Electrician to Business Owner: Trades, Apprenticeships & Building a Business That Works Without You

Josh Nicholls left school in Year 10, started his electrical apprenticeship at 15, and by 22 had launched his own business with nothing but a van and a plan. Twenty-five years later, he's the founder of two national companies, Platinum Electricals and Jet Black Plumbing, and he's already stepped back from the day-to-day. In this episode, Josh breaks down what it actually takes to go from apprentice to business owner: why you don't need to be the best tradesperson to succeed, how to build a business that can run without you, and why he believes EQ will matter more than any technical skill as AI reshapes the workplace. This one's for any student weighing up a trade, an apprenticeship, or starting their own business one day. Josh proves the traditional path isn't the only path to success. **In this episode:** - Starting an apprenticeship at 15 with zero understanding of electrical work - Why "focus on your strengths, delegate your weaknesses" changed everything - Building two national businesses without sacrificing family time - Why trades won't be replaced by AI - His advice to his 20-year-old self Subscribe for more honest career conversations, new episodes every Wednesday. 🔗 Everything in one place: https://linktr.ee/the20minutecareer 📲 Follow us on Instagram and TikTok @the20minutecareer 🎙️ The 20 Minute Career — Real People, Real Jobs, Honest Conversations.