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After losing his wife to cancer, Karl Batterbee suddenly had to navigate running his electrical business, raising his young daughter and adjusting to a completely new normal.

Better known online as Karl Sparky, Karl joins Pete and Keiran to talk about more than 20 years in the electrical trade, becoming self-employed and the experiences that have completely changed the way he looks at work and life.

Karl started out at college before eventually securing an electrical apprenticeship, although getting qualified wasn't straightforward. He worked across several companies before finishing his apprenticeship and went on to gain experience across domestic, commercial and industrial electrical work.

He also spent time working for a heating company, where he built up his knowledge of heating controls, wiring and fault finding, something that still forms a big part of his work today.

They get into:

• Karl's route into becoming an electrician
• Struggling to secure and complete an apprenticeship
• More than 20 years working in the electrical industry
• Domestic vs commercial and industrial electrical work
• Heating controls and where plumbing and electrics overlap
• Air source heat pumps and changing technology
• Starting an electrical business after years of employment
• Finding work through word of mouth
• Learning how to price jobs properly
• Why customers disappearing after receiving a quote shouldn't be taken personally
• The real costs involved when you become self-employed
• Running a one-man electrical business
• Electrical testing, fault finding and older installations
• Getting electric shocks on the tools
• Social media and building friendships within the trades
• Why Karl started creating content as Karl Sparky

But the conversation becomes much more personal when Karl talks about losing his wife to cancer at the beginning of the year.

Alongside dealing with his own grief, Karl suddenly had to take over parts of the business his wife had previously helped him with, including paperwork and admin, while also raising their seven-year-old daughter and keeping his electrical business running.

He talks openly about learning to navigate that new normal, the support he's received from friends and family, and the importance of having people around you when life changes completely.

Karl also explains how things like music, trade events and spending time with friends have helped him switch off, and why the experience has made him look at life differently.

One of the biggest lessons he has taken from everything he's been through is simple:

Life's too short, do the things that make you happy and build your own village of good people around you.

Social media has played a surprisingly big part in that too.

What originally started with Karl posting a few tools and electrical jobs online eventually led to brand opportunities, trade events and, more importantly, genuine friendships with people who have checked in and supported him through one of the hardest periods of his life.

If you're an electrician, apprentice, self-employed tradesperson, parent or someone trying to keep moving through a difficult period, there's a lot to take away from Karl's story.

👇 Let us know in the comments:

What's one thing working in the trades, or life outside of work, has taught you not to take for granted?

And who makes up your own village?

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⚠️ Warning: Contains adult humour and strong language. Tradesmen banter ahe