In this inspiring episode, Joy Zarine sits down with Alison Warner, founder of Evolve and Grow Coaching and author of the bestselling business book Build and Grow.

Alison shares her journey from corporate management with global brands like Pizza Hut and Starbucks to launching her own successful coaching business for the construction and trades sector. She opens up about the lessons behind her book, practical strategies for stepping off the tools, and how to create a business—and lifestyle—that truly works for you.

Whether you're a tradesperson looking to scale, a business owner struggling with systems, or simply someone who wants to grow without burning out, this episode is packed with practical advice and inspiration.

What You'll Learn in This Episode

• Alison's path from corporate life to coaching trades and construction businesses.
• Why she wrote Build and Grow—and how the book helps define her proven 'BUILD™ system.'
• The most common challenges trade business owners face—and how to overcome them.
• Why having a clear vision is the foundation for both personal and business success.
• How to build a strong, supportive culture in the trades sector.
• The role of the Build and Grow Academy in helping tradespeople step off the tools.
• Why community, peer support, and adopting technology are game-changers.
• Advice for young people starting out in the trades.
• The importance of delegation, wellbeing, and playing to your strengths.
• Honest insights into mental health challenges in the industry—and how to tackle them.

www.evolveandgrowcoaching.com

https://amzn.to/3KILW8x

In this podcast show Alison is joined by Tony Donovan, Founder of UK Protrades and Director of UK Tradesmen, a network of contractors, developers and professional tradespeople nationwide.

As a contractor Tony always found it difficult to source professional reliable trades people and as a problem solver he went about changing this. His skills in digital marketing, web design, branding and socials
enabled him to create a platform for trades to network free of charge. UK Tradesmen on Facebook now has over 2000 Followers.

UKProTrades has a group for every trade and the groups are made up of contractors, developers and professional tradesmen and women from across the UK and Ireland. Jobs are shared on the groups directly from the main contactors.

It helps all trades connect, they can access the interactive database mapline and interact with all trades local to them. It is designed to help if you are looking for an upcoming, ongoing or rush job. Members can search the database for trades in their locality and view their profiles, with references and details of qualifications and experience.

Anyone finding it difficult to hire good talent, will be interested in this podcast!

www.evolveandgrowcoaching.com

https://www.ukprotrades.com/

In this podcast show Alison is joined by Joy Zarine brand and business strategist, investor, speaker and bestselling author based in London, UK.

For over eighteen years, Joy has worked with industry leaders to design, build and market profitable and award- winning businesses.

Believing that life is too short for basic, boring or bad branding - Joy has gone on to build her own branding and marketing agency - launching UK-wide companies and consulting with global billion-pound brands.

A popular guest on the Build and Grow Academy, Joy always has some great practical advice for our trades community.

www.evolveandgrowcoaching.com

https://www.joyzarine.com/

@joyzarine

In this podcast show Alison is joined by James Sargeant a construction law solicitor with Quigg Golden. James began his career in construction before transferring into the legal world, which gives him a unique understanding of the industry.

James shares the common mistakes he sees business owners make, from having a lack of the necessary documentation in place to burying one's head into the sand. They discuss the most common disputes that arise between client and contractor and how best to avoid them.

James provides no-nonsense advice around the simple things to ensure are in place to protect you should things turn sour and how best to avoid problems from escalating into a full blown war!

This podcast is a must listen to for any owner of a construction or trade business, it will be 30 minutes well spent!

www.evolveandgrowcoaching.com

https://www.quigggolden.com/

linkedin.com/in/james-sargeant-mciob-93511249

In this podcast show Alison is joined by Ian Hodgkinson, Founder of Hodgkinson Builders, the Bricklayers Academy and the builder behind the BBC series Brickies.

Ian shares how he started out on the tools at 16, going on to build a successful business and then on to helping solve the skills shortage by creating the Bricklayers Academy. This provides the training to budding bricklayers, giving them not only the practical skill, but also the discipline required to have a very rewarding and lucrative career.

Ian has built his organisations on the basis of strong principles and vision – they don't just build houses, they genuinely make positive social change. This led to him being approached by the BBC to help them make the programme Brickies, which features his apprentices working on site in Derby and shows the reality of the job as well as the benefits of providing a great working environment to young people in construction.

www.evolveandgrowcoaching.com

https://hodgkinsonbuilders.com/

https://www.bricklayers.com/

In this podcast show Alison is joined by Adam Chapman, Founder of Heat Geek a company that provides training on heating design for heating engineers.

As a self-confessed Geek, Adam has an insatiable thirst for knowledge in the heating industry and has quickly risen to become a well-respected thought leader in the field. He began his career in within a commercial installation company in 2005 before moving to domestic heating installation, repair and servicing, and later starting his own business.

Adam founded the heating resource Heatgeek.com in 2016, and later the associated system design training course 'Heating mastery' in a mission to 'renew the heating industry'. The flagship training course is only 1 year old yet has already trained dozens of engineers in BIES (dept of Business, Industry Energy and strategy) and engineers within manufacturers including Vaillant, Viessmann, Grant and Daikin to name a few, and as well as 450 heating system designer and installers, many of them their competition.

www.evolveandgrowcoaching.com

https://courses.heatgeek.com/

https://mobile.twitter.com/_heatgeek

In this podcast show Alison is joined by Andrew Small the Industry Solutions Managing Director of Houzz, the world's largest community for home renovation and design providing people with everything they need to improve their homes from start to finish. On Houzz, people can find design inspiration, research and hire home professionals and get advice for their projects.

Andrew joined Houzz in 2015 and now leads the expansion of Houzz internationally. Prior to Houzz Andrew was in an executive leadership position in a UK venture-backed business in the home and property space having previously worked in finance, technology consulting and venture capital. He is passionate about disruptive technology and empowering homeowners and pros with software and tools to improve the renovation experience.

In this episode Alison talks to Andrew about Houzz Pro, an all-in-one software solution that empowers industry pros to stand out, win clients and manage their projects efficiently and profitably. Another topic for discussion is their State of the Industry report, in which Andrew shares the key trends and provides advice to owners of trade businesses as to how they can best ride this wave and make the most of this increase in demand.

www.evolveandgrowcoaching.com

www.houzz.co.uk/pro

@houzzuk

@houzzpro_uk

In this podcast show Alison is joined by Lorraine Bridges, Founder and Director of Bare PR. As one of only 200 Chartered PR professionals in the UK, Lorraine is extremely well qualified to share advice to owners of trade businesses who really care about their reputation.

Lorraine shares her good, bad and ugly experiences using the services of trades and valuable tips on how to ensure you are providing a service that stands out to your customers. And guess what? Often they don't cost anything!

Sadly, we know that it is all too easy to let things slip and in the process gain a less than satisfactory reputation. Often this isn't down to not caring, but is a sign of not planning for growth and being overwhelmed.

Don't be ones of those trades who start out with the best of intentions, but end up providing a poor service. Invest in yourself, your business and take advice…….and there is no better time than here by listening to this interview.

www.evolveandgrowcoaching.com

https://www.barepr.co.uk/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/lorraine-bridges-chartpr/

@BarePRuk