An 'Off the Tools' Podcast that brings a wide variety of discussions, debate and helpful advice for business and for life. I will bring my business and life experiences to every podcast I produce, some of which will be interviewing people that I feel can add value to YOU, the listener. If you wou…
In this powerful episode of the Off The Tools Podcast, Wayne Bettess and Andy Jones dive deep into one of the biggest things holding tradesmen back from building successful businesses…
Most trades businesses are losing jobs every single week…Not because they're bad at the work.Because their systems, follow-up, and customer communication are weak.In this episode of the Off The Tools Podcast, Wayne and Andy break down how modern trades businesses are using CRM systems, automations, AI, and customer journeys to close more work, improve customer experience, and massively increase revenue.This is a deep dive into Sales Lion, a powerful sales and automation platform built specifically around the needs of UK trades businesses.If you're a plumber, heating engineer, electrician, builder, or trades business owner looking to grow properly — this episode will open your eyes.Why most trades businesses lose leads without realising itHow automation helps close more boiler installs & service jobsBuilding customer journeys that increase conversions automaticallyHow review systems generate hundreds of 5-star reviewsUsing AI phone answering for out-of-hours enquiriesWhy follow-up systems are more important than ever in 2026The power of recurring revenue & automated service remindersHow to stop relying on memory, paper diaries, and chaosWhy tradesmen must start thinking like business ownersThe best trades businesses today are NOT winning because they're the best on the tools…They're winning because they have better systems, faster follow-up, stronger communication, and smarter automation.Plumbing business ownersHeating engineers & boiler companiesElectricians & service-based tradesTradesmen wanting more leads & better conversion ratesAnyone looking for business coaching for tradesmenTrades businesses wanting to scale without more stressCRM software for tradesmenAutomation systems for plumbing & heating companiesAI for trades businessesBoiler service reminder systemsLead follow-up automationCustomer review systemsTrades business coaching UKSales systems for trade businesses
If your phone's stopped ringing… this is the episode you need.In this no-nonsense episode of the Off The Tools Podcast, we break down exactly what tradesmen should be doing when business goes quiet — especially during the summer slowdown.Most trades business owners panic, sit back, or accept “it is what it is.”That mindset is exactly why they stay stuck.This episode flips that on its head.We cover real, practical business coaching for tradesmen, including:Why your trade business REALLY goes quiet (and it's not just the season)How to use slow periods to build a stronger, more profitable businessThe biggest mistakes tradesmen make when work drops offWhy the “old ways” of running a trades business no longer workHow to build systems, structure, and recurring revenue (like service plans)The importance of strategy, time management, and money controlWhy most tradesmen avoid risk — and how that's holding them backHow to create purpose in your business to avoid burnout and stagnationThis is real-world trades business coaching, based on what's actually working right now in UK trade businesses — not theory, not fluff.
In this episode of the Off The Tools Podcast, we dive deep into the reality of building and scaling a trades business — and why so many tradesmen hit a wall in business, mindset, and growth.This isn't theory. This is real-world business coaching for tradesmen, pulled straight from lived experience — from running heating companies to coaching hundreds of UK trades business owners.We break down:Why trades businesses get stuck despite being “busy”The truth about mindset in the trades industry (and why it holds most people back)How to build resilience, grit, and discipline as a business ownerThe importance of community and surrounding yourself with the right peopleLessons from extreme challenges (like running a marathon) and how they directly apply to business growthWhy most tradesmen stay in the 99%… and how to move into the top 1%Real insights from trades business coaching that actually works in the fieldIf you're a plumber, heating engineer, electrician, or trades business owner who wants more time, profit, and control, this episode will hit home.
You're grafting every day.Diary's full. Phone's ringing. Jobs stacked up…But when you check the bank account?
Everyone's shouting the same thing…
Most tradesmen don't fail because they're bad at the job…They fail because no one ever showed them how to run a business.This episode breaks down the brutal truth behind why so many lads stay stuck — busy every day, working hard, but still not making the money or progress they expected.We dive into:The reality of being an “accidental business owner”Why working harder is NOT the answer anymoreThe biggest mistakes that keep trades businesses stuck (pricing, saying yes to everything, no systems)How you can grind for years with no real growthThe hard lessons from losing businesses, burnout, and starting againAnd more importantly…
n this live webinar, Wayne and Andy break down exactly how ServiceMate can help trade businesses get more organised, look more professional, and save serious time.This wasn't just a software demo…It was a real look at how a proper job management system can change the way your business runs from start to finish.Wayne walked through the core of ServiceMate, including:
This one's different.No scripts.No structured lesson.Just real talk about where the trades industry is heading — and what it means for you.In this episode, Wayne and Andy break down the current state of the industry, from shrinking skill levels to the death of the old-school sole trader model We cover:
What actually happens inside Off The Tools Alliance?Not the surface-level stuff.Not the sales pitch.The real, behind-the-scenes breakdown.In this episode, Wayne and Andy give you an inside look at what's changing, what's growing, and what members are achieving this year inside the Alliance Over the last 18 months, things have levelled up.With Andy stepping in as lead coach, the dynamic has shifted:Two different angles.Two different styles.One shared mission — build proper businesses.We break down:
If you're still texting prices…Still driving around doing free site visits…Still sending scrappy email quotes at 10pm…You're making life harder than it needs to be.In this episode, Wayne and Andy break down the real reason most tradesmen waste time, lose jobs, and struggle to charge properly — and it all comes back to quoting. This isn't theory.This is a live session showing exactly how a professional quoting system:⚡ Saves hours every week
In this episode of the Off The Tools Podcast, we break down the books that genuinely shifted our thinking — not just business tactics, but mindset, resilience, money, and purpose.We're not here to throw a random Amazon list at you.These are the books that actually made a difference.From wealth philosophy to personal discipline… from pricing confidence to mental toughness… and even a few story-driven curveballs that hit harder than expected.We cover:
Most tradesmen don't fail because they're bad at the trade.They fail because they keep doing the same shit… and expecting different results.In this episode of the Off The Tools Podcast, Wayne Bettess and Andy Jones break down 9 practical, proven things that will radically improve both your business AND your life — but only if you actually take action.This isn't theory.Every single point has been tested, implemented, and lived by lads inside Off The Tools.
If you're working flat out, knackered every night, and still wondering where the money went…This episode will hit you like a brick.
Ever feel like school told you you'd never be anything… and you carried that into adult life?
This episode is a masterclass in what's possible when a tradesman stops playing small.
If you're serious about making more money, running a smoother business, and finally feeling in control — this episode is for you.
Want to scale your trade business… but keep telling yourself “I make more on my own”?This episode is going to blow that story to pieces.
In this episode, Wayne and Andy tackle a brutally honest topic most tradesmen don't want to hear:
If you're still saying “I've never advertised and I'm doing fine” — this episode is for you.
AI isn't coming.It's already here.And the trades who ignore it are going to get smoked by the ones who adopt it.In this episode, Wayne & Andy dive into the truth about AI in the plumbing, heating, and electrical world — stripping out the sci-fi nonsense and showing exactly how real tradesmen can use AI TODAY to save time, win more work, and look more professional than 90% of their competitors.Inside this unfiltered episode:
If systems are the engine of your business, automations are the turbocharger — and most tradesmen aren't using ANY of it.In this episode, Wayne & Andy tear into one of the biggest growth multipliers in the trade industry:Automations that run your business in the background while you crack on with the job.No robots. No sci-fi nonsense.Just smart, simple processes that save you hours, make you more professional, and massively boost your reviews, conversions, and customer satisfaction.Inside this episode we break down:
Most tradesmen are still running their business like it's 1998 — paper pads, handwritten diaries, random receipts stuffed in glove boxes, and customers slipping through the cracks.Meanwhile, the lads using proper systems are pulling ahead FAST… building better reputations, charging more, and scaling with half the stress.In this episode, Wayne & Andy rip into the truth:If you don't have solid systems, you don't have a business.You've just got a job… and a stressful one.This episode breaks down:
Stop dancing around it — most tradesmen are flat-out undercharging.And it's killing their profit, their time, their confidence, and their business.In this hard-hitting episode, Wayne and Andy tear into the REAL pricing problem in the UK trade industry — why it keeps happening, how it screws your income, and what you must do TODAY to fix it.This isn't theory.This isn't “charge what you're worth” fluff.This is the truth from two lads who have built, coached, systemised, and scaled real trade businesses.Inside this episode we cover:Why nearly every heating engineer, electrician, plumber & spark in the UK is too cheapThe mindset problem holding most tradesmen backWhy copying “going rates” is financial suicideHow to actually work out your real hourly rate (properly)Why profit, salary, and overheads MUST be calculated — not guessedHow inflation is silently robbing your business every single yearWhy being the most expensive in your area is not only possible… it's smartHow to raise prices without losing your best customersThe truth about “busy but broke” tradesmenWhy most self-employed lads earn LESS than they thinkThe simple 10-customer pricing challenge (do it and prove yourself wrong)PLUS — we break down:The free Pricing Calculator Wayne createdHow to start charging based on REAL numbersHow to start attracting customers who respect value, not bargain huntersIf you're sick of grafting hard and earning less than you deserve, this is the episode you've needed for years.No excuses.No guessing.Do the work.Raise your prices.Build a real business.
Most tradesmen say “yes” to every job… and then wonder why they're stressed, skint, overwhelmed, and never actually growing their business.In this episode, Wayne and Andy dive deep into the reality most lads ignore:Not all work is good work.And some jobs are killing your business without you realising.This episode is a straight-talking breakdown of how to choose the RIGHT work — the jobs that grow your business, increase lifetime value, build recurring revenue, and stop you being a busy fool.Inside this episode:
Off The Tools is officially back — and we're not messing about.After five years, hundreds of thousands of downloads, and coaching tradesmen all over the UK, it's time for a full relaunch. A bigger mission. A stronger team. And a hell of a lot more impact.In this episode, Wayne brings the listeners up to speed on the evolution of Off The Tools — and then drops the big news:Andrew Jones (TwinSun Heating) is now officially joining as Lead Coach and Co-Host.Andy went from zero customers to a systemised, outsourced heating business in under three years, and he's now bringing that same no-excuses, action-first mindset into Off The Tools.Inside this relaunch episode:Why Off The Tools has outgrown what it started asWhy trades businesses are falling behind — and how to fix itWhat Andy brings to the table (and why he doesn't take prisoners)The new coaching structure, new tiers, new retreats, and the invite-only elite mastermindWhat's coming up on the podcast: pricing, software, outsourcing, AI, systems, growth, and real unfiltered talkHow listeners can directly send questions for Wayne & Andy to answer on future episodesThis is the start of Season 2 — bigger, sharper, and built to help more tradesmen get off the tools and into the life they actually want.Got a question for the lads?
In this straight-talking follow-up episode of the Off The Tools Podcast, Wayne Bettess is joined once again by Andrew Jones — back in the hot seat after their first chat ran well over two hours. This time, it's not about what Andy's done, but what's changed inside him.They get brutally honest about personal development, pricing mindset, the trap of being "busy", and the real cost of surrounding yourself with the wrong people.From tackling limiting beliefs, changing the way you price jobs, understanding your true value, and building better habits, this episode is stacked with practical, no-bullshit insights you can actually use.If you're stuck chasing your tail, undervaluing yourself, or just need a kick up the arse to start taking ownership of your future — this is your wake-up call.
Welcome back to the Off the Tools Podcast – where real trades talk real business. In this episode, I'm joined by a man who's gone from burnout and 14-hour days to building a thriving, systemised heating business.Andy Jones, founder of Twin Sun Heating, finally joins me after two years of back and forth (life gets in the way, doesn't it?). We unpack his full journey – from flipping a coin to choose plumbing over electrics, to building a six-figure business driven by service plans, not just callouts.We talk about the awkward early days, pricing with purpose, limiting beliefs, systems, software, reviews, burnout, and building a business on purpose – not just creating yourself another hard job.If you're stuck in the weeds of the day-to-day, this episode will give you hope, clarity, and a few well-earned laughs.
2 Years ago i took over a company… i started to record short recordings to share the experience.
Just a little update on whats been going on in my businesses. #Offthetoolsalliance #offthetools #business #tradesmen #heatingengineer #businesscoach #mentor
David shared his journey from bankruptcy to building a successful business in the heating market, emphasizing the importance of self-education, resilience, and the right team. He discussed the challenges and strategies of growing his company, Energy Energy Grant Scotland, and transitioning to renewable energy, including the acquisition of a new building and the rebranding of his company. The team also explored the potential of establishing a site for their services, the shift towards renewable energy, and the challenges and requirements of their work.Check out EPig here - https://www.energypig.org/Check out Off The Tools Alliance here - https://offthetools.co.uk/off-the-tools-alliance/Check out Sales Lion Here - https://www.saleslion.co.uk/SummaryDavid's Journey to Business SuccessDavid shared his journey from losing his first business and becoming homeless to rebuilding his career in the heating market. He discussed how he grew his business from a small operation to a company with 74 staff and 41 vans, primarily through insulation and heating services. Wayne and Andy offered insights, suggesting that David's non-engineering background may have initially hindered his business acumen. Despite having no formal training or trade education, David emphasized the valuable lessons he learned from his failures, including better financial management and surrounding himself with the right team.Wayne Bettess , Trades Business coach, Business Coach for Tradesmen David's Journey to Success and ResilienceDavid shared his journey of becoming a successful businessman, emphasizing the importance of self-education and monitoring one's operations. He also discussed the challenges he faced when his business went bankrupt, including selling off personal assets to stay afloat. Wayne and the others listened intently, acknowledging the resilience and ingenuity it takes to overcome such difficulties. David's advice on using YouTube for learning and his preference for using other people's money to make money were also highlighted.Energy Energy Grant Scotland and Eco Free ExpansionDavid runs Energy Energy Grant Scotland, a company he established in 2017 to offer boiler finance and grants. He initially struggled with pricing and understanding financials but turned the business around through loans, hiring staff, and servicing boilers themselves. During Covid-19, he secured funding to expand into the Eco Free market, selling carbon credits. David takes a hands-on approach, building infrastructure like hiring managers for key roles. Wayne expressed interest in learning more about Eco Free.Company Growth, Challenges, and Renewable ProjectsDavid and Wayne discussed the company's growth over the past 18 months, which included the enrollment of 18 vans and a turnover of 900,000. David shared the challenges they faced during this period, such as the need to invest in new systems and processes to handle increased volumes. They also discussed the company's transition to a new scheme called Eco 4,
Send us a Text Message.Three super easy tips to get more work! direct plumbing supplies Support the Show.Join our Free Facebook group here - https://www.facebook.com/groups/offthetools/?ref=share_group_linkFind out more about Off The Tools Alliance here - https://offthetools.co.uk/off-the-tools-alliance/
Send us a Text Message.Here Paul McGregor detail the option us self employer and small business owners havesLearn more about what Paul offer here http://www.pursuitfp.co.uk/direct plumbing supplies Support the Show.Join our Free Facebook group here - https://www.facebook.com/groups/offthetools/?ref=share_group_linkFind out more about Off The Tools Alliance here - https://offthetools.co.uk/off-the-tools-alliance/
Send us a Text Message.Wayne Bettess, CEO of YourNewBoiler.com, WarmaHome.com and founder of Off The Tools details the Business Foundations… the 3 key stages to focus on first Join our Free Facebook group here - https://www.facebook.com/groups/offthetools/?ref=share_group_linkFind out more about Off The Tools Alliance here - https://offthetools.co.uk/off-the-tools-alliance/direct plumbing supplies Support the Show.Join our Free Facebook group here - https://www.facebook.com/groups/offthetools/?ref=share_group_linkFind out more about Off The Tools Alliance here - https://offthetools.co.uk/off-the-tools-alliance/
In this episode Wayne Bettess, Founder of Off The Tools does a real life case study on MyBuilder. To see the full Video click here - direct plumbing supplies Support the show
Buy the full training here - https://offthetools.co.uk/serviceplandirect plumbing supplies Support the show
Wayne Bettess breaks down VAT for TradesmenSee the full video here - https://youtu.be/NlF5p0qUZFodirect plumbing supplies Support the show
In this episode, Wayne and Jono delve into the intricate world of business finance, shedding light on the popularity of one-year interest-free finance options that transition into three-year interest-bearing options. They emphasize the importance of seeking professional advice when making financial decisions and discuss the process of offering finance options to customers. They also touch upon the challenges faced by smaller companies in the market and how they can offer financing options to their customers.The conversation then shifts to customer data privacy and financial strategies, with Jono reassuring the team that they do not sell customer data and only market their own products. They discuss the financial aspects of a bathroom renovation project, proposing a payment plan and a maximum deposit of 25%. The team also explores the potential implementation of a stage payment system for loans, with concerns raised about fees and rule-breaking, emphasizing the need for improved systems and possible rule adjustments.Next, Wayne and Jono discuss the benefits and potential risks of offering financing options to customers, emphasizing the importance of charging the right amount and monitoring cash flow. They stress the need to adjust prices and workflows in response to changes in costs or demand.The episode concludes with Wayne expressing optimism about the economy improving by March or April, but voicing concerns about the potential impact of the General election.Contact Jono - 07496776457jono@phoenix-fc.co.ukdirect plumbing supplies Support the show
Part 1 of my journey to the London Marathon direct plumbing supplies Service Plan Success Start generating monthly income from your business right now!Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the show
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