Running a trade business can be full-on.

Long days on site. Evenings catching up on quotes, invoices and paperwork. Often doing it all on your own.

That’s exactly why The Plumber Awards sponsor Powered Now is bringing its ‘Advice on Tap’ event to Bolton next week,  creating a space for tradespeople to get together, talk business, swap advice and enjoy a proper evening off the tools.

Following a successful first event in Cardiff, Advice on Tap lands at Harvester Horwich Park, Bolton, on Wednesday 3 June 2026 (4:30pm–8pm).

The free event is open to tradespeople across the region,  including heating installers, plumbers, electricians, pest controllers and other trade business owners.

Expect:

• Free drinks
• Tool marking
• Professional photos
• Honest trade chat and networking
• Practical advice on running a better trade business

Powered Now’s team will also be on hand to chat about common trade business headaches, from admin overload and paperwork to upcoming HMRC tax changes linked to Making Tax Digital for Income Tax.

Benjamin Dyer, Founder and CEO of Powered Now, said:

“We work with so many tradespeople who are now under more pressure than ever before and, with the trades often working alone, it can become a lonely job. When a growing pile of admin and paperwork gets thrown in the mix, it’s no surprise that tradespeople everywhere are feeling stretched.

“Advice on Tap is our way of bringing together the tradespeople of Bolton, and speaking discussing how to run a trade business in a language they understand. Beyond networking, Advice on Tap is all about offering practical advice and reminding tradespeople that they’re not alone.”

As long-time supporters of the Heating Installer Awards and The Plumber Awards, Powered Now continues to back the wider trade community, not just through award sponsorship, but by helping installers and plumbers run stronger businesses off the tools too.

Powered Now’s software is built specifically for trade businesses, helping users manage quotes, invoices, scheduling, certificates and payments all in one place.

Reserve your free place here: here.

And if you can’t make it? Powered Now is also offering the Heating Installer Awards and The Plumber Awards community 50% off for 2 months.

https://powerednow.com/resources/benefits/installer-awards

Let’s be honest, sorting insurance is probably somewhere near the bottom of most plumbers’ to-do lists.

When you’re busy quoting, ordering materials, managing customers, chasing invoices, and actually being on the tools, reviewing your insurance isn’t exactly exciting. Most people set it up, renew it, and move on.

But here’s the thing, plumbing businesses change.

Maybe you’ve taken on an apprentice. Maybe you’ve brought in extra help on bigger jobs. Maybe you’ve invested in more tools, upgraded the van, or your workload looks very different to what it did a year or two ago.

And when that happens, it’s worth asking a simple question: does your cover still match the business you’re running today?

Because in this trade, when something goes wrong, it can get expensive quickly.

A van break-in can wipe out thousands of pounds’ worth of tools overnight. An issue on-site can delay work, affect customers, and create a lot of unnecessary stress. Even a short period off the tools can have a knock-on effect if jobs need to be rescheduled.

It’s not something anyone likes thinking about, but it’s part of running a business properly.

That’s why we wanted to share an exclusive offer from our sponsor, Kingsbridge, who work specifically with trades businesses across the UK.

They’re currently offering 10% off Trades Insurance for plumbers through The Plumber Awards, with cover designed around the realities of being on the tools.

That includes:

• Up to £2,500 tools cover included as standard
• Next business day payout on accepted tool theft claims
• Claims paid for tools stolen from a secured van overnight
• Support from their UK-based team
• Cover built around trade businesses
• Transparent pricing with no hidden fees

The key point isn’t to sell insurance for the sake of it. It’s simply to remind you – trade professionals – that if your business has changed, your cover may need to change too.

Good plumbing businesses protect more than just their workmanship, they protect the business behind it as well.

If you haven’t reviewed your insurance in a while, now’s probably a good time to have a look.

Exclusive offer for plumbers

Get 10% off Kingsbridge trades insurance through The Plumber Awards:
https://www.kingsbridge.co.uk/plumber-awards/

Prefer to speak to someone directly?
Call 01242 808740 and mention The Plumber Awards.