ATTRACT THE RIGHT ENGINEERS.
GET THEM PRODUCTIVE FASTER.
GIVE THEM REASONS TO STAY.
A proposed 12-week recruitment and engineer-success programme to help 0800 HomeFix attract suitable plumbing and heating engineers, improve onboarding and build a stronger foundation for lasting team growth.
Prepared for Austin & Matt · Proposed start: 1 October 2026
Illustrative concept imagery.
Giovanni Barreca
Founder, GRFT Academy · Commercial Advisor
RECRUITMENT KNOWLEDGE.
TRADE-BUSINESS EXPERIENCE.
COMMERCIAL DELIVERY.
Giovanni brings together recruitment advertising, trade-business ownership, sales, partnerships and practical business education. That combination is directly relevant to 0800: explaining the opportunity clearly, attracting suitable engineers and helping turn recruitment into productive, lasting working relationships.
Recruitment Advertising
At Totaljobs Group, Giovanni provided recruitment solutions to direct employers and recruitment agencies, from start-ups to major FTSE 100 businesses. As Sales Team Leader, he led a five-person team, with responsibility for mentoring, training and commercial performance.
Trade-Business Understanding
Having built and run a plumbing and heating business, Giovanni understands the customer expectations, commercial pressures and operational realities behind a successful engineer appointment.
Growth, Partnerships & Training
His subsequent partnership-development work and creation of GRFT Academy connect commercial strategy with practical learning, implementation and business improvement.
MORE THAN NEW STARTERS.
A STRONGER ENGINEER NETWORK.
The immediate objective is recruitment. The wider opportunity is to improve how engineers join, understand the 0800 way, perform and choose to stay.
ATTRACT & RECRUIT
Make the opportunity clear, reach suitable engineers and create a consistent route from first enquiry to successful start.
ACTIVATE & PERFORM
Help new starters understand the working model, expectations and support available, so they can become productive with greater confidence.
ENGAGE & RETAIN
Listen to new and existing engineers, identify avoidable friction and strengthen satisfaction, shared objectives and ongoing performance.
A scalable engineer network across London and the South-East.
Illustrative team-growth concept.
20 NEW ENGINEER STARTS.
Plan recruitment activity towards 22 starts, providing a modest contingency while supporting the ambition to grow the overall team.
Planning clarification: Twenty new starters is the headline target. The additional two are a planning allowance, not an assumed attrition rate. Actual net team growth will also depend on departures from the existing team.
Definition of successful start: An appropriately checked engineer who has joined and begun delivering work.
Targets guide the programme; recruitment and retention outcomes are not guaranteed.
Operating Proposition & Remuneration Model
Described accurately as: “Work sourcing, booking and operational support around a self-employed engineer opportunity.”
50% of the labour revenue element (not company profit). Materials covered by 0800 HomeFix. Applicable CIS deductions apply to the engineer payment.
Versatile plumbing and heating engineers with appropriate qualifications and competence.
London and the South-East
Programme Duration:
12 weeks · 24 delivery days (2 days/week)
1 October – 23 December 2026
ONE PROGRAMME.
THREE CONNECTED PRIORITIES.
Structured delivery across 12 consecutive weeks, balancing rapid launch with long-term retention.
| Workstream | Weeks 1–4: Define & Launch | Weeks 5–8: Convert & Activate | Weeks 9–12: Improve & Embed | Intended Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
01 — ATTRACT & RECRUIT Candidate acquisition & qualification | Sharpen the opportunity, define suitable candidates and launch the recruitment funnel, core messaging and initial sourcing activity. | Improve campaigns, qualify interest, support candidate conversion and refine the interview journey. | Concentrate on productive channels, progress remaining candidates and establish a repeatable internal process. | Progress towards 20 new starts, stronger candidate suitability and measurable acquisition costs. |
02 — ACTIVATE & PERFORM Onboarding & initial productivity | Clarify the working model and identify the essential information every new engineer needs. | Introduce a concise onboarding journey, practical explanations and checks for understanding. | Use starter feedback and early performance to improve the journey and reduce avoidable friction. | Faster understanding, greater confidence and a shorter path to productive working. |
03 — ENGAGE & RETAIN Retention & ongoing collaboration | Understand what existing engineers value and where the working experience could improve. | Introduce early feedback and agree practical support and communication priorities. | Review emerging retention signals and recommend an ongoing rhythm for support, recognition and improvement. | Better insight, stronger satisfaction and fewer avoidable departures. |
01 — ATTRACT & RECRUIT
Sharpen the opportunity, define suitable candidates and launch the recruitment funnel, core messaging and initial sourcing activity.
Improve campaigns, qualify interest, support candidate conversion and refine the interview journey.
Concentrate on productive channels, progress remaining candidates and establish a repeatable internal process.
Progress towards 20 new starts, stronger candidate suitability and measurable acquisition costs.
02 — ACTIVATE & PERFORM
Clarify the working model and identify the essential information every new engineer needs.
Introduce a concise onboarding journey, practical explanations and checks for understanding.
Use starter feedback and early performance to improve the journey and reduce avoidable friction.
Faster understanding, greater confidence and a shorter path to productive working.
03 — ENGAGE & RETAIN
Understand what existing engineers value and where the working experience could improve.
Introduce early feedback and agree practical support and communication priorities.
Review emerging retention signals and recommend an ongoing rhythm for support, recognition and improvement.
Better insight, stronger satisfaction and fewer avoidable departures.
04 — GRFT LAUNCH PARTNERSHIP
An optional, separately priced sponsorship opportunity to introduce 0800 HomeFix to a relevant trade-business audience through GRFT’s launch activity.
A PRACTICAL TWO-DAY WEEKLY RHYTHM.
1 October – 23 December 2026 · 12 consecutive weeks · 24 delivery days total
Understand & position
Discovery, engineer insight, baseline measures, opportunity copy and recruitment priorities.
Build & launch
Recruitment funnel, candidate journey, initial creative, referral activity and launch.
Convert & onboard
Campaign refinement, selected candidate support and a practical onboarding framework.
Improve & embed
Continued optimisation, feedback, reporting, internal handover and next-stage recommendations.
BUILD THE PROCESS. LEAVE IT WORKING.
Final priorities and output volumes will be agreed during discovery within the 24-day allocation.
Opportunity & Candidate Profile
A clearer engineer opportunity and candidate profile tailored to competent plumbing and heating professionals in London & South-East.
Recruitment Messaging & Candidate Funnel
Recruitment messaging and a dedicated candidate funnel designed to capture, qualify and nurture genuine trade enquiries.
Branded Content & Sourcing Plan
An initial branded content and sourcing plan combining referrals, organic content, direct outreach and accessible job channels.
Screening & Interview Framework
A structured screening, interview and follow-up process to evaluate suitability, trade qualifications and commercial fit efficiently.
The '0800 Way' Onboarding Framework
A concise onboarding framework clarifying working expectations, booking procedures, invoicing and operational support.
Performance Reporting & Handover
Comprehensive performance reporting, engineer feedback analysis, internal team training and next-stage handover recommendations.
Media & Channel Approach
Combine referrals, organic content, direct outreach and free job listings where available. Paid search, paid social and sponsored job-board placements can be introduced subject to additional budget and approval.
Scope Discipline & Operational Alignment
The core programme includes lean initial creative and onboarding foundations. A full training portal, extensive film production, large events and a sustained podcast programme are not all included in the core fee.
MEASURE THE START.
TRACK WHAT HAPPENS NEXT.
The programme will establish the baseline, track progress and identify where recruitment, onboarding and support create the greatest value.
Financial Planning Scenarios
Planning scenarios using the full expense allowance; not guaranteed acquisition costs.
£15,000 core budget ÷ 20 successful starts = £750 core-budget cost per starter.
£15,000 core budget ÷ 22 successful starts = £681.82 core-budget cost per starter.
* Paid recruitment media is excluded from these figures. Final acquisition cost must include actual approved media spend.
* Assess the return using incremental business contribution after associated costs, alongside retention and time to productive working.
A DEFINED PROGRAMME.
A CLEAR INVESTMENT.
Predictable, milestone-aligned payments covering Giovanni’s dedicated consultancy time and itemised project expenses.
Core Project Budget
Expense terms: Allowance for agreed software, data, meetings/travel, stationery, production equipment and related project costs. Actual costs are itemised against the allowance; approval is required before exceeding it.
Additional spend: Paid advertising, sponsored job listings and other specialist third-party services are subject to an additional agreed budget.
Consultancy Payment Schedule
VAT note: BuildMyTrade Ltd is not currently VAT registered. No VAT is added to the consultancy fee. Supplier expenses are treated according to actual approved invoices.
Working basis: 12-week initial engagement. Approximately two days per week. Final working arrangements agreed together.
Ready to review or discuss the programme structure?
Contact Giovanni directly to agree start dates and discovery priorities.
A FOUNDATION TO BUILD ON.
Start with a focused recruitment and engineer-success programme. Build further where the evidence shows the greatest value.
Separately scoped opportunities. No fixed bolt-on prices at this stage; not all are included in the core fee.
Explore Launch Partnership