🫱🏻‍🫲🏼 Book a Free Strategy Call with Tradie Web Guys: https://tradie.wiki/tssyt

In Episode 494 of The Site Shed Podcast, Matt Jones sits down with returning guest Andrew O'Farrell to unpack what is really driving rising fuel costs and why tradie businesses should be paying close attention.

What starts as a conversation about diesel prices quickly opens up into a much bigger discussion around global energy markets, fragile supply chains, and the real-world impact on trade businesses across Australia.

If you want a clearer view of what may be coming down the pipeline and how to prepare for it, this episode is a must-listen.

🎥 Watch the video version of this podcast at: https://www.youtube.com/@TradieWebGuysOfficial?sub_confirmation=1

Key Chapters:
00:00 Welcome back Andrew O'Farrell
00:07 Why diesel prices have jumped so dramatically
01:00 Why Australia is vulnerable to refined fuel shortages
02:15 What trade business owners need to understand about rising costs
02:53 Fuel is just the undercard, gas is the real story
04:43 How LNG disruption affects construction and manufacturing
06:07 Why food and fertiliser could be hit next
07:19 The Strait of Hormuz and why it matters
11:06 Could Australia be more self sufficient?
13:56 What this means for local industry and supply chains
16:03 Energy security, reserves, and the diesel problem
17:32 EVs, hybrids, and practical resilience
19:38 Why diesel is not going anywhere anytime soon
20:33 Does nuclear have a role in Australia?
22:29 Why we need a smarter transition, not a rushed one
24:22 The inflation and margin squeeze tradies should prepare for
26:20 What this could mean for Australia and Asia next
27:35 Final thoughts and planning for what’s ahead

Links mentioned in this episode:
The Site Shed Podcast Episode 188 with Andrew O'Farrell: https://www.thesiteshed.com/energy-1/

Connect With Andrew O'Farrell:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-o-farrell-352b8747/

CONNECT WITH THE TRADIE WEB GUYS!

Website: https://www.tradiewebguys.com.au/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TradieWebGuysOfficial?sub_confirmation=1

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TradieWebGuysOfficial

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tradiewebguys/

LinkedIn: https://au.linkedin.com/company/tradie-web-guys

Matt’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/iamthemattj/

Your Next Step:

Join Tradie Academy, our free community packed with templates, checklists, and resources shared by podcast guests, coaches, and successful tradies.

👉 Join free and grab your next growth tool here: https://tradie.wiki/pod

Follow The Site Shed:

• Facebook: The Site Shed
• Instagram: @thesiteshed
• LinkedIn: Matt Jones
• Website: thesiteshed.com
• YouTube: @TheSiteShed

If you enjoyed this podcast and the series, please take 5 minutes to leave us a review:
⭐ https://lovethepodcast.com/TheSiteShed

Love the audio version of this podcast? Subscribe to the link below:
⭐ https://followthepodcast.com/TheSiteShed

🎯 Free Tools for Growing Trade Businesses: https://tradie.wiki/pod
🫱🏻‍🫲🏼 Book a Free Strategy Call with Tradie Web Guys: https://tradie.wiki/tssyt

How do you onboard new tradies properly so they actually stick around past week one?

In Episode 493 of The Site Shed Podcast, Matt Jones sits down with Vicky Irwin from Network Plumbing to unpack what effective staff onboarding really looks like in a growing trade business.

If you’ve ever hired in a rush, thrown a new apprentice or technician into the deep end, or struggled with staff churn, this episode will give you a practical framework to help new team members feel clear, supported, and ready to succeed.

Key Chapters:
00:00 - Introduction
09:07 - The Recruitment and Pre-Onboarding Process
12:04 - Day One: Orientation and Company Culture
12:30 - Operational Integration and Facility Tour
13:30 - Ongoing Training and Communication Standards
17:18 - Developing Soft Skills and Professionalism
26:05 - Technology and Systems Adoption
23:24 - Safety as a Non-Negotiable
34:01 - Final Assessment and Team Integration

📲 Watch On YouTube! https://youtu.be/SOAw74WWJys

CONNECT WITH VICKY IRWIN
Website: https://networkplumbing.com.au

CONNECT WITH THE SITE SHED!
Website: https://www.thesiteshed.comYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheSiteShed?sub_confirmation=1
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thesiteshed
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thesiteshed/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-site-shed/
Matt’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/iamthemattj/

CONNECT WITH THE TRADIE WEB GUYS!
Website: https://www.tradiewebguys.com.au/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TradieWebGuysOfficial?sub_confirmation=1
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TradieWebGuysOfficial
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tradiewebguys/
LinkedIn: https://au.linkedin.com/company/tradie-web-guys
Matt’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/iamthemattj/

If you enjoyed this podcast, please take a moment to leave us a review:
⭐ https://lovethepodcast.com/TheSiteShed
Love the audio version of this podcast? Subscribe to the link below:
⭐ https://followthepodcast.com/TheSiteShed

#podcast #thesiteshed #tradiewebguys

Your Next Step:

Join Tradie Academy, our free community packed with templates, checklists, and resources shared by podcast guests, coaches, and successful tradies.

👉 Join free and grab your next growth tool here: https://tradie.wiki/pod

Follow The Site Shed:

• Facebook: The Site Shed
• Instagram: @thesiteshed
• LinkedIn: Matt Jones
• Website: thesiteshed.com
• YouTube: @TheSiteShed

If you enjoyed this podcast and the series, please take 5 minutes to leave us a review:
⭐ https://lovethepodcast.com/TheSiteShed

Love the audio version of this podcast? Subscribe to the link below:
⭐ https://followthepodcast.com/TheSiteShed

🫱🏻‍🫲🏼 Book a Free Discovery Call with Tradie Web Guys: https://tradie.wiki/tssyt

Most tradies don’t need more motivation. They need clearer targets.

In this 492nd episode of The Site Shed, Matt Jones chats with Zak Saboune from Service Today about how to build KPIs that your team actually understands, buys into, and performs for. No fluffy corporate scorecards. Just simple, practical numbers and behaviours that drive better productivity, stronger culture, and more profit.

If you’ve ever felt like your team is busy but results are inconsistent, this one will help you set expectations properly and track what matters without turning the business into a spreadsheet.

Key Chapters:
00:00 - Teaser
01:30 - Introduction of Guest Zach Saboune
04:45 - Current Scale of the Business
06:26 - Managing Growth with KPIs
11:00 - Implementing Business Frameworks
15:32 - The Importance of Systemization
16:47 - Private Equity and Business Value
22:01 - Customer Acquisition Strategy
27:26 - Maximizing Lifetime Customer Value
31:34 - The Membership Model: Total Care Club
38:58 - Delivering on Membership Value
47:40 - Sticking to the B2C Vertical
53:42 - Staff Retention and Culture
57:54 - Training for Brand Consistency
59:19 - Future Outlook for Service Today

📲 Watch On Youtube: The Site Shed YouTube Channel

🎙 About Our Guest: Zac Saboune
Zac Saboune is the CEO of Service Today and a leader in the Australian home services space, known for helping build one of the country’s largest service businesses. In this episode, he shares practical insights on KPIs, productivity, customer lifetime value, and building a trade business that scales with clarity and accountability.

CONNECT WITH ZAC SABOUNE
Website: https://www.servicetoday.com.au/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ServiceTodayAu
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/servicetoday/?hl=en
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zak-saboune-ceo-of-australia-s-largest-home-service-company-53ba2a150/

CONNECT WITH THE TRADIE WEB GUYS!
Website: https://www.tradiewebguys.com.au/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TradieWebGuysOfficial?sub_confirmation=1
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TradieWebGuysOfficial
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tradiewebguys/
LinkedIn: https://au.linkedin.com/company/tradie-web-guys
Matt’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/iamthemattj/

If you enjoyed this podcast, please take a moment to leave us a review:
⭐ https://lovethepodcast.com/TheSiteShed
Love the audio version of this podcast? Subscribe to the link below:
⭐ https://followthepodcast.com/TheSiteShed

#podcast #thesiteshed #tradiewebguys

Your Next Step:

Join Tradie Academy, our free community packed with templates, checklists, and resources shared by podcast guests, coaches, and successful tradies.

👉 Join free and grab your next growth tool here: https://tradie.wiki/pod

Follow The Site Shed:

• Facebook: The Site Shed
• Instagram: @thesiteshed
• LinkedIn: Matt Jones
• Website: thesiteshed.com
• YouTube: @TheSiteShed

If you enjoyed this podcast and the series, please take 5 minutes to leave us a review:
⭐ https://lovethepodcast.com/TheSiteShed

Love the audio version of this podcast? Subscribe to the link below:
⭐ https://followthepodcast.com/TheSiteShed