Clive Holland's Little Bit Extra on Fix Radio

Today our focus turned to the building safety act – a year or so after it came into affect in our industry – as we wanted to know how much it’s changed how you work, if at all. We spoke to Dan Brown from GQA Qualifications who thinks it doesn’t seem to be trickling down to the people it should be, such as those in domestic work & also our great friend, Roofer of the Year, Danny Madden… There’s...

It’s light-hearted Thursday and today I had one very simple question – what is the stupidest question you’ve ever been asked while working on the tools? We had great contributions from good friends Dan Brown from the Job & Knock Podcast as well as Dean Saxton from D Saxton Building Solutions – and there’s also the pub lunch quiz as you can attempt to grab 6 points – as well as the very best me...

Today our focus turned to material prices and availability, as we’re still hearing reports from loads of you that finding certain things are a struggle, deliveries are extremely late and sometimes even contain the wrong product! So today we wanted to know - are you struggling to get materials delivered or with the prices lately? We spoke to John Newcomb from the Builders Merchants Federation to ex...

Today our focus turned to the skills shortage comments made by the chair of Natural England, as he said housebuilders need to "stop complaining" about all the red tape around environmental laws when building so we wanted to know - with our industry facing so many issues at the moment - is that a fair comment? How do environmental laws affect your work? We spoke to Housebuilder Ian Hodgkinson for h...

Today our focus turned to the skills shortage that continues to dominate the most pressing issues that our industry face – as we touched on last week, but today, I simply wanted to know…What would YOU say to someone to convince them to join our brilliant industry? We spoke to someone trying to tackle this on the front line, Anjali Pindoria, a STEM ambassador for Go Construct, as well as plumber Ja...

It’s light-hearted Thursday and today we turned our attention to R&R as I wanted to know how you relax! We had great contributions from good friends Dave Finnagan and Liam McGinley – and there’s also the pub lunch quiz as you can attempt to grab 6 points – as well as the very best messages we received! Catch Clive On Fix Radio Monday - Thursday 12 PM - 3 PM Across The UK On DAB Radio And Onlin...

A new shocking study has revealed over one in five Brits have been scammed by rogue builders… This obviously gives our brilliant industry a bad name – so today we wanted to know - when you go to a new client, do you ever feel the need to prove you’re NOT a cowboy? We spoke to a man who is in the process of cleaning up the mess of cowboys, Dean Saxton from D Saxton Building Solutions, as well as gr...

A shocking statistic has revealed that 20% of our industry is over 50 years old… with an aging workforce and skills shortages already a problem in construction, today we wanted to know – how do we keep the building industry moving forward? We spoke to Christian Warden, Engagement Director for the Construction Talent Retention Scheme for his thoughts as well as great friend David Bryne! There’s als...

Working on domestic property is a big part of a lot of our lives in construction, and neighbours of customers can sometimes cause us problems – and recently a story emerged that a builder was fined 2 and a half grand because a neighbour complained his work was an eyesore! So today, we wanted to know your tales of nightmare neighbours and how you deal with them… We spoke great friends & brickie...

It’s light-hearted Thursday and today all I wanted to know was what is the weirdest thing you’ve ever been asked to build by a customer! We had great contributions from good friends Danny Madden and Dan Brown – and there’s also the pub lunch quiz as you can attempt to grab 6 points – as well as the very best messages we received! Catch Clive On Fix Radio Monday - Thursday 12 PM - 3 PM Across The U...

Running your own business can be tough and finding time to do everything around it can be even harder, especially when it comes to making sure you always have customers… so today we wanted to know – do you market your business in any way, or do you just rely on good old fashioned word of mouth? We spoke to YouTube superstar Nick Bundy for his hints and tricks and our great friend Dean Saxton for h...

With red tape & regulations playing a huge part in our working life in the trades – and with approvals for planning permissions falling to a record low recently, today we wanted to know if you felt like you’re held back by councils & the powers that be? We spoke to Home Builders Federation for their thoughts and how they're tackling the issue and roofer Danny Madden for his thoughts… There...

Off the back of a story emerging recently about a customer refusing to let builders park outside their home they we working on – even taking it as far as complaining to the council, so today, we wanted to know… what are the red flags you look for in customers & clients? We spoke to great friends Dave Finnagan & George from GM Joinery on their thoughts on the warning signs they look out for...

It’s light-hearted Thursday and today we wanted to share your embarrassment as we asked – when have you ever sent a customer a message or email meant for someone else! We had great voice notes from good friends Danny Madden & George from GM Joinery – and there’s also the pub lunch quiz as you can attempt to grab 6 points – as well as the very best messages we received! Catch Clive On Fix Radio...

With the quality of new build houses continuing to be below par – to the point one Housebuilder had to demolish all THIRTY SIX of their new build properties… today we wanted to know what needs to be done to stop shoddy work on new build homes? We attempted to get to the bottom of it with Leon Livermore, the CEO of New Homes Quality Board, as well as talking to our friend who had been on both sides...

Sloppy work from colleagues in our industry can be very frustrating for giving us a bad name… today we wanted to know - when you get called in to fix their work, is it annoying or do you see it as a money maker? We spoke to great friends Alex Burman & Dan Brown on their thoughts on fixing shoddy work and just how they see it… There’s also the pub lunch quiz for your chance to grab 6 points, as...

With tool theft continuing to affect tradespeople every single day – taking our livelihoods away… today we wanted to know what YOU think should actually be done about tool theft? We spoke to an MP trying to get a bill through parliament to help us, Greg Smith and the head of tool theft for the National Business Crime Centre on what they’re doing to help. There’s also the pub lunch quiz for your ch...

It’s light-hearted Thursday and today we wanted you to confess ALL, whether it be working with a dodgy labourer, turning up hungover or even bodging an important job… we wanted to know what are your biggest regrets working in the the trade? We had great voice notes from good friends Dean Saxton & Liam McGinley – and there’s also the pub lunch quiz as you can attempt to grab 6 points – as well...

With profits a big part of why we do what we do in the trade, today we wanted to talk saving cash and being sustainable and find out if you could or you do recycle or upcycle materials you don’t use… We spoke to Richard Wagner – a man very passionate on this topic and our great friend George from GM Joinery… There’s also the pub lunch quiz for your chance to grab 6 points, as well as the very best...

With the landscape of our industry always changing and the trades adapting all the time, today we wanted to know how has your trade changed over the last ten years… We spoke to Chris Frediani from the Plastering Show on how plastering has changed – as well as our great friend James Robinson the Yorkshire Stone Dresser… There’s also the pub lunch quiz for your chance to grab 6 points, as well as th...

With fuel prices skyrocketing over the last 12 months – but not showing much sign of coming back down despite wholesale costs dropping and that money eating into our profits or being passed on to customers… today I wanted to know if we’re being ripped off – and if you feel the same… We spoke to Simon Williams from the RAC on their findings on this – as well as our great friend John Cruickshank… Th...

It’s light-hearted Thursday and today we fancied stirring the pot – and we wanted to know which trade you find the most annoying! We had great voice notes from good friends James the Yorkshire Stone Dresser & Alex Burman – and there’s also the pub lunch quiz as you can attempt to grab 6 points – as well as the very best messages we received! Catch Clive On Fix Radio Monday - Thursday 12 PM - 3...

Being part of the trade often involves doing more than just YOUR job – and with reports that over half of electricians and plumbers are being asked to tamper with meters to save customers money on their bills… so we wanted to know how do you react when a customer says ‘while you’re here, could you…’? We spoke to Master Plumber Jimmy Hendry and our great friend Dan Brown for their thoughts… There’s...

Today we looked at a report from the National Federation of Builders that claims, despite misconceptions about how our industry uses technology, we’re actually not behind the curve… We spoke to James Butcher from the National Federation of Builders and our great friend Bradley Jones for their thoughts… There’s also the pub lunch quiz for your chance to grab 6 points, as well as the very best messa...

Today we looked at a report that over half of 18-24 year olds fear artificial intelligence may take over their jobs. We looked at how this may impact our industry and whether or not AI could impact construction… We spoke to Simeon Gow, the founder of Sort It AI and our great friend Dave Finnagan for their thoughts… There’s also the pub lunch quiz for your chance to grab 6 points, as well as the ve...