Off The Job: A Tradesman Podcast

Hosted by Trade Apps Ltd

Business Comedy

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Episodes

206

Latest episode

Nov 2026

Language

EN-GB

About the show

Welcome to 'Off The Job: A Tradesman Podcast,' the ultimate destination for tradespeople across the UK, hosted by Keiran Yates and Pete Withers (Tradie Tales aka Plumber Tales). This podcast is a toolbox of insights, humour, and real-life stories from the heart of the trades industry. Each episode of 'Off The Job' is crafted with the tradesperson in mind, whether you're a Gas Engineer, Plumber, Electrician, or just passionate about the trade world. Our hosts, Keiran and Pete, bring their unique perspectives and humour to the table, making every discussion engaging and relatable. What sets 'Off The Job' apart is its blend of entertainment and education. We dive into industry trends, offer practical advice, and share stories that resonate with anyone in the trades. Our guests range from seasoned professionals to new faces in the industry, each bringing their unique experiences and insights. 'Off The Job' is more than just a podcast; it's a community where tradespeople can come together to learn, laugh, and connect. Whether you're on the job site or relaxing at home, our podcast is the perfect companion to your day. Stay updated with the latest in the trades, get a good laugh, and maybe learn something new along the way. Subscribe to 'Off The Job: A Trade Podcast' on Apple Podcasts and join our community of hardworking, fun-loving tradespeople today!

Listen to episodes

60 recent

November 2, 2026Episode 245 min

This Electrician Had To Rebuild His Life | Karl Sparky

Send us Fan Mail After losing his wife to cancer, Karl Batterbee suddenly had to navigate running his electrical business, raising his young daughter and adjusting to a completely new normal. Better known online as Karl Sparky , Karl joins Pete and Keiran to talk about more than 20 years in the electrical trade, becoming self-employed and the experiences that have completely changed the way he looks at work and life. Karl started out at college before eventually securing an electrical apprenticeship, although getting qualified wasn't straightforward. He worked across several companies before finishing his apprenticeship and went on to gain experience across domestic, commercial and industrial electrical work. He also spent time working for a heating company, where he built up his knowledge of heating controls, wiring and fault finding, something that still forms a big part of his work today. They get into: Karl's route into becoming an electrician Struggling to secure and complete an apprenticeship More than 20 years working in the electrical industry Domestic vs commercial and industrial electrical work Heating controls and where plumbing and electrics overlap Air source heat pumps and changing technology Starting an electrical business after years of employment Finding work through word of mouth Learning how to price jobs properly Why customers disappearing after receiving a quote shouldn't be taken personally The real costs involved when you become self-employed Running a one-man electrical business Electrical testing, fault finding and older installations Getting electric shocks on the tools Social media and building friendships within the trades Why Karl started creating content as Karl Sparky But the conversation becomes much more personal when Karl talks about losing his wife to cancer at the beginning of the year. Alongside dealing with his own grief, Karl suddenly had to take over parts of the business his wife had previously helped him with, including paperwork and admin, while also raising their seven-year-old daughter and keeping his electrical business running. He talks openly about learning to navigate that new normal, the support he's received from friends and family, and the importance of having people around you when life changes completely. Karl also explains how things like music, trade events and spending time with friends have helped him switch off, and why the experience has made him look at life differently. One of the biggest lessons he has taken from everything he's been through is simple: Life's too short, do the things that make you happy and build your own village of good people around you. Social media has played a surprisingly big part in that too. What originally started with Karl posting a few tools and electrical jobs online eventually led to brand opportunities, trade events and, more importantly, genuine friendships with people who have checked in and supported him through one of the hardest periods of his life. If you're an electrician, apprentice, self-employed tradesperson, parent or someone trying to keep moving through a difficult period , there's a lot to take away from Karl's story. 👇 Let us know in the comments: What's one thing working in the trades, or life outside of work, has taught you not to take for granted? And who makes up your own village? 🎁 EXCLUSIVE PODCAST OFFER Get 30% OFF your Yearly Subscription to Gas Certificate App! Use code: POD30 at checkout 📲 Download the Gas Certificate App now https://onelink.to/hbv69u ⚠️ Warning: Contains adult humour and strong language. Tradesmen banter ahead. 🔗 Follow us on Socials 📱 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@offthejobpodcastuk 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/offthejobpodcastuk

October 29, 2026Episode 132 min

Customer LOCKED A Tradesman Inside Her House... | Off The Job Podcast Overtime Episode 97

Send us Fan Mail What's the worst customer, job or house you've ever walked into as a tradesperson? Pete and Keiran are back with a Halloween special of Off The Job Overtime , and this week they're getting into some proper trade horror stories sent in by the audience. From nightmare customers and dangerous boilers to strange things found on jobs, there are some stories in this one that every plumber, gas engineer, electrician, builder or self-employed tradesperson will relate to. One of the biggest comes from a carpenter who says a customer locked him inside her house after a disagreement over the job . After delivering bespoke cabinets and under-stairs storage, the customer complained about the finish and refused to pay anything until the work was completed. When he started removing the units, he says she locked the door and told him he wasn't leaving until he finished the job. He eventually had to call 999 , at which point the door was opened and he was able to leave. They also get into: The strangest things tradespeople have found in customers' homes Finding a dead cat while digging for a condensate soakaway A petrol saw accidentally filled with urine instead of fuel A dangerous boiler discovered after a previous service Engineers becoming complacent on the job The customers who stand over your shoulder while you work Customers who agree to a quote and then try to negotiate afterwards The "YouTube expert" who thinks they know more than the tradesperson Customers disappearing when the invoice arrives The customer who always finds "one more little job" Late-night customer phone calls Why you can't always trust a customer's description of the problem Creepy houses and jobs that just don't feel right Trade partners picking up plumbing and electrical lingo The fear of getting a callback after finishing a big job Plumbing leaks and mistakes that every experienced tradesperson eventually deals with Pete also shares one of his own customer nightmare stories , involving a boiler replacement, a late-night phone call and a customer demanding that the old boiler be put back after the new one had already been installed. And then there's the fear every plumber knows. You've finished a heating install, left the job and everything seems fine. Then a week later, the customer's name appears on your phone . Pete explains why even experienced tradespeople immediately assume the worst when that happens, especially when you're dealing with water, fittings and pipework where problems can sometimes appear days after you've left. If you're a plumber, gas engineer, heating engineer, electrician, carpenter, builder or self-employed tradesperson , there's a good chance you'll recognise at least one of these customers or situations. 👇 Let us know in the comments: What's the worst customer horror story you've ever had? And what's the strangest thing you've ever found while working in someone's house? 🎁 EXCLUSIVE PODCAST OFFER Get 30% OFF your Yearly Subscription to Gas Certificate App! Use code: POD30 at checkout 📲 Download the Gas Certificate App now https://onelink.to/hbv69u ⚠️ Warning: Contains adult humour and strong language. Tradesmen banter ahead. 🔗 Follow us on Socials 📱 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@offthejobpodcastuk 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/offthejobpodcastuk

October 26, 2026Episode 11 hr 15 min

Gas Engineers vs Air Con Engineers: Should Plumbers Be Moving Into AC? | Off The Job Podcast

Send us Fan Mail Gas engineers are moving into air conditioning in growing numbers, but should they be? On one side, Thomas Milham, an experienced air conditioning engineer with more than 20 years in the industry. On the other, John Cruickshank, a plumbing and heating engineer with around 30 years of experience who has now moved into air conditioning himself. With hotter UK summers, growing demand for domestic air conditioning and more heating engineers looking for additional work, the two trades are beginning to cross over more than ever. But that raises a controversial question: Can you really complete a five-day F-Gas course and call yourself an air conditioning engineer? Tom and John debate whether experienced plumbers and heating engineers already have many of the transferable skills needed for HVAC, including pipework, electrics, condensates and working with pressures, or whether getting the qualification is only the very beginning of learning another trade. They also get into: Gas engineers moving into domestic air conditioning Can you really become competent after a five-day F-Gas course? F-Gas qualifications vs real-world experience Why installation and fault finding are completely different skills Are experienced AC engineers right to protect their trade? Why some heating engineers see air conditioning as a new business opportunity Whether domestic AC could become a race to the bottom Gas boiler installs vs air conditioning installs How much money you can actually make fitting AC Warranty differences between boiler and air-con manufacturers The mistakes new engineers make when entering refrigeration The cost of setting yourself up properly for air conditioning Heat pumps, renewables and the future of heating and cooling Whether gas, plumbing, renewables and air conditioning could eventually become one trade One of the biggest arguments is whether F-Gas is becoming too easy to enter compared with gas. The lads discuss how someone can potentially complete their F-Gas qualification and start working on domestic split systems relatively quickly, while becoming a gas engineer involves qualifications, portfolios, supervised experience and a probationary period. But this isn't simply air-con engineers vs plumbers. Tom acknowledges that good heating engineers can bring strong transferable skills into HVAC, while John argues that anyone moving across needs to treat it as learning an entirely new trade, not something they suddenly know because they've passed a course. And the opportunity is clearly there. They discuss rising demand for domestic air conditioning, stock shortages during hot weather and why more gas and heating engineers are looking at AC as another way to stay busy throughout the year. The conversation eventually becomes much bigger than gas vs air con. Could the future engineer simply be trained across heating, cooling, ventilation, refrigeration, heat pumps and plumbing, rather than these remaining completely separate trades? John believes that over the next 10 to 15 years, that crossover could become increasingly normal as renewables and HVAC continue to grow. If you're a gas engineer, plumber, heating engineer, air conditioning engineer, HVAC engineer, refrigeration engineer or apprentice, there's plenty in this debate to disagree with. 👇 Let us know in the comments: Should experienced gas and heating engineers be moving into air conditioning? Or does completing a short course risk people entering a trade before they've built enough real-world experience? 🎁 EXCLUSIVE PODCAST OFFER Get 30% OFF your Yearly Subscription to Gas Certificate App! Use code: POD30 at checkout 📲 Download the Gas Certificate App now https://onelink.to/hbv69u ⚠️ Warning: Contains adult humour and strong language. Tradesmen banter ahead. 🔗 Follow us on Socials 📱 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@offthejobpodcastuk 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/offthejobpodcastuk 🎁 EXCLUSIVE PODCAST OFFER Get 30% OFF your Yearly Subscription to Gas Certificate App! Use code: POD30 at checkout 📲 Download the Gas Certificate App now https://onelink.to/hbv69u ⚠️ Warning: Contains adult humour and strong language. Tradesmen banter ahead. 🔗 Follow us on Socials 📱 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@offthejobpodcastuk 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/offthejobpodcastuk

October 22, 2026Episode 1428 min

Should Tradies Finish Early? Diesel Costs, Free Quotes & Job and Knock | Overtime

Send us Fan Mail Should you be allowed to finish early if you've completed all your work, or should your boss find you something else to do? Keiran Yates and Pete Withers are back for another episode of Off The Job Overtime, tackling the everyday frustrations, rising costs and workplace debates affecting UK tradespeople. Inspired by a clip featuring Liam the Tool Sparky, the lads get into the age-old argument around 'job and knock'. If you've finished your allocated work, have you earned an early finish? They also discuss rising diesel prices, the cost of keeping a work van on the road, and whether plumbers, electricians and other tradespeople should be charging customers for quotes and travel time. Plus, are employers expecting too much when they ask workers to collect materials outside their paid hours? Could cargo bikes realistically replace work vans in London? And how did an adjustable spanner nearly land Keiran in trouble at airport security? It's another honest, unfiltered conversation about life in the trades, with plenty of laughs and a few disagreements along the way. This episode is sponsored by electrical certificate app. Use code POD30 for 30% off a yearly plan. Got something you want Keiran and Pete to discuss? Send us your trade stories, workplace frustrations or unpopular opinions. Follow Off The Job: A Tradesman Podcast for more guest interviews, trade industry discussions and Overtime episodes. 🎁 EXCLUSIVE PODCAST OFFER Get 30% OFF your Yearly Subscription to Gas Certificate App! Use code: POD30 at checkout 📲 Download the Gas Certificate App now https://onelink.to/hbv69u ⚠️ Warning: Contains adult humour and strong language. Tradesmen banter ahead. 🔗 Follow us on Socials 📱 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@offthejobpodcastuk 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/offthejobpodcastuk

October 15, 2026Episode 1327 min

What Happens If Self-Employed Tradespeople Can’t Work? | Off The Job Podcast Overtime Episode 95

Send us Fan Mail If you're self-employed and your body suddenly stops you working… how long could you actually afford to be off the tools? Pete and Keiran are back for another Off The Job Overtime , and this week Pete’s back injury sparks a conversation that every self-employed tradesperson should probably think about. After struggling with severe sciatic pain, Pete was told to rest for up to 12 weeks , but when your income depends on physically turning up and doing the job, taking three months off isn't exactly straightforward. That leads into a bigger discussion around income protection, insurance and looking after your body when you work in the trades . Pete also looks back on 27 years on the tools and admits he ignored advice about protecting his knees when he was younger, because, like most people starting out, you assume your body will always be fine. They also get into: What happens financially if a self-employed tradesperson can't work Whether income protection is something more tradespeople should consider Looking after your knees and body before problems start Why £160 isn't a realistic day rate for an experienced tradesperson Why mates rates don't always make sense Whether charging by the job is better than telling customers your day rate Is staying a one-man band actually underrated? Why more staff doesn't automatically mean more profit The extra stress, wages and responsibility that come with growing a trade business Where one trade's job ends and another one's starts Should the carpenter or decorator caulk decorative panelling? Who makes good after plumbers and electricians chase into walls? The lads also get into an important health and safety discussion after looking at an HSE case involving workers who were injured during maintenance work where isolation and lock-off arrangements were among the failures identified. It raises a simple question: Would you trust another tradesperson telling you something is safely isolated, or would you always check it yourself? There's also plenty of audience debate around staying solo versus growing a trade business . Some tradespeople say keeping things small means less stress and stronger customer relationships, while others point out that staying solo eventually limits how much work one person can physically handle. If you're a plumber, gas engineer, electrician, carpenter, decorator, builder or self-employed tradesperson , this episode gets into the realities of running a trade business that don't always get talked about. 👇 Let us know in the comments: If you couldn't work for a month, would your business and bills be covered? And would you rather stay a one-man band or build a bigger team? 🎁 EXCLUSIVE PODCAST OFFER Get 30% OFF your Yearly Subscription to Gas Certificate App! Use code: POD30 at checkout 📲 Download the Gas Certificate App now https://onelink.to/hbv69u ⚠️ Warning: Contains adult humour and strong language. Tradesmen banter ahead. 🔗 Follow us on Socials 📱 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@offthejobpodcastuk 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/offthejobpodcastuk

October 8, 2026Episode 1232 min

Every Tradesperson Needs To Know What’s Changing In 2027 | Off The Job Podcast Overtime Episode 94

Send us Fan Mail Big changes are coming to new homes in 2027, but what could they actually mean for tradespeople? Have your say at 074 5740 8259 Pete and Keiran are back for another Off The Job Overtime , and this week they get into the upcoming Future Homes and Buildings Standards and what they could mean for gas engineers, plumbers, electricians, heating engineers, renewable installers, builders and developers. The lads look at what is expected to change from March 2027 , including new-build heating, heat pumps, solar PV, ventilation, energy efficiency, commissioning and the evidence trades could increasingly be expected to provide. One of the biggest talking points is gas boilers. The episode clears up an important point: this does not mean existing gas boilers suddenly become banned in March 2027. The discussion is specifically around new homes built to the new standards, where gas boilers are not expected to meet the required performance standard and low-carbon heating such as heat pumps will become increasingly important. They also get into: What the Future Homes Standard could mean for UK trades Gas boilers in new-build properties Heat pumps and why they are not always a straight boiler swap Solar PV becoming more common on new homes Ventilation in increasingly airtight properties Water efficiency and changing requirements Digital evidence, commissioning and proving work has been completed correctly Whether houses could eventually have a digital service history Which trades could be caught out if they are not keeping up with the changes There’s also a really interesting conversation around whether homes should have something similar to a car service history , recording work, certificates, alterations and important information so future homeowners and tradespeople can see exactly what has been done to the property. And because it’s Overtime, that’s not all. Pete and Keiran also get into whether plumbers should actually deal with blocked toilets , when it is time to call a drainage specialist, whether trade customers should get better merchant pricing than the general public, and where the line sits between plumbing and specialist work. If you’re a gas engineer, plumber, electrician, heating engineer, builder or self-employed tradesperson , this episode gives you a first look at some of the changes worth keeping on your radar before 2027. 👇 Let us know in the comments: Do you think the Future Homes Standard will significantly change your trade? And do you think the industry is ready for more heat pumps, solar and digital evidence? 🎁 EXCLUSIVE PODCAST OFFER Get 30% OFF your Yearly Subscription to Gas Certificate App! Use code: POD30 at checkout 📲 Download the Gas Certificate App now https://onelink.to/hbv69u ⚠️ Warning: Contains adult humour and strong language. Tradesmen banter ahead. 🔗 Follow us on Socials 📱 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@offthejobpodcastuk 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/offthejobpodcastuk

October 1, 2026Episode 1135 min

UK Trades: Skills Shortage… Or Is There Just Not Enough Work? | Off The Job Podcast Overtime Episode 93

Send us Fan Mail Is there really a skills shortage in the UK trades, or is there simply not enough work to go around? Pete and Keiran are back for another Off The Job Overtime , and this week they get into a question a lot of tradespeople are starting to ask. We constantly hear that the UK needs more builders, plumbers, electricians and skilled tradespeople , but at the same time apprentices are struggling to find placements and plenty of trades are saying work has slowed down. So what’s actually going on? The lads discuss recent construction figures showing activity contracting, particularly in residential work, and whether different trades are being affected depending on whether the work is essential or something customers can delay when money is tight. They also get into: Is there really a UK skills shortage? Why apprentices are struggling to find opportunities Whether residential construction and home improvement work is slowing Which trades are likely to feel a downturn first Essential work vs jobs customers can put off The reality of being self-employed when costs keep rising Making Tax Digital and what the changing thresholds could mean for tradespeople Why working on the tools can take such a toll on your body A recap of all 10 guests from this season Pete also talks about badly hurting his back after years on the tools, leading into a very relatable conversation about how much tradespeople rely on their bodies to earn a living and how little thought most of us give to warming up, stretching or protecting ourselves before a day’s graft. There’s also a discussion around Making Tax Digital , with the lads talking through the turnover thresholds moving from £50,000 to £30,000 and then £20,000, and what that could mean for smaller self-employed businesses. And because this is the final Overtime of the season, Pete and Keiran also look back at the guests from the last 10 episodes, from trade business owners and gas engineers to painters, electricians, floor layers and tool repair specialists, and pick out some of the funniest, most useful and most inspiring conversations. If you’re a plumber, electrician, gas engineer, builder, apprentice or self-employed tradesperson , this episode gets into one of the biggest questions facing the industry right now: Do we actually need more tradespeople or do we need more work? 👇 Let us know in the comments: Has work slowed down in your trade recently, or are you busier than ever? And do you think the UK has a genuine skills shortage? 🎁 EXCLUSIVE PODCAST OFFER Get 30% OFF your Yearly Subscription to Gas Certificate App! Use code: POD30 at checkout 📲 Download the Gas Certificate App now https://onelink.to/hbv69u ⚠️ Warning: Contains adult humour and strong language. Tradesmen banter ahead. 🔗 Follow us on Socials 📱 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@offthejobpodcastuk 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/offthejobpodcastuk

September 21, 2026Episode 1048 min

Makita, Milwaukee or DeWalt? A Tool Repair Expert Gives His Verdict | Billy Jobson from Jobson Tools

Send us Fan Mail Makita, Milwaukee or DeWalt, which power tool brand actually comes out on top when you’re the person repairing them? Billy Jobson from Jobson Tools joins Pete and Keiran to give a completely different perspective on the power tools tradespeople use every day, what breaks, what’s worth repairing and which brands make life much harder when something eventually goes wrong. Having grown up around tools and now working alongside his dad buying, selling and repairing power tools and machinery, Billy has seen inside everything from Makita and Milwaukee to DeWalt, Bosch, Hilti and more . And his verdict isn’t as simple as saying one brand is the best. Billy explains why he rates Milwaukee for performance but finds some Milwaukee tools expensive to repair , why Makita stands out for repairability and access to individual parts , and why different brands can be better depending on the actual tool you’re buying. They get into: Makita vs Milwaukee vs DeWalt Which power tool brands Billy rates and why The easiest and hardest tools to repair Common power tool failures Why some tools cost more to repair than replace Whether cheaper tool brands are actually worth buying Why every tradesperson should consider having backup tools Simple power tool maintenance that could extend their life Lithium battery safety Battery adapters and whether Billy recommends using them Hilti’s tool hire and fleet model Why so many tradespeople throw repairable tools away Tool theft, marking tools and buying second-hand equipment Pete also discovers that the Makita drill he recently threw away because of a broken chuck could potentially have been repaired for around £30–£40 - which leads into a bigger conversation about the amount of perfectly usable trade equipment being thrown away instead of repaired. With power tools becoming more expensive, is constantly replacing broken equipment really the best option? If you’re a plumber, electrician, carpenter, builder, gas engineer or anyone who relies on power tools for a living , this episode could make you think differently before you throw your next drill, impact driver or multi-tool in the skip. 👇 Let us know in the comments: Makita, Milwaukee or DeWalt - which are you choosing? 🎁 EXCLUSIVE PODCAST OFFER Get 30% OFF your Yearly Subscription to Gas Certificate App! Use code: POD30 at checkout 📲 Download the Gas Certificate App now https://onelink.to/hbv69u ⚠️ Warning: Contains adult humour and strong language. Tradesmen banter ahead. 🔗 Follow us on Socials 📱 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@offthejobpodcastuk 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/offthejobpodcastuk

September 17, 2026Episode 935 min

27 Years As A Plumber… Here’s What I Wish I Knew Sooner | Off The Job Podcast Overtime Episode 92

Send us Fan Mail After 27 years in plumbing, what would Pete actually do differently if he had to start all over again? Pete and Keiran are back for another Off The Job Overtime, getting into the reality of working in the trades, running your own business and whether the path most tradespeople are encouraged to follow is actually the right one. Pete looks back at his career in plumbing and heating and talks honestly about what he would change if he was starting again today, from getting qualified earlier and learning as much as possible, to keeping overheads down, choosing the right work and thinking more carefully about how he builds his business. That leads into a bigger conversation around whether staying a one-man band is underrated. Is growing a trade business, employing people and taking on more responsibility always the goal? Or can keeping things simple, reducing your outgoings and focusing on profitable work give you a better lifestyle? They also get into: * The real cost of being self-employed in the trades * Why retraining later in life can be so difficult * Rising fuel, food, tools and business overheads * Whether tradespeople feel pressured to grow their businesses * The types of trade work that can offer better margins and less stress * Why apprenticeships and getting proper experience are still so important There’s also a debate around a new government-backed home improvement scheme and why Pete and Keiran think the conversation around “trusted trades” also needs to include protecting tradespeople from customers who don’t pay. And, as always, Overtime goes off in a few other directions, from a customer asking whether £160 was Pete’s day rate, to the cost of everyday life, haircuts, supermarkets, possible career changes and whether Pete could eventually swap plumbing for training guide dogs. If you’re a plumber, gas engineer, electrician, heating engineer, sole trader or self-employed tradesperson, this episode gets into the questions most people only start asking after years on the tools. 👇 If you could start your trade career again, what would you do differently? 🎁 EXCLUSIVE PODCAST OFFER Get 30% OFF your Yearly Subscription to Gas Certificate App! Use code: POD30 at checkout 📲 Download the Gas Certificate App now https://onelink.to/hbv69u ⚠️ Warning: Contains adult humour and strong language. Tradesmen banter ahead. 🔗 Follow us on Socials 📱 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@offthejobpodcastuk 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/offthejobpodcastuk

September 14, 2026Episode 947 min

The Flooring Tool That Sold Out In 10 Minutes | Sam Prosser from MyScribe

Send us Fan Mail How does a simple flooring idea turn into 400 emails overnight, sell out in minutes and end up stocked by flooring suppliers around the world? Sam Prosser, the floor layer behind MyScribe , joins Pete and Keiran to talk about his journey through the flooring trade, building a following on social media and turning a simple idea he created on the tools into a real product business. Sam started in flooring young, following his dad and brother into the trade, but his route there was anything but straightforward. He talks openly about spending part of his childhood in the care system, leaving school without GCSEs and eventually building a career for himself through flooring. The conversation then gets into how MyScribe actually started. After one of Sam’s homemade herringbone flooring templates gained millions of views online, he realised there could be a better way of doing it. A 3D printer bought by his wife gave him the chance to turn the idea into a physical product — and the response was bigger than he expected. After putting a small batch up for sale, Sam received around 400 emails in one night . Later batches sold out within minutes, leading to outside investment, bigger production and MyScribe eventually being stocked by flooring suppliers and shipped internationally. They also get into: How Sam got started as a floor layer Growing a flooring business and working in commercial vs domestic jobs Creating MyScribe from a simple on-site idea Selling out stock and dealing with sudden demand Finding investors and scaling a trade product Protecting an idea with trademarks and design protection Building a brand rather than relying on one product How social media helped grow the business One YouTube video reaching around 17 million views Dealing with trolling and criticism online The pressure facing the flooring industry from DIY and other trades Sam’s long-term goal of eventually opening his own flooring shop It’s a great example of how an idea born from actually working on the tools can turn into something much bigger. If you’re a floor layer, carpet fitter, tradesperson, self-employed business owner or anyone with a product idea you’ve never acted on , this episode is packed with lessons around starting small, testing an idea, using social media and building something from your own experience. 👇 Let us know in the comments: Have you ever had an idea on the tools that you thought could become a real product? 🎁 EXCLUSIVE PODCAST OFFER Get 30% OFF your Yearly Subscription to Gas Certificate App! Use code: POD30 at checkout 📲 Download the Gas Certificate App now https://onelink.to/hbv69u ⚠️ Warning: Contains adult humour and strong language. Tradesmen banter ahead. 🔗 Follow us on Socials 📱 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@offthejobpodcastuk 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/offthejobpodcastuk