Ed and Luke from Professional Builder discuss the pros and cons of EV vehicles and Luke chats to Chris from Bosch about their new range of accessories.

This episode is sponsored by Bosch Professional Accessories | Bosch Professional

Licence to Build | FMB, Federation of Master Builders

In our sponsored content we explore the Bosch range of VDE hand tools and its electrical testers. 

VDE hand tools: Insulated hand tools Hand tools

Electrical Testers: Electrical testers Measuring technology

For the latest episode of the Professional Builder Podcast, we sat down with Chris Middleton, General Manager of the CFA, who has over 30 years of experience running fixings and fastening companies, to find out why best practice is important and common mistakes for tradespeople to avoid. 

This month’s Professional Builder podcast is from the Southern Regional where we speak to Super Trowel founder, Ashley Francis and his fellow directors, Jack Dawson, and Joe Short, along with competitors on the day and judges.

In our sponsored content, we talk to Chris Murray, Bosch UK Power Tools Trainer about the health and safety advances in the manufacturer’s accessories range. Bosch has committed to designing a whole range of solutions and the full attention of its research and development department has been brought to bear on its sanding, SDS drilling and angle grinder products.

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Follow Trades United on instagram - instagram.com/tradesunited

Visit the Bosch Professional website - bosch-professional.com/gb/en

Now in its second year, the competition and exhibition, that looks to find the country’s best bricklayer, is back and bigger than before with the final taking place on August 8th in the Marshall Arena in Milton Keynes. Contestants will be judged on speed and precision as they tackle a 9-metre-long wall. There’s an eye watering first place prize totalling over £15,000 up for grabs. Take a listen as we chat to Ash, Joe and Jack about Super Trowel and all things bricklaying. Make sure you grab your tickets while you still can and may the best bricklayer win!

Band of Builders | National Charity for Tradespeople – Band of Builders Ltd

In our sponsored content, Sian Holland, Key Account Manager at Bosch Professional Accessories provides some insight into the many features and benefits of the carbide technology in the manufacturer’s drill bits and blades.

Bosch power tools | Bosch Professional (bosch-professional.com)

With tool theft reaching what has been described as epidemic proportions, a group of tradespeople recently decided to take a stand. The van rally saw builders, plumbers and electricians from across the country come together to throw a spotlight on the issue and urge the government to do more.

For more information visit ‘STOP TOOL THEFT’ Westminster Rally - Professional Builder (probuildermag.co.uk)

Falls from height remains the biggest cause of fatalities in construction. The Ladder Association’s avowed ambition is for everyone who climbs a ladder to come back down safely and represents an invaluable source of training, information and guidance on the issue. We talk to Executive Director, Peter Bennett, OBE, about what the not-for-profit industry body is doing to promote the safe use of portable ladders.  

To view some of the resources the Ladder Association makes available visit Home - The Ladder Association

The Lighthouse Construction Industry Charity is on a mission to ensure that no construction worker – or their family – is alone in a crisis. Sarah Bolton, the new CEO of the organisation, explains what this worthy cause is already doing to support the trades – and its plans for the future. 

The charity offers a whole range of resources to support the sector and you can visit www.lighthouseclub.org

In the last episode we spoke to Professor Will Swan, Director of Energy House Laboratories at the University of Salford about the Energy House 2.0 project. This initiative has been measuring the energy efficiency of two detached houses built inside an environmentally controlled chamber. 

In this episode we’re speaking to Tom Cox, Construction Solutions Director at Saint-Gobain, who, along with Barratt Developments, are responsible for one of these houses – the eHome2. Tom tells us all about the exciting construction solutions, like weberwall brick, used in eHome2 and how they demonstrate that the Future Homes Standard is achievable. 

For more information on Saint Gobain Weber visit: WEBER | Saint-Gobain

Bosch Professional Accessories

In addition, Paul Stevenson, Key Account Director at Bosch Professional Accessories talks us through the features and benefits of the company’s X-Lock. Described as the ultimate changing system for angle grinders, it allows safe and tool-free disc changing in seconds.

For further information on the Bosch Professional Accessories X-Lock system visit: X-LOCK. The ultimate changing system for angle grinders. | Bosch Professional (bosch-professional.com)

Professional Builder’s Edward Kelly interviews Professor Will Swan, Director of Energy House Laboratories at the University of Salford. This department is responsible for Energy House 2.0 - a massive building with two environmental chambers inside, each able to accommodate two detached houses and under temperature-controlled conditions. Professor Swan tells us what this project has taught us about energy efficiency in UK homes and whether the Future Homes Standard is actually achievable.

With all of that in mind, Professional Builder’s Edward Kelly speaks to Mica May, Head of Development at Stopcocks, the national franchise of women plumbers, to get the story behind the organisation and find out how it is supporting tradeswomen across the country. 

As a result of the zone’s boundary changes there is a £12.50 daily charge on non-compliant vehicles across all London boroughs. This means that anyone using a diesel van registered before September 2016, or petrol van registered before January 2006, is now charged to travel almost anywhere within the M25.   

There is a significant proportion of small business owners in the sector who rely on non-compliant vehicles, and who are already battling materials price increases, expensive parking fees, and elevated labour costs. It is argued that many will choose not to undertake work in London and, as a consequence, homeowners will find it harder to have improvement works completed on their properties. This, in turn, will hinder government efforts to upgrade our existing housing stock.

Professional Builder’s Lee Jones and Paul Davies, Editor of Professional Builders Merchant, speak to Brett Amphlett, Policy & Public Affairs Manager at the Builders Merchants Federation (BMF) about the impact of the mayoral clean air initiative on the industry. 

For further information on Grant UK visit https://www.grantuk.com/

For further information on Van Watch visit www.vanwatch.org.uk

In this episode of Professional Builder’s podcast we talk to IBMG CEO, Martin Stables about current trends in the repair, maintenance and improvement sector and what local builders are doing to maintain a healthy pipeline of projects. The organisation has also undertaken some fascinating research on workloads and the types of jobs that small and medium sized construction companies are taking on.

For further information on the Independent Builders’ Merchant Group (IBMG) visit Independent Builders Merchant Group – IBMG (independentbm.com)

In addition, this episode previews the July/August edition of Professional Builder magazine, which is available from the trade counters of over 2,500 builders’ merchant outlets nationwide, online at www.probuildermag.co.uk and via email.

We speak to Ruth Scarrott, NFRC Head of Careers, who offers some useful help and advice on taking on and retaining apprentices.

If you’re an employer that’s looking for further support, the following links would be useful.

National Federation of Roofing Contractors (NFRC) https://www.nfrc.co.uk/careers/employers/recruiting

CITB New Entrant Team - newentrant.team@citb.co.uk 

CITB Apprentice Support - https://www.citb.co.uk/courses-and-qualifications/citb-apprenticeships/take-on-an-apprentice/ 

Gov.UK Apprenticeship Guidance - https://www.apprenticeships.gov.uk/employers 

In this episode of The Professional Builder Podcast, host Lee Jones talks to Bill Hill, Chief Executive of the Lighthouse Construction Industry Charity, to discuss mental health issues.

Bill talks through some of the reasons the mental health problem is prevalent in the construction sector, shares some sobering stats around suicide and offers some advice and support on how to tackle the issue.

Also in this episode, news and data from The Builders Merchant Federation, Alliance Fund and market research company Eureka!

Thanks to our episode sponsor Steel Blue who provide some guidance on selecting the right safety footwear on site. You can also read our Steel Blue review in the May edition of Professional Builder magazine.

Why don’t you send us your tips? Or do you have a story? Email ljones@hamerville.co.uk or pb@hamerville.co.uk

In this episode we go knee-deep into this vital health & safety issue. We hear from GP Alice Fitzgibbon about how builders can avoid bursitis and osteoarthritis. You can also get some knee protection advice from ToughBuilt, the episode’s sponsor, who has launched a KneelSmart KneelSafe campaign and provides an extensive range of kneepad solutions for the trades.

There’s also, news from the Federation of Small Builders, Construction Industry Council, Band of Builders, the Dulux Academy and the Lighthouse Construction Industry Charity.

Why don’t you send us your tips? Or do you have a story? Email ljones@hamerville.co.uk or pb@hamerville.co.uk

Knee health links

www.nhs.uk 

www.versesarthritus.org

Save the date

The next set of shows from Professional Builder take place on the following dates. Stick them in your diary!

London's Alexandra Palace on the 30th and 31st of March 2023

Yorkshire Event Centre Harrogate on the 27th & 28th April 2023

To find out more visit www.toolfair.info

Philip – who’s been undertaking and teaching decorative plastering for 44 years – discusses the relevance and benefits of lime plastering in 2023. Philip tells us its creative and financially rewarding, plus a bunch of other reasons it’s worth adding it to the ol’ skillset.

Jacobean, Elizabethan – find out what’s behind these niche plastering processes.

Did we mention Phil’s plastered some of our favourite palaces and his sons have even followed him into the trade?

Also on this episode, Terry Smith’s tip of the trade and the latest construction news with Freya Coleman.

Links from the show

Find out the dates for all our live events www.toolfair.info

Read features and news online, or sign up to our newsletter at www.probuildermag.co.uk to receive our digital edition. (Remember, a print copy of the magazine can be found on the trade counters of all good builder’s merchants.)

Find out about training courses with the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings (SPAB) 

More about Philip’s family business can be found here Gaches Plastering.

Send your news stories to Lee Jones, ljones@hamerville.co.uk Or if you have a ‘Tip of the trade’ in you, record it on the voice recorder App on your phone, and send it to pb@hamerville.co.uk

Improving the Efficiency of Home Heating. To read the guide, visit www.hhic.org.uk.