EP 25 | Luke Freeman: Going Solo, Building a Brand & Staying Booked for Months
Luke Freeman joins Will Winter and Jay to talk about life as a self-employed electrician, how he built Freeman Electrical from scratch, and what it takes to stay booked two months ahead after just one year in business.From early graft and nightmare hotels to navigating apprenticeships and growing a loyal client base, this episode is packed with honesty, laughs, and lessons every electrician can relate to.Luke opens up about his journey, social media strategy, and the mindset that’s helped him turn hard work into opportunity — proving that with drive, consistency, and the right attitude, anything’s possible in this trade.Chauvin Arnoux UK — Industry-leading test and measurement solutions for professionals.🔗 cauk.netNavitas Circuit Protection — Precision-engineered consumer units, RCBOs and SPDs built for professionals.🔗 navitascp.co.uk🎧 Follow @TorqueUp on Instagram and YouTube📲 instagram.com/torqueup🎥 youtube.com/@TorqueUp⚡ Sponsored by🧰 Connect with Us
--------
1:06:29
--------
1:06:29
EP | 24 From Apprentice to Director: Stephen “Compo” Comparetto and the Future of Wholesaling
n this powerful episode of the Torque Up Podcast Will and Jay sit down with Stephen “Compo” Comparetto, director and shareholder at 7 Core Electrical, to pull back the curtain on the world of electrical wholesalers.Compo’s story is one of true grassroots grit. From starting out on the tools to leading a multi million pound independent wholesaler, he shares the highs, the challenges, and the bold decisions that shaped his career including a management buyout (MBO) and a major buying group switch.This conversation goes beyond business. We explore:🟢 The real role wholesalers play in supporting electricians every day⚫️ How buying groups influence the trade and why changes matter🟢 The risks and rewards of going through an MBO⚫️ The pressures politics and economics place on the wholesale sector🟢 What it takes to rise from apprentice to director in the UK electrical industryIf you are an electrician, wholesaler, or anyone connected to the trade, this episode gives you the insider view you will not hear anywhere else.👉 Sponsored by Chauvin Arnoux UK, experts in test and measurement solutions trusted worldwide.Subscribe now and do not miss this deep dive into the business and politics of UK electrical wholesaling.#TorqueUpPodcast #NavitasCP #7CoreElectrical #ElectricalWholesaler #ElectricianLife #AllAboutPower
--------
1:28:13
--------
1:28:13
EP | 23 BIG BRANDS ARE LYING TO YOU | SPDs, BS 7671 & The Truth They Don’t Want You to Know
BIG BRANDS ARE LYING TO YOU | SPDs, BS 7671 & The Truth They Do Not Want You To Know🎙️ Torque Up Podcast | Episode 23 | With Kirsty JohnsonBig brands are controlling the industry and installers are paying the price.In this explosive episode, we sit down with Kirsty Johnson, Technical Director at Surge Protection Devices Ltd and member of the JPEL committee, to reveal what is really happening behind the scenes of BS 7671, SPDs and product marketing.If you are an electrician, contractor, wholesaler or trainer, this episode will change the way you think about the industry.🟢 The hidden politics shaping BS 7671 and JPEL decisions⚫ The truth about SPDs and why busbar fed installs can be unsafe🟢 How big brands influence installers and wholesalers through marketing⚫ The conflict between best practice, safety and commercial agendas🟢 Why RCBOs are changing the way we protect circuits⚫ How electricians can protect themselves and their customers🎥 Watch on YouTube → https://youtube.com/@TorqueUp🎧 Listen on Spotify → https://spotify.com/TorqueUp🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts → https://podcasts.apple.com/TorqueUpWhat You Will Learn In This EpisodeListen To More Episodes
--------
1:10:27
--------
1:10:27
EP | 22 Government failure to protect electrical apprenticeships
In this episode of the Torque Up Podcast we sit down with Mitch, aka Bright Spark from the Midlands, to talk about one of the biggest challenges facing the trade today – the government’s failure to protect electrical apprenticeships.We discuss the impact of rising costs, why apprentices are at risk of being priced out of the industry, and what this means for the next generation of sparks. Mitch also shares real site stories, the struggles of running a business, and how social media is changing the game for electricians.⚡ Sponsored by Chauvin Arnoux UK – test and measurement instruments trusted by professionals.00:00 – Welcome to Season 3 01:40 – Meet Mitch aka Bright Spark 04:50 – Social media and the trade 10:10 – Tesla chargers and PEN protection 16:20 – Running your own business as a spark 31:30 – Apprenticeships: then vs now 40:00 – Why government policy is failing apprentices 44:40 – Rising costs and National Insurance impact 50:00 – Will weekend courses replace apprenticeships?
--------
1:37:48
--------
1:37:48
EP | 21 AI and the Trade, TAX and NI and more!
This is it. The final episode of Season 2 and it's the one that could change everything.In Episode 21 of the Torque Up Podcast, host William Winter is joined by John Bagley and James Watkins for one of our deepest and most thought-provoking conversations yet.We dive headfirst into the world of AI and the trades, asking the big questions no one else is daring to tackle:🧠 What does artificial intelligence mean for the future of electricians, wholesalers, and manufacturers?🔧 How can tradespeople use AI to grow their businesses, save time, and stay ahead of the curve?📉 Will it disrupt or empower the next generation of apprentices and skilled labour?💷 And what about tax, national insurance, and the rising pressure on small business owners?This episode explores the real world impacts of technology, government policy, and cultural shifts on the trades and why the electrical industry cannot afford to ignore them. We talk openly about the future of apprenticeships, the cost of doing business, and how policy decisions are shaping the lives of young people entering the trade.Whether you are on the tools, managing a wholesaler, or leading a brand, this is the episode you cannot afford to miss.🔥 Available now on Spotify and Apple Podcasts🎧 Listen on the go or watch the full video here on YouTube💻 Learn more at www.torqueup.co.uk💥 Proudly sponsored by Wiha UK (@WihaUK)One of the world’s leading names in precision tools for professionals in the trade.📍Do not forget to like, subscribe, and hit the bell so you do not miss Season 3. Bigger guests, bigger topics, and even more truth from the heart of the electrical industry.#TorqueUpPodcast #ElectriciansUK #AIintheTrades #SmallBusinessUK #TradeTalk #ElectricalIndustry #WihaTools #NationalInsurance #Apprenticeships #TalkUp #torqueuppodcast
A Podcast for the professional electrical industry, sharing unbiased news, reviews and learning about all aspects of our incredible industry.
With guests on from all sides of manufacturing, wholesaling, electricians, apprentices and more.
Brought to you from Torque Up Productions in association with Navitas
UK