Episodes

5 days ago
5 days ago
Host: Paul Bullivant
Guest: Audrey Bodman
Speaking to people on the telephone has largely been replaced by Whatsapp and endless texts, but in the workplace it is still an art worth mastering. Audrey tells Paul how she goes about training people to get the most out of telephone conversations, from the start to the end of calls.
Audrey trains people in sales, customer service and employer engagement and sees the difference that confidence and success on the telephone gives both businesses and individuals. And, it's all to do with mindset.

Monday Jun 09, 2025
Monday Jun 09, 2025
Ever wondered about the fine line between control and chaos in our lives? In episode 20 of the 1840 podcast, we're joined by Reece Casey and Sam Lowe for what turns out to be an emotional, educational, and ultimately inspiring conversation about the impact of gambling addiction and the remarkable path to recovery.

Monday Jun 02, 2025
Monday Jun 02, 2025
In episode 20 of the 1840 podcast, host Paul Bullivant is joined by David Campion, the former England Squash Coach. Under his leadership, England secured 25 medals across four Commonwealth Games, became World Team champions five times, and European Team champions 42 times at both junior and senior levels.
We talk about some of the lessons David has learnt through elite coaching over the last 20+ years and how they can be applied to any sport, business and personal development.

Monday May 26, 2025
Monday May 26, 2025
Host: Paul Bullivant
Guests: Nicola Ryan and Jason O'Hara
In episode 19 of the 1840 podcast, host Paul Bullivant is joined by Nicola Ryan (Rochdale) and Jason O’Hara (Fallowfield) to discuss a day in the life of a sales executive. We talk about the highs and lows of the role and what the crucial traits are to being successful and interestingly where do they find the resilience to keep bouncing back from rejection!

Monday May 19, 2025
Monday May 19, 2025
Host: Paul Bullivant
Guests: Jim Stafford, John Houston.
Paul is joined by Tim Whitehead and Jim Stafford from E.Tuplings and our P&H Category Manager John Houston to talk Air Source Heat Pumps and dispel some common myths about them.
We also look back at the history of builders merchants and ask the question - where have all the builder merchant smock jackets gone?!

Monday May 12, 2025
Monday May 12, 2025
Host Gavin Knowles
Guest: Angie Carless
Explore the language of colour with Anjie Carless from Cortex Training.
By recognising customers, colleagues or even family members' different colour energies, it can help you to improve your own communication and how you come across to others.
Anjie helps guide us through the Insight Discovery psychometric tool rooted in Carl Jung's psychology that utilises a four colour model: Firey Red, Sunshine Yellow, Earth Green, and Cool Blue... which colours is yours?

Monday May 05, 2025
Monday May 05, 2025
Host: Alix Maude
Guest: Ginny Brown
Ginny Brown, Regional Sales Manager at Restec Roofing Systems, joins us to discuss how we can encourage young people to choose the construction industry as a career.
From her own second-career journey to her work promoting the industry in schools, Ginny shares insights on changing perceptions and attracting fresh talent to the trade.

Monday Apr 28, 2025
Monday Apr 28, 2025
Host Paul Bullivant
Guests: John Houston, Matt Binney & Simon Parker
In this episode, we’re getting into the history of Plumbing and Heating at HTBS: how it all kicked off, when it started, and how it’s grown over the years.
With Plumbing & Heating Category Manager John Houston, Barnsley P&H Manager Matt Binney & Grimsby P&H Manager Simon Parker they get stuck into the Builders Merchant vs. Plumber’s Merchant debate — chatting about what works best for customers, and the little (and not-so-little) frustrations that come with each.

Monday Apr 21, 2025
Monday Apr 21, 2025
Host: Gavin Knowles
Guest: James Ballinger
Supermarkets deliberately ensure the smell of fresh bread makes it way on to the aisles to encourage us to buy fresh bread.
James Ballinger from the Behavioural Agency takes us on this journey to briefly explains of how businesses use behavioural sciences and customer bias' to influence behaviour.

Monday Apr 14, 2025
Monday Apr 14, 2025
Host: Paul Bullivant
Guests: Hayley Parker & Tom Howe
Our heritage goes back all the way to 1840 with some members of staff serving over 40 years of service but how do we encourage the younger generations into this old-school, well-established industry.
Hayley and Tom are two of our youngest Branch Managers both completing the BMF diploma in merchanting which helped them progress through their career and they give their insight on what we can do to get younger people on board.