Two young tradesmen. Two different routes. One big future. 🔧🔥 These two young plumbers and gas engineers stepped into the Banter Van chair together, and you can tell straight away that both lads are going places. One is working alongside his uncle at a leading plumbing and heating business in

Plumbers vs electricians… is the rivalry actually real? 😂🔧⚡ We put the question to a Kane manufacturer rep in the Banter Van — and then went straight for the important stuff… Is Kane really promoting nail varnish for electricians? 💅⚡😂 Apparently, the banter between plumbers and electrician

Mark Webster knows a thing or two about pressure. The former plumber turned professional darts champion and commentator stepped into the Banter Van chair to talk about his time in the plumbing trade — and while he had plenty of fun with us, he was quick to acknowledge just how hard being a plumb

Four years into his career as a gas engineer, he’s still young in the trade — but look at the difference already. Sitting in the Banter Van chair alongside someone who’s just about to start their heating and gas engineering training, you can see two completely different stages of the journey.

Speaking to Smart Energy Heating, a heating and electrical training provider, the potential across the industry is hugely attractive. Yet from what we’re actually seeing, the UK could still face a serious shortage of skilled tradespeople. The biggest question is: where is the problem? Training p

Social media can completely distort your perception of someone’s size. A plumber talks about a previous Banter Van guest, an electrician he’d seen online and assumed was a small bloke. Then he met him in person — and discovered he was actually 6ft 4! 😂 Don’t judge a tradesperson by the Instagram

Behind the scenes at Banter Van: real trades, real banter, and the stories you don’t see on camera.

A young plasterer and business owner explains why plastering and tiling are trades under constant scrutiny. You can spot the difference between a good plasterer and a bad plasterer very quickly because customers look closely at every wall, corner, joint and tile. Compare that with boiler installati

Some younger tradespeople still don’t realise the power of social media for growing a business. I was talking to a well-known electrician on the Banter Van, and even at 57, I’ve realised how powerful social media can be for getting your name out there, building trust, attracting customers and creat

Fiona is the glue behind this plumbing and heating business. As the office manager and mother-in-law, she brings years of experience, financial knowledge and business understanding to the company. Working remotely, she helps keep the finances, administration and day-to-day running of the busines

Rambo has entered the Banter Van! 😂 This entrepreneur sits in the chair to talk about a product he personally designed after seeing a genuine need for his mother-in-law. What started as a problem at home became an idea, then a product, and ultimately a business. That’s entrepreneurship in its

Proper training matters. This young business owner was taught to do the job properly from day one — no cutting corners, no shortcuts and no compromising on workmanship. That experience means he can recognise the difference between a good tradesman and a bad one. In the building and construction

An experienced tradesman learns an important lesson: your price should reflect your worth, not somebody else’s evaluation of it. Years of experience, specialist skills, knowledge, reliability and the quality of your workmanship all have value. Whether you’re a plumber, heating engineer, elect

Training and support don’t stop when you become qualified. Whether you’re a plumbing apprentice, gas engineer, electrician or an experienced tradesperson, there will always be jobs, faults and situations you come across that you’ve never seen before. That’s why having someone at the end of th

347 videos in and the Banter Van welcomes its first female guest! 👏 She’s a sales representative from the manufacturing side of the trades, representing Grundfos Pumps and bringing a different perspective from the people behind the products tradespeople use every day. From plumbers, heating e

Smart Energy Training isn’t just about getting you through your gas course — there’s a few extra skills on offer too! 😂⛳ They’ll teach you the gas side of the trade, help you develop your practical skills and support you through your training journey. But here’s the unexpected bonus: one of t

Three Musketeers of the plumbing and heating trade! 🔧 Two brothers and their father working together in their own plumbing and heating company in Malvern — and you can genuinely see the bond between them. There’s something special about a family business where everyone pulls together, shares

Saving energy at home sounds simple, but the information homeowners receive can make it anything but. Heating engineers see the confusion first-hand when customers are trying to understand energy efficiency, heating systems, boiler settings, insulation, heat pumps and how to actually reduce energy

Two apprentice gas engineers, one massive Banter Van throne! 😂 These two young gas apprentices are training with Smart Energy, and after speaking to them, it was clear just how much the gas, plumbing and heating industry can benefit from the next generation of skilled tradespeople. Young, pre

Mark Webster is proof that you never know where a skilled trade can take you. Before becoming a professional darts player and later a darts commentator, Mark Webster started his working life in the plumbing industry. He went on to reach the highest levels of professional darts, but having a p