A recent survey found that almost nine in ten Electricians do not know how to effectively market their business. Thomas and Bradley talk about whether they feel they have it right or not, look at some of the most commonly used marketing methods and what the experts say you should do
Thomas and Bradley talk about the hiring process, managing relationships with employees, what they will and won't pay for and investing in your workforce
Thomas Nagy and Bradley Jones talk about what vehicles they have in their fleet, what specialist vehicles they have, van racking, van break-ins and more
Thomas Nagy and Bradley Jones talk about training and CPD. They talk through the courses they've taken, what the benefits of doing them have been as well as how to make it work for your business and back pocket
Thomas Nagy and Bradley Jones talk about the road from the first year of operating to becoming a more established business. They discuss everything from adding assets and finding a base to operate from to hiring staff and managing costs
Thomas and Bradley have a bit of a laugh and a moan about nightmare moments they've had in the trade, Nightmare customers and how to handle them and nightmare jobs they wish they'd never taken on
Thomas Nagy & Bradley Jones add another chapter to their guide of setting up and running a business in the electrical sector
Thomas Nagy and Bradley Jones walk you through how they engage with customers and landlords when it comes to completing EICRs. They also talk about managing the remedial work occasionally needed after an EICR and customers that argue over safety repairs compared to aesthetic improvements
Thomas Nagy and fellow electrical contractor Bradley Jones talk about day one of starting a business. How you can source jobs in those early days, what you should be buying and avoiding purchasing, whether to go limited or down the sole trader route and whether you should buy or lease a work van
Thomas Nagy and Bradley Jones discuss sourcing recurring revenue and how big a chunk of your profits you can source from this kind of work. Where you can source it from and the ways you can go about doing so
Thomas Nagy is joined again by fellow Electrical Contractor Bradley Jones from Essex. Thomas and Bradley talk about the benefits of networking and creating joint ventures with other Electrical Contractors and Tradespeople.
After months of talking about him on the show Paul Skyrme joins Thomas and Paul to talk about how he got started in electrical, shares his battle with prostate cancer and opinions on the electrical sector and it's future
Mike Smith from The ECA joins Thomas and Paul to discuss the Building Safety Bill and making Electrician a protected title
Thomas Nagy and Paul Meenan give some tips and observations from their time following other tradespeople on-site. They take a look at Plumbing & Heating Engineers, General Builders, Carpenters, Plasterers and other trades and how they sometimes make life difficult for Electrical Contractors
Thomas Nagy and Paul Meenan talk about the skill gap in the Electrical sector and wider construction industry. Paul explains how this has happened, Thomas talks about the challenges this has created with regards to the hiring process and Paul and Thomas ponder what this could mean for the future of the industry
Thomas Nagy is joined on the show by Laurence Lane the recent winner of Electrician of the Year at UK Construction Week. Laurence talks about his experiences taking on an apprentice, working in Central London and some of the changes he'd like to see made in the Electrical sector
Thomas Nagy & Paul Meenan from The e5 Group talk about prosumer. What is prosumer? What does it mean for electrical contractors?
Thomas Nagy & Paul Meenan from The e5 Group discuss foundation earthing & safety checks. Why it's been recommended & what it means for installers. The safety implications & using an earth leakage meter
Thomas Nagy is joined again by Bradley Jones to get some tips and insight that will be useful for Electrical Contractors, from new blood to the more established
Thomas Nagy is joined by Bradley Jones, an electrical contractor to discuss the challenges of working in the City of London
Thomas Nagy and Paul Meenan take a look at the problem of RCDs not tripping under certain conditions
Thomas Nagy is joined by Paul Meenan once again to take a look at the Government's new EV Strategy that was released on Friday 25th March
Thomas Nagy is joined by Ray Burton, A Business Development Manager from Simpro to discuss the challenges contactors face managing the back office, How to bring automation into your business and streamlining project planning & admin tasks
Thomas Nagy talks about an issue he's struggled with over the years, a recent experience and how he handles this problem
Thomas Nagy & Paul Meenan discuss diverted neutrals & broken pens. Does the grid have capacity for EV? Will your RCD still work if you get a broken pen?
Thomas Nagy and Paul Meenan are joined by Sparky Ninja (David Watts) to continue the discussion about Amendment 2. The focus this week is on the harsh realities of AFDDS
Thomas Nagy and Paul Meenan from The e5 Group look at some of the changes coming at the end of March with Amendment 2. They talk about potential changes to arc fault detection devices, The need for foundation earthing, The new terms & definitions
Thomas Nagy is joined in the new Fix Radio studios by Paul Meenan from The e5 Group to discuss EV technology. Will EV create a challenge with already rising electricity bills? Are EV chargers futureproofed? Battery life & sustainability of EV
Thomas is joined by fellow Electrical Contractor Bradley Jones. Bradley founded his business, Imperium Group at the age of 22 and his business continues to grow and expand. But with that development comes a range of hurdles and headaches which Thomas & Bradley discuss. There's some interesting insight on how to hire the right people for your business, how to source work from estate agents and more
Thomas is joined by Jonathan Nugent and gets some tips on how to properly outline a contract from the outset to limit issues around delayed/non-payers. Jonathan covers both domestic and commercial as well as touching on retention payments
Thomas Nagy talks about his experience handling delayed and retained payments. When it is/isn't worth chasing a customer, domestic vs. commercial and which one this issue is more prevalent in. Then later in the show, Thomas reacts to a message sent in about how you can condition customers with regards to the outcome of an EICR
Thomas Nagy takes some listener questions on his training courses, apprenticeships, tech opportunities for sparks in 2022, EICRs, TikTok and a few other bits as well
Thomas Nagy is back with his first show since the Christmas break. He's joined by Paul Meenan from the e5 Group to take a look at the new building regulations for the government's mandate to install EV charging points in all new builds completed from 2022 onwards. Paul has some insight on other types of buildings that fall under these and the shortcomings of the new building regs
Stephen Biggs, The Technical Manager At Tamlite joins Thomas Nagy to discuss the Building Safety Bill, what it means for Electrical Contractors, Why there's a lack of awareness about it in the Electrical sector & more
Thomas Nagy gives some tips he's picked up and talks about lessons he's learnt as a business owner in the electrical sector when it comes to hiring and building a workforce for a business
Thomas talks about the endless headaches and challenges that come with making the move into commercial work. Also ULEZ and how Thomas is making changes to his fleet as a result
Thomas Nagy talks through some of the options available to you if you've built up too much debt with your business and need to hit re-set. Should you declare bankruptcy? What happens if you do? How can you deal with debts to wholesalers & news of an upcoming online event that you won't want to miss
Paul Hopton, Deputy Managing Director of Electrical Safety UK joins Thomas Nagy to discuss why HSE is such a large aspect of training courses and NVQs, How you can factor HSE training costs into your business, Below par work on-site and how to report it
Simon Lazarus from The Better Business Group talks through his six business lessons for contractors, Taking a more customer centric approach, Marketing, Winning better paid work and creating a more profitable business
Thomas Nagy talks to Sparky Ninja about his mission to improve the standards of training and offer free and invaluable tools for Electricians to learn from
Thomas Nagy is joined in-studio by Paul Meenan from The e5 Group. Paul has his say on short courses and talks through his recent experiences with NVQs
Thomas Nagy talks through five lessons he's learnt as a business owner and gives tips to entrepreneurs in the electrical sector
Pete Arrow from Arrow & Son Ltd joins Thomas Nagy to discuss a reported rise in earnings for electrical contractors, rising costs of cables & how to manage a large business
Thomas is joined by Ray Taylor from Stingray Alarm Systems. Ray was tired of having thieves breaking into his van on his driveway so he created an alarm system that also gives would be thieves a 1000 volt shock. Ray discusses how you can affordably protect your van, what the police think about his system and why van manufacturers should be doing more to protect your livelihood
Alan Wilson returns to talk to Thomas Nagy about regulation in the electrical sector and construction in general. What SELECT have lobbied for and why it's important to make changes now rather than later
Thomas Nagy has experienced first hand the inherent flaws and issues with retention payments in the UK. On this episode Thomas is joined by Alan Wilson, The MD of SELECT to get his views on retention payments and discuss how SELECT would like to reform the current situation
A listener asks Thomas Nagy whether he would hire someone with a criminal record, Thomas ponders the pros and cons as well as why depending on the crime, people deserve a second chance
Thomas Nagy ponders why rogue customers aren't held to the same standards as rogue tradespeople. How to avoid these customers before you quote for work, why time constraints set by your customer should be a red flag and more
Thomas Nagy takes a look at some of the different electric vans coming onto the market in the year ahead. Thomas discusses pros and cons for each and more
Thomas carries on the topic from last week about trade vans, this time covering van break ins and how they can be prevented
Thomas Nagy covers some recent messages into the show about last week's topic and gives his latest opinions on new electric vans on the market in 2021
Thomas Nagy talks about something from his past week that has really got on his nerves. Why are clients so cheap when it comes to this and whose pocket shout this come out of?
Thomas Nagy talks all about in-house disagreements, the pressures of being the boss and how that can affect your relationship with your staff
Thomas Nagy discusses the short comings of short courses as well as a little bit on electric scooters
Thomas Nagy on his new unit space & breaks down how to cover the costs, Buying in bulk & spreading the savings. Re-training in Electrical: more listeners get their questions answered.
Thomas Nagy reads through some listener response to his opinion that clients are much more likely to quibble over the pricing over safety repairs and maintenance than they would be over some cosmetic improvements or installations. Also how to give clients what they want without quoting a load of work they won't want.
Thomas Nagy receives an email from a listener that's re-trained in their 40s but are struggling to get any paid work and even unpaid work experience. Thomas ponders what some of the challenges are and how you might be able to overcome them and force your way into the industry.
Thomas Nagy discusses digital home security installation. How to build up security in layers. How to spot less secure set ups. Can the public install systems effectively without a tradesperson?
Thomas Nagy discusses a recent message sent into the show and experience he had on-site that made him question how you balance your work life with your personal life and keep both on the right track. Thomas also touches briefly on the Electrical licence concept from a few weeks ago and the recent online reaction to his concept.
Thomas Nagy talks through the pressures and pitfalls of being the boss. Where do you draw the line between friend and boss. Where do you find new employees. Do you hire based on sub-contract or PAYE and what are the positives and negatives of hiring certain personality types. All this is discussed and pondered on this episode of the show.
Thomas Nagy discusses fault finding in properties, the pitfalls of pricing, whether customers are more likely to argue a safety cost over an aesthetic cost and something unexpected in Thomas Nagy's fan...
Thomas Nagy ponders whether it's worth fitting premium smart lighting systems with cheaper tech options available
Thomas Nagy talks EICR tickets - how do you fill these in? On-site or elsewhere? Also a bit on his presenting style and other quirks of life.
Thomas Nagy has been doing some research on flat earth since he was confronted over the topic by a customer last week. Thomas also reads some reaction to the Electrical license concept he discussed on last week's show and rounds of the topic.
Thomas Nagy talks through his Electrical licence idea and some of the positives and pitfalls of the concept.
How long until something goes wrong and who will be held accountable when it does? Should estate agents take the bulk of the blame for EICR test backlogs as well as landlords? Are the tests being completed properly and are forms being forged in a race to complete EICR tests in time?
Thomas Nagy discusses how to handle customers that want an itemised breakdown of costs on a quote, why you should never agree and some experiences he's had himself with this problem.
Thomas Nagy discusses a range of topics relating to his past week, The latest on the electrical van & more.
Thomas Nagy rants about some would-be customers that really get under his skin and how to handle it. Also, an update on Thomas Nagy's new electric van - one week on.
Thomas Nagy discusses callout fees, what to do when a customer isn't home or prepared for your arrival and electric vans.
Thomas Nagy gives you some advice on how certain courses can help expand your business. Also, what you should pay your employees, how NOT to cut your hair during lockdown and cheese sandwiches.
Thomas continues the discussion around employment from last week with some tips on how to use indeed to find your next fantastic employee. Thomas also answers some of your questions sent in about a variety of topics.
Thomas Nagy is desperate to hire someone to join his business... So why can't he find anyone? Is there a shortage of capable and reliable people in the electrical sector and construction in general and what can be done about this.
Tomas Nagy rants about the insane costs and loops to jump through as a business owner which include, first aid training courses, fleet & specialist machinery insurance, Commercial phone contracts & more!
Thomas Nagy follows up with more about social media after a huge response from the listeners last week. Thomas touches on some of the positives of social media and YouTube this time around. He also explains how much work goes into it, The process behind filming and dealing with prospective sponsors.
Thomas Nagy gives you a social media 101 crash course in what to do, how to do it right and what to avoid when it comes to managing your social media related to your business online. Also, how to grow and build on platforms like YouTube and Instagram.
Thomas Nagy is back to discuss EICR faux pas, how much harder it's become to complete EICR Tests now so many more people are working at home and some of the run ins with tenants.
Thomas keeps getting called out to different jobs with a similar root cause. He has his opinion on it and would love to hear yours too.
Thomas Nagy on whether he thinks it's still worth working in the domestic sector or not and how to price jobs accordingly if you do.
Paul Meenan from the E5 Group joins Thomas Nagy to discuss wages in the electrical sector.
Thomas answers your questions on how to kick on as an apprentice, how to pack your toolkit smarter for each job and a little bit on how to price jobs accordingly.
Thomas is joined by Ian Arbuckle from Linian. Ian's father invented the original Linian Fire Clip and from there, Ian alongside his sister Lynne have grown the business with a range of top quality products.
Thomas Nagy talks business development towards the end of a turbulent year with uncertain months ahead. Should you spend now or later? Should you use your money or borrow? How secure is your electrical or trade based business? Thomas Nagy gives his take on this episode of the podcast.
Thomas Nagy gives you the lowdown on LED strips and lighting. Everything you need to know, some tips and tricks when dealing with LED strips/lighting, some handy products Tom has found online that are worth trying out and all of your messages into the show.
Thomas Nagy speculates on what the coming months could look like for the industry, talks fuse boards and reforms to the regs that he would like to see happen.
Thomas has his say about a bit of recent news in trade. He gives his opinion, asks some questions and follows up on messages from last week's topic discussing clients who pay peanuts but expect a premium job.
Thomas Nagy takes you his experiences dealing with clients that expect more than they're paying for, how to manage their expectations and shares some of his own stories.
Thomas takes you through all of the messages from listeners and gives some funny, insightful, surprising and revealing answers!
Thomas discusses the pros and cons of taking the electrical route vs. fire alarm installation and also tells a funny story about a recent non paying customer and how to avoid ending up in the same mess.
This week Thomas discusses Domestic, Installer and fast courses and whether they bring new talent or are just a sham.
This week, after getting a new employee, Thomas goes on the hunt for the perfect van that can help him broaden out his business commercially!
This week Thomas lets us in on a new app he is involved with that can help sparks with their time management and bookings as well as telling us about a new member who is joining his team!.
This week on The Electrical Show podcast, Thomas talks us through some of the worst things he's seen in his career as an electrician.
This week Thomas talks about the electric vans on the market and which one's are perfect for electricians
It's been a busy week for Thomas! this week he reflects on how bookings could be made easier for electricians
This week Thomas Nagy is joined by Paul Meenan from the E5 group to answer the most commonly asked questions surrounding EICR's
Fun Fact: Some electricians still use rings when fitting fuse boards!! In this episode, Thomas Nagy talks about the new things that electricians should be doing but are currently not.
This week your electrical questions get answered by Thomas Nagy - from domestic vs commercial work to potential YouTube collaborations Thomas helps out fellow electricians with important issues.
This week Thomas continues his discussion around Wagos as well as chatting about the ways electricians price their jobs.
This week on the Electrical show Thomas Nagy talks us through some products that would make all of our lives easier if they were on the market.
Have you ever tried to fit outdoor LED lighting into a flower bed?
This week we are talking all things LED outdoor lighting and main voltage LED Strips