Are EV chargers, solar PV, batteries and smart home gear actually good business for small electrical firms—or just headaches? In this chat with James, we cover the real-world pros and cons, training, pricing pressure, and where the trade is headed (smart controls, 3-phase to homes, AI, and more).What we cover:EV charger installs: routing, setup apps, support issues, car-dealer installs, grantsSolar PV & batteries: training, partners, ROI, warranties, call-backs, storage locationsNiche vs “do it all”: when to partner vs upskill, limited company risk, liabilityDomestic 3-phase: safety risks (cross-phasing), competence, when it makes senseSmart controls: kinetic/wireless switches, receivers, IP ratings, router quirks (2.4 vs 5 GHz)Reliability: where smart gear shines—and where it creates call-backsAccessibility & security: lighting for elderly users, smart locks pitfallsBusiness ops & AI: admin automation, bots for WhatsApp/website, what AI can’t replaceOld vs new homes: insulation, storage, media walls, real-world install tips

Running a profitable electrical business isn’t luck — it’s systems. In this episode, Ben and James break down exactly how we win work, keep customers coming back, price jobs without apologising, and present like pros on every visit.You’ll learn:Simple ways to turn one job into three (repeat work & referrals)What to say when a customer says “that’s expensive”Pricing logic vs. “day rate thinking”Presentation that sells: uniforms, shoe covers, mats, tidy workspaceCommunication that builds trust (ETAs, tracking, updates)Why punctuality + cleanup = instant 5-star reviewsDealing with “the last guy messed it up” jobsTools and workflows that save time (job management apps, end-of-job walk-throughs)Training apprentices the right wayWhen to say no, and how to protect your marginsIf you’re a UK electrician (domestic, commercial, AV/media walls), this chat is for you. Steal the scripts, the systems, and the small touches that make customers rave about you.

Are UK electrical governing bodies (NAPIT, NICEIC) actually worth it for working sparks? We dig into Part P, assessments, costs, contract requirements, building-control loopholes (EICR instead of notification), manufacturer influence on regs, data use/marketing, and why enforcement (vs Gas Safe) is so weak.

We also share when registration is useful, alternatives for newbies, and what reforms would genuinely help electricians.Jump in the comments: Are you registered? Will you renew? What should change?

Spend a full “day in the life” with two UK electricians as we talk business, tools, pricing, qualifications, and how to actually get work in 2025.

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Ben chats with Chris from TFS Electrical about going from apprentice to self-employed, the reality of running an electrical business, and why Google Business Profile Google Maps Map Pack now beats SEO, Checkatrade, and MyBuilder for service trades.We cover how to price jobs day rates vs fixed price, winning local work with reviews and keywords, avoiding race-to-the-bottom leads, and building a pipeline without spam. We also dive into qualifications City & Guilds L2 L3, NVQ, AM2, 18th Edition BS 7671, scheme membership NAPIT NICEIC Part P, subcontracting, QS sign-off, and the pros and cons of being Ltd vs sole trader liability, tax, directors’ guarantees.On the tools side AFDDs RCBOs, surge protection, consumer units, why Wago changed the game, inspection cams we regret buying, and which kit actually saves time. You’ll hear real job stories social housing, commercial fit-outs, casinos, bungalows, how to handle awkward callouts, and what’s next for UK electrics low-voltage lighting, smart controls, EV, solar, and more.What you’ll learn:How to get electrician jobs with Google Maps GBP reviews, service areas, photos, categories, keywords in customer reviewsWhy traditional SEO is weak for local trades vs the Map PackCheckatrade and MyBuilder pitfalls, lead costs and auto-renew trapsPricing strategy day rate targets, overheads, profit, admin timeLimited company vs sole trader for sparks risk and responsibilityScheme membership NAPIT NICEIC Part P when it helps and when it doesn’tTraining routes NVQ AM2 18th Edition, fast-track myths, QS optionsTools and materials we rate Wago, chasers and ones we don’tSocial housing realities, safety, and customer communication

Curious how I actually became an electrician—and why I started Toolbox Talks? In this chat on Beyond the Toolbox I spill everything: DC power days and global travel, the company collapse, apprenticeship lessons, burning out, coming back, starting my own business, and why I now make content to help tradies win.You’ll learn:• DC vs AC in the wild and how niche work shaped me• Apprenticeship tips for 16 and for 40• Keeping customers and simple Email Nails• Mental health on site: banter vs bullying• Smart tech, EVs, and the next 5–10 years• Why social media is your living CVIf this helped, drop a comment with your story, like and subscribe.Work with me / downloads / socials: LinktreeSubscribe to https://www.youtube.com/@wd40uk

Does posting on social actually bring you work—or just grief? In this Toolbox Talk I break down exactly how sparks, plumbers, builders (any local trade) can use TikTok, Instagram, Facebook and Google to win real customers—without dancing or spending all day editing.

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What you’ll learn:

• Lead-gen vs. “free tools” (personal brand) — pick your goal first

• Bio optimisation (Linktree, contact options, service area)

• How to geo-target locally (location tags, keywords, groups)

• Hooks & CTAs that get enquiries (and what to show customers)

• Hashtags that matter (and where they don’t)

• Handling haters & bad reviews like a pro

• Building an email list (easy newsletter ideas that convert)

• Repurposing one post across TikTok/IG/Facebook/Google

• When YouTube long-form makes sense for high-value jobs

Quick wins:

• Show outcomes (before/after sockets, boards, lights), not just tidy cable clips

• Add your town + “electrician” in profiles and captions for local SEO

• Ask for a Facebook/Google review on the day (include town name)

• Post little and often (even 1 short per week beats silence)

If you want more templates/copy ideas, check the links in the description and steal my prompts. 👍

How do you build a profitable niche inside the electrical trade? In this Toolbox Talk, James shares his route from NTL/Sky installs to running a TV/AV-first business—mounting TVs, multiroom audio, IRS/MDU systems and data—plus the real talk: dyslexia, 21 jobs by 21, going self-employed, crash-course qualifications (City & Guilds/NVQ), customer experience, subcontracting, pricing, getting stung, VAT/accountants, the pandemic hit, hospital with COVID, burnout, and the comeback—systems, friends, and saying “no” to bad jobs. If you’re an electrician or trainee wondering whether to niche down (AV, data, audio, satellite, TV mounting), this chat is your roadmap—mindset, mistakes, and the wins.Like/subscribe for more Toolbox Talks and tag a spark who needs this.
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Today we flip the script and talk to Drew (ERG Builders) — a builder who went from being kicked out of school to running a 15-person crew. No fluff, just site truth: pricing, clients, back-office pain, hiring, mental health, and the eternal builders vs sparks banter.You can find @ergonsite here - https://www.youtube.com/@ergonsite/videosThank you to @ThePodCollective for the amazing Studio and equipment What’s insideApprenticeship → first company by 20Price work, sites, and why he went soloWord of mouth vs paid directories (and why he binned them)Quote strategy (never cheapest, never dearest—bang in the middle)Back-office reality: paperwork, cash flow, VAT, CISNightmare client stories (scope creep, late payers, material “mystery”) + fixesKeeping a team happy and paid; growing without losing standardsHonest chat on trades mental health & boundariesIf you’re a spark, builder, or any trade running jobs, this will hit home.Like the chat? Subscribe for more real-world trade talks.