TORQUE UP

EV charger qualifications are causing confusion, and the cost of running an electrical business keeps climbing.Will, Jay and Jimbo get into the UK electrical trade’s biggest talking points: self-employment versus a regular wage, the 39% import VAT valuation adjustment discussion, and whether hiring an apprentice makes sense when every hour counts.Navitas Black Edition consumer units, wholesaler loyalty, EICRs, social media standards and Bacon & Regs all make an appearance in this Halloween special of Torque Up Podcast.JOIN THE CONVERSATIONWould you still go self-employed as an electrician today? And would you change wholesaler if they wouldn’t stock your preferred brand?Leave your thoughts in the comments, and send us your best site insults for a future episode.CHAPTERS00:00 Halloween and Torque Up’s beginnings02:11 Jay’s 5,000-mile Navitas tour05:43 Contractor feedback and consumer units07:54 Navitas Black Edition consumer units10:28 EV vans and running costs12:29 Import VAT: the 39% discussion14:22 Fuel, wages and employment costs16:52 Understanding your real business costs17:33 Apprentices or subcontractors?19:14 The commitment of training staff24:24 Self-employed vs employed27:20 Careers, pay and progression32:38 Would you start a business now?35:55 Bacon & Regs begins36:42 EV charger qualifications40:07 EV training vs competence43:31 Wholesalers and brand loyalty45:21 Social media and electrical standards48:47 EICRs and marketing claims50:20 Overrated tools and workplace excuses52:26 What makes a good apprentice?55:58 Apprentices and generational change59:49 The bacon and sauce debate01:00:48 This month’s best site insult01:01:48 Halloween sign-offFollow Torque Up on Spotify for more honest conversations about the electrical industry, running a business and life in the trade.On the microphones: William Winter (Will), Junii Whyte (Jay) and Jimbo.Guests and sponsorship enquiries: [email protected]: the joy is in the journey.

Torque Up is back for Season 4 — and we're starting with Owen from OM Electrical.Owen has become one of the biggest electrician personalities on TikTok and social media, while still building and running his own electrical business.So what's actually happening behind the videos?We talk about going self-employed, building a personal brand, turning social media into real electrical work, dealing with trolls, brand deals, bringing family into the business and the reality of trying to be an electrician, business owner and content creator at the same time.Then we get into growth.When do you make your first hire? Apprentice or qualified electrician? How do you let somebody else take responsibility for work when you've spent years controlling everything yourself? And does being self-employed actually give you freedom — or just a different kind of pressure?Will and Jay also get into some of the lessons behind building Navitas from a garage into a national electrical brand, before celebrating being named South Wales Business Champion 2026.And because apparently that wasn't enough for one episode, Season 4 also introduces:🥓⚡ BACON & REGSQuick-fire questions, questionable opinions, things electricians claim are "in the regs", the perfect bacon sandwich and some absolutely brutal site insults.We finish by getting into the bigger issues facing the UK electrical industry: the AM2 debate and experienced electricians proving competence, industry standards, apprenticeships, consumer units, electrical manufacturing, price pressure, product quality and whether genuine innovation is being squeezed out of the market.In this episode:00:00 – Season 4 begins04:38 – Owen from OM Electrical07:34 – Electrical work vs social media21:03 – Can TikTok actually generate electrical work?30:27 – Instagram vs TikTok33:28 – The truth about going self-employed39:16 – Growing beyond a one-man band45:16 – Hiring and building a team53:13 – Apprentice vs qualified electrician57:08 – South Wales Business Champion1:04:56 – Bacon & Regs1:12:27 – The best site insults1:17:07 – The AM2 debate1:26:07 – Are electrical industry standards improving?1:28:46 – Manufacturing, price and product quality1:38:13 – OutroTorque Up — unfiltered conversations about electrical work, business, products, social media and the people actually working inside the UK electrical industry.⚠️ Contains strong language. Obviously.

In the Season Three finale of Torque Up, Jimbo shares the reality of his first three months working entirely for himself.We discuss the pressure of building an electrical business, finding consistent work, managing cash flow, keeping up with administration and knowing when it is time to employ someone. Jimbo also opens up about the personal cost, including the loss of routine, difficulty switching off and the impact on his physical and mental health.The conversation also covers new expectations around pre work assessments, whether electricians may need to start charging for quotations, changes to Further Investigation codes on EICRs, the quality of landlord electrical reports and whether the industry needs better monitoring.Plus, William shares the latest developments from Navitas, including the growth of its three phase range and the thinking behind its new single phase consumer units.A frank conversation about electrical contracting, self employment and what it really takes to build something of your own.Torque Up returns with Season Four in September.

After a busy few months, the boys are finally back around the table together.Jay shares the story behind a serious health scare that resulted in 11 days in hospital, multiple operations and a long road to recovery ahead.Jimbo talks about finally making the jump into self employment and launching South Power Group, including the challenges of finding work, managing finances and adapting to life without the security of a guaranteed wage.The conversation also covers the launch of the Navitas Three Phase range in Northern Ireland, the release of Navitas Energy and some honest discussion about business growth, risk, comfort zones and the realities of building something for yourself.If you've ever thought about going self employed, starting a business or pushing yourself outside your comfort zone, this episode is packed with real world experiences from people living it every day.Season 3 is proudly sponsored by Chauvin Arnoux UK.

What’s actually going wrong in the electrical industry right now?In this episode of the Torque Up Podcast, we sit down with Dave Savory to break down the real issues affecting electricians across the UK.From competent person schemes and industry standards to social media, content creation, and the future of the trade… nothing is off limits.This is a raw and honest conversation about what’s really happening behind the scenes in the trade.If you’re an electrician, contractor, or part of the construction industry… this one will hit home.WHAT WE COVER🟢 Competent person schemes and whether they actually work⚫ Why many electricians feel undervalued🟢 Routes into the trade and where they’re falling short⚫ The reality of industry standards and accountability🟢 Social media, content, and influence in the trade⚫ What needs to change moving forward🎙️ ABOUT TORQUE UPTorque Up Podcast brings real conversations from inside the electrical industry.No scripts. No filters. Just honest discussions with the people shaping the trade.⚖️ DISCLAIMERThe views and opinions expressed in this episode are those of the hosts and guests and are shared for general discussion purposes only. They do not constitute professional, legal, or technical advice.