Clive Holland on Fix Radio Podcast

In construction the biggest unknown on any job is often the client! And when they don't hold up their end of the bargain it can be infuriating! And with 81% of trades people being reported to be chasing onaverage £6000 in late payment or no payment today I wanted to know how you would deal with a client who refuses to pay?We were joined by friends of the show Reece Stewart and James Reeve to hear about the experiences they've had with late payers and how they've dealt with that.Plus there's also the pub lunch quiz and you'll hear the very best messages we received - Enjoy.

Fake Reviews are a plague in our industry - They can make a cowboy look just as good as you to acustomer or damage the reputation you've worked so hard for. However with new legislation coming into effect to fight these reviews they could soon be a thing of the past.Today we were joined by Damien Walters, the Founder and CEO of the The British Institute of Kitchen, Bedroom & Bathroom Installation, and Steve Gray to learn more about the new legislation and discuss whether it will actually help.Plus here's also the pub lunch quiz and you'll hear the very best messages we received - Enjoy.

Today was Lighthearted Thursday and as it's turning out to be a great year for construction, Clive wanted to know the best thing to happen to you or your business this year? We received some great messages on the topic which you will hear. Plus there is also the pub lunch quiz - Enjoy.

Whether it's helping out a neighbour, taking on a project for a good cause, or lending your skills to someone in need - most tradespeople have done a bit of free work or charity work at some point. It might not pay the bills, but it can make a big difference. So today, we're shining a light on the generosity in the trade-have you ever given your time or skills for free? What inspired you to do it, and what did you take away from the experience? And in an industry where time is money, how do you make space to give back? Plumber Lee Ellerker and joiner Ben Brindley joined us to tell us about the amazing jobs they do. Plus there's also the pub lunch quiz for your chance to grab yourself 6 points as well as the very best messages that we received.

Profit margins - they're the bit that keeps the business ticking over after the dust has settled and the job's done. But how much are trades actually making? Is it 10%, 20%, 30%… or are rising costs and tight budgets squeezing it even lower? Today, we talked money - specifically, what profit margin do you aim for on each job, and is it realistic in the current climate? From pricing up to getting paid, we want to know how you keep things profitable without pricing yourself out of the market. Danny Madden and Steph Leese - the Pink Plasterer - joined us to tell us what sort of margin they make. Plus there's also the pub lunch quiz for your chance to grab yourself 6 points as well as the very best messages that we received!

Today was Lighthearted Thursday and we were talking about all the bills and subscriptions you hate to pay. I wanted to know the bill you hate paying the most? With research suggesting it's the TV licence i wanted to know if thats true or if instead its something like ULEZ? We received some great messages on the topic which you will hear. Plus there is also the pub lunch quiz - Enjoy.

For most people in the trades their van is the most important tool! Recent changes to the Zero Emission Mandate will allow new diesel vans to stay on sale until 2035, which could be good news for tradies but could also have a major environmental impact. With major government provided benefits for going electric but a low take up due to concerns such as range, payload and downtime, Is this good or bad news for the  trade? And what else can the government do to promote the move to electric?! We were joined by David Byrne and Mandy Dean - Commercial Vehicle Director for Ford to hear their views. Plus there's also the pub lunch quiz and you'll hear the very best messages we received

When you're running your own business in the trades you don't get certain benefits that are considered normal to everyone else. One of those being paid bank holidays! So today with the bank holiday weekend approaching I wanted to know who would be taking it off and if so what their plans are? We were joined by friends of the show Kevin and Freya to hear about their bank holiday plans, whether they ever fully switch off and how their clients react to them taking off the holidays. Plus there's also the pub lunch quiz and you'll hear the very best messages we received.

Tool theft continues to plague tradespeople across the UK, causing significant financial and emotional distress. On April 25th, the Theft of Tools of Trade (Sentencing) Bill is scheduled for its second reading in Parliament. This bill, introduced by Amanda Martin, Labour MP for Portsmouth North, aims to impose tougher penalties on those convicted of stealing trade tools. So today we spoke with Amanda to discuss how we can support the bill. And heard from Steve about how it affects every aspect of a tradesperson's life.  Additionally, we want to hear from you if you've been victims of tool theft, as we highlight the urgent need for stricter measures to combat these scumbags! Plus there's also the pub lunch quiz and you'll hear the very best messages we received.

Today it was  lighthearted Thursday and we think anyone who works in the trade providing quality work and saving their clients from cowboys are superheroes. So today we wanted your ideas for Trade Super Heroes. Clive wanted to know what they would be called? And more importantly what powers they would have?  We got some great suggestions which you will hear plus there's also the pub lunch quiz for your chance to grab yourself 6 points. - Enjoy

In the trade how you communicate with a client is very important, However how a client communicates with you is often overlooked! Clive believe that sometimes you can tell if someone is going to be a bad client from before you've even started the job. So today Clive wanted to know what you would do if a client sent you a message at midnight? Would you reply and think nothing of it, or see it as a massive red flag? He was joined by Kimmy The Sparks and plumber Pete Withers to hear what experiences they've had communicating with a client and what they would do in this situation - Plus there's also the pub lunch quiz and you'll hear the very best messages we received - Enjoy.

The importance of apprenticeships when getting people into construction can not be understated and for many an apprenticeship is the first step into the industry. But recently the government shortened the minimum length of apprenticeships to just 8 months meaning that an additional 10,000 apprentices could qualify each year! So today I asked are short apprenticeships necessary to fight the shortage of tradespeople OR could they cause a major problem?! I was joined by the Government's Skill Minister RT Hon Baroness Jacqui Smith and DIY SOS' Chris Frediani to hear their views - Plus there's also the pub lunch quiz and you'll hear the very best messages we received - Enjoy.

Today it was lighthearted Thursday and in the spirit of our very own Fix Radio approved pubs that bring you the pub lunch quiz, we wanted to hear you some of your ideas for trade related pub names. We had a great time reading all the messages with your ideas and as always there's also the pub lunch quiz for your chance to grab yourself 6 points. - Enjoy

April is Stress Awareness Month, and in the construction industry, mental health is a conversation many still struggle to have. In fact, 70% of builders say they've suspected a colleague was seriously depressed but found it too difficult to talk about. The stigma runs so deep that 71% admit to giving their employer a different reason—like a physical illness—when taking time off for mental health. Even more concerning, 4 in 10 builders say they'd rather quit their job than speak up. We were joined by Ross Comer from St Johns ambulance and Band of Builders CEO Gavin Crane to hear the best ways to look after yourself and where you can get help should you need it. Plus theres also the Pub Lunch Quiz for your chance to grab your very own 6 points and you'll hear the very best messages that we received - Enjoy.

Customer service is so important in our industry to keep the customer happy and to build a well respected brand. However with 61% of Gen Z homeowners and 41% of over 60's saying that their work was just not up to standard today I wanted to know how you can ensure top teir customer service and work. We we're joined by good freinds of the show Robin and Ryan to talk about how they keep their clients happy throughout the whole process. And you'll also here all the messages and tips we recived. Plus theres also the pub lunch quiz to have a go at if you missed it.

It not uncommon for someone to be late to site and there's generally a good reason but sometimes there's not. So today I wanted to hear some of your own late excuses or the ones you've heard which are quite simply ridiculous! We were joined by friends of the show Gavin and Deano to hear some of the best excuses they've heard. There's also the pub lunch quiz for your chance to grab yourself 6 plus you'll hear the very best messages which we received.

Today was lighthearted Thursday and we were getting in the mothers day spirit. I asked you all to send in shout outs for mum and also reminded you to sort your mothers day plans out - if you haven't already!We surprised retired handyman Mick with our good mates at Wickes! Plus we also had the pub lunch quiz for your chance to grab yourself 6 points - enjoy!

Chance sat in for the big man today and he was asking what's the best thing about your week. Is it your weekly visit to Wickes? That food truck you didn't expect to be next to the site or just a really unique job? Well we were joined by George McKenchie and Reece Stewart to find out what's making their week plus you'll also hear all the best messages we received and you can also play the pub lunch quiz for your chance to grab yourself 6 points - enjoy!

When running your own business in the trades, how well you're going to do each year is always uncertain.So today, with the first quarter of the year almost up, I wanted to know how your business is doing. Are you up or down on quarter 1 last year? And did you try any strategies to try and improve you're business? We talked to good friends of the show Mark and Steve to find out what they are doing to keep beating their records year on year - Plus you can also play the pub lunch quiz for your chance to grab yourself 6 points and you'll hear the very best messages that we received!

Having the right skill set is very important for success within the trades. But with the average clientwanting more and more I believe that being multi skilled can be a huge advantage.So today, we asked, What skills do you wish you had alongside your core trade skills? Would you like the skills of another trade? Or Do you wish you were a little bit better at the admin? We talked to good friends of the show Alex Burman and Wobbly Bob to find out what other skills they wished they had - plus you can also play the pub lunch quiz for your chance to grab yourself 6 points and you'll hear the very best messages that we received - enjoy!

Today was Lighthearted Thursday and we were talking about all things Fix Fest,in particular we wanted to know your ideas for trade-inspired band names such as this one… Ziggy Sawdust! Plus we also had the pub lunch quiz for your chance to grab yourself 6 points - enjoy!

The Federation of Master Builders is calling for licensing to be introduced for tradespeople, aiming to raise standards and protect both customers and skilled workers. But is this a much-needed step to weed out rogue traders, or just another layer of red tape for businesses already under pressure? Today, we're asking—would a licensing system improve the industry, or would it make life harder for legitimate tradespeople? And if regulation is the answer, what's the best way to implement it without creating unnecessary barriers?Clive asked for your views on licensing builders and talked to the FMB's CEO, Brian Berry and builder Jack Auletta about how they think licensing would go. Plus there's also the Pub Lunch Quiz for your chance to grab yourself 6 points, and you'll hear all the best messages that we received, Enjoy.

Construction has come a long way over the centuries and it's always progressing! So today we talked about morden building methods and in particular modular builds. Are they the same standard or just a lazy and cheap way to rush a build? And can they help us hit housing targets or be more sustainable when building?  Today we spoke to Martin Halim from Trident Modular Housing and Lucy Yendell from Dan-wood to find out their views. Plus theres also the Pub Lunch Quiz for your chance to grab yourself 6 points and you'll hear the best messages we received - Enjoy!

Health and safety is very prominent in the trade but even with all the safety measures accidents do happen and apparently 95% of tradespeople will get injured during their career but only 40% have injury insurance and even less have health insurance. So today, we talked about Insurance. We asked if you have invested in injury insurance or health insurance? And If not, why not? We were joined by Jonny McHugh from Direct Line as well as Robin Lush To get their opinions and stories! Plus you can also play the pub lunch quiz for your chance to grab yourself 6 points and as always theres the very best messages that we received .

Today was Lighthearted Thursday and I wanted to know if it's time to start wearing shorts on site? Is it warm enough to swap a beanie hat for a knee cap? Or do the cold mornings still make you think it's lunacy?  We had a great time reading out all the best texts from you and our good friend Glenn from Play To Measure joined us to tell us when he gets his shorts out. Plus we also had the pub lunch quiz for your chance to grab yourself 6 points - enjoy!

A van is arguably the most important tool for every trade - Most tradies would say that when their vans are off the road they are off the job. But how much are you spending to keep your van on the road? Has it gone up? What's costing you more is it Petrol, Insurance or just general maintenance?  And are there any ways you can cut costs but keep working? We were joined by Sean Matthews and David Graham from Hendy Group to discuss this. Plus you can also play the pub lunch quiz for your chance to grab yourself 6 points and you'll hear the very best messages that we received - Enjoy!

With the cost of materials high, running a business in construction might feel a lot harder than it ever did before. And with construction topping the business insolvency table in 2024 it's clear how hard it is to keep your business afloat. So today we talked about insolvency and more importantly how to prevent it!!!I was asking what you've done to protect your business. We were joined by Joel Cooke from Rendervate and Rick Smith, founder and MD of Forbes Burton who gave some great ideas to keep your business from going under! Plus theres also pub lunch quiz for your chance to grab yourself 6 points and you'll hear the very best messages that we received.

In the trade your reputation is everything both with customers and with your fellow trades people. But would you risk your reputation amongst the industry if you see work that's just not up to standard either after its been done or while its still being completed. Would you confront a cowboy, inform a unsupecting customer or report them to a trade board. So today, we're talking about reporting work both on site and in a domestic house and asking: Would you report rubbish work if you see it or would you just ignore it? We were joined by good freinds of the show John and Nick to get their opinions and find out how they would respond to seeing rubbish work. Plus you can also play the pub lunch quiz for your chance to grab yourself 6 points and you'll hear my thoughs and the very best messages that we received.

Today it's Lighthearted Thursday, and today Clive was asking what's the most ridiculous thing you've heard on site? Was it something you said? Something a work mate said? Or even something one of your client has said to you? Did you spend the week as the laughing stock on site or do your mates always put their foot in their mouths?!We had a right laugh reading out all the best texts from you. Plus we also had the pub lunch quiz for your chance to grab yourself 6 points - enjoy!

It's International Women's day on Saturday - and before you ask, 19th November is International Men's Day - it's also Women in Construction Week this week. Tradeswomen play a vital role in making the trade what they are so today we are celebrating everything they do. We're asking if there are enough women within the trade? We want to know what we can do to encourage more women onto site? And we're asking you if there are any misconceptions around women in the trade or even the trade itself that might be hampering more women getting involved! We were joined by some fantastic women in the industry Emily, Deb and Freya to hear why they love the trade- plus you can also play the pub lunch quiz for your chance to grab yourself 6 points and you'll hear the very best messages that we received - enjoy!

Today was Lighthearted Thursday and I wanted to know, if you only had to work 4 days a week what would you do with the extra day - would you start a new hobby, start a passion project or something else? Went through loads of messages from all of you with your own Ideas. Plus we also surprised  Benny with the Wickes effect and of course there's also the pub lunch quiz for your chance to grab yourself 6 points - enjoy!

Today we were discussing how you can boost you're productivity. Boosting productivity isn't just about working harder. It's about working smarter!The right systems can transform the way we work, from better time management to streamlining tasks with technology. So today, we're asking what changes have you made in the last six months to improve your efficiency?Have you introduced new processes, adopted AI tools, or found smarter ways to manage your workload?And with technology evolving rapidly, how can trades and businesses make the most of automation and AI to stay ahead without losing the human touch?We were joining by the Pointy Plumber and AI Expert Jonathan Clarke to discuss this.Plus as alwasy you can also play the pub lunch quiz for your chance to grab yourself 6 points and you'll hear the very best messages that we received. 

Today I talked about this month marking 5 years since the world shutdown for Covid, But the trades kept going! I asked what you're experience was during lockdown, Were you completly booked up? Were you struggling to get work? How did you find the extra processes? And have they affected the way you work today?I was joined by freinds of the show Dan and Dan to talk about their experiences and takeaways. Aswell as sharing the best messages from all of you. Plus theres also the pub lunch quiz for your chance to bag yourself 6 points.

Now it's inevitable that sometimes you'll have to hire another tradesperson and Clive believes finding the right person for the job can make all the difference. So today, we were asking what do you look for when bringing someone new on board?  What really sets a great tradesperson apart? We were joined by Scott Mullins - CEO of WeFix and Dave Finegan from Elwood Enterprises to discuss how they decide who to bring on jobs - plus you can also play the pub lunch quiz for your chance to grab yourself 6 points and you'll hear the very best messages that we received - enjoy!

The Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) plays a vital role in shaping the future of the UK's construction workforce. But with ongoing skills shortages and shifting demands, is the CITB doing enough to meet the sector's needs?On todays show I talked to Mark Farmer the author of the CITB Review about how he thinks it can be improved and we explored the future of the CITB with CEO Tim Balcon. Aswell as hearing what you think.Plus as always there the Pub lunch Quiz!

Setting clear goals each week can make all the difference in staying focused and productive at work. I believe that having a plan, no matter how big or small, helps turn good intentions into real progress. So today, we were asking about your goals for the week. We recived loads of messages about how you lot are meeting deadlines, developing new skills, and maintaining that all important work life balance. We were joined by friends of the show George McKenchie and Reece Stewart to discuss what their goals for the week are - plus you can also play the pub lunch quiz for your chance to grab yourself 6 points.

Today was Lighthearted Thursday and Clive wanted to know, if you could go back 10 years - what advice would you give your younger self? We've got loads of messages from all of you with your own stories. There's also the pub lunch quiz for your chance to grab yourself 6 points - enjoy! 

According to the latest statistics from the Health and Safety Executive, 1.7 million workers in Great Britain suffered from work-related ill health. While specific statistics for tradespeople were not detailed, we know our industry has higher rates of work-related ill health and injury compared to other sectors! So today we talked about all things Health and Safety - do you take it seriously? Do your employers? And what can we do to ensure we reduce injuries and illness on site? To discuss this issue we had Roy Wilders, Manager of the Registered Safety Supplier Scheme at the British Safety Industry Federation, join us - you can check out the good work they do here: www.bsif.co.uk Plus friend of the show Chris Frediani popped by for a chat too! There's also the pub lunch quiz for your chance to grab yourself 6 points as well as the very best messages that we received - enjoy!

According to the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB), over 250,000 additional construction workers will be needed by 2028 to meet the industry's needs. Clive believes that one way we can plug that gap is through career switching… So on today's show we explored what it takes to leave one career behind and step onto site. From retraining options to the skills most in demand, we're asking—what does it really take to start fresh in the trade? And with the industry crying out for new talent, how can career switchers help shape its future? We were joined by Anglea Forbes MBE from Buildforce - a not for profit which helps ex-military personnel transition into construction careers nationwide - as well as Billy Boardman who left the forces to become a plumber. There's also the pub lunch quiz for your chance to grab yourself 6 points as well as the very best messages that we received - enjoy!

On today's show we talked about the more ‘unusual' trades within our industry today. With less than 100 people a year learning skills such as Stone Dressing, we asked what can we do to ensure these trades don't die out - and just what do they add to our industry and community!We were joined by James The Yorkshire Stone Dresser as well as Thatcher Paul Shelley.There's also the pub lunch quiz for your chance to grab yourself 6 points as well as the very best messages that we received - enjoy!

Today was Lighthearted Thursday and the day before Valentines Day , so Clive asked - when did you get Valentines Day wrong?! What happened? Were you able to rescue the situation? We also wanted to share the love, by reading out any love filled messaged! There's also the pub lunch quiz for your chance to grab yourself 6 points as well as the very best messages that we received - enjoy! 

On today's show Clive talked about the hardest parts of our jobs on site! To discuss the challenges they face, we were joined by Lawrence Robinson from Robinson Roofers and Harrison Elliot - AKA The Benchin' Bricky! There's also the pub lunch quiz for your chance to grab yourself 6 points as well as the very best messages that we received - enjoy!

On today's show we talked about retirement plans and chatting about the fact that one in seven small business owners reckon they'll need to carry on running their business as a side hustle when they begin to draw their pensions. To discuss this issue we had the Chief Business Officer at Pension Bee, Lisa Picardo join us, as well as a friend of Fix Radio - Andy Madden! There's also the pub lunch quiz for your chance to grab yourself 6 points as well as the very best messages that we received - enjoy!

It's National Apprenticeship Week, so today Clive wanted you to spotlight your superstar trade apprentices! He was joined by Harrison Mapley who was celebrated as the Construction and Property Apprentice of the Year, plus Newton Robinson who in December 2023 won the Plastering and Finishing category at SkillBuild. There's also the pub lunch quiz for your chance to grab yourself 6 points as well as the very best messages that we received - enjoy! 

Today was Lighthearted Thursday, so Clive asked - if you won BIG - how would you spend the money? Would you be impulsive and splash the cash or think ahead and invest? He wasjoined by friends of the show who shared their responses, plus loads of messages from all of you with your own stories.There's also the pub lunch quiz for your chance to grab yourself 6 points as well as the very best messages that wereceived - enjoy!

Today Clive wanted to know if you've got any exciting holidays lined up that are keeping you going, or if you've been too busy to even think about going away!He was joined by friends of the show, Dean Saxton and Sam Blakeney!There's also the pub lunch quiz for your chance to grab yourself 6 points as well as the very best messages that we received - enjoy!

Today Clive wanted to know if you're yet to experience winter burnout this year, or if you have, how you're dealing with it? He was joined by friends of the show such as Sparky Milan AKA Danny Webb, and thePointy Plumber!There's also the pub lunch quiz for your chance to grab yourself 6 points as  well as thevery best messages that we received - enjoy!

Today you joined Chance, with Clive out on the streets of London at the Tool Theft Rally , as we try to put an end to our industry's biggest issue - tool and van theft - once and for all!On the Streets, Clive was joined by Amanda Martin MP - the Member of Parliament who is introducing the Theft of Tools of Trade (Sentencing) Bill - and Matt Vickers MP - the Shadow Minister for Crime, Policing and Fire - plus many friends in the industry. We spoke to them about their experiences, and what they think needs to change! There's also the pub lunch quiz for your chance to grab yourself 6 points as well as the very best messages that we received - enjoy!Just if you make a fresh pod!

Today was Lighthearted Thursday, and Clive wanted to hear all about your side hustles that you've got going on when you aren't on the tools! Clive was joined by friends of the show who shared their responses, plus loads of messages from all of you with your own stories. There's also the pub lunch quiz for your chance to grab yourself 6 points as well as the very best messages that we received - enjoy!

It's easy to get injured on the job, but tough to deal with the financial consequences of doing so. Sotoday Clive wanted to know if you've got insurance cover for long term injury's, or if you'd consider getting it, to protect yourself if you do get hurt and have to take a break from working!He was joined by painterRobin Lush, Kimmy the Spark and Steve from Steve and Alex Bricklaying, who told us about their experiences!There's also the pub lunch quiz for your chance to grab yourself 6 points as well as the very best messages that we received - enjoy!

It's important to make customers happy when it comes to making and keeping clients, which can be hard when you're being asked to do things in a specific time frame, or at a certain price, that just don't work. Today Clive wanted to know - how do you manage your clients expectations, and make sure you're all kept satisfied?He was joined by friends of the show, John Argyle and Enda Murphy, who gave us their top tips!There's also the pub lunch quiz for your chance to grab yourself 6 points as well as the very best messages that we received - enjoy!