Fix Radio is a national digital radio station in the United Kingdom with associated websites,

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and

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channels. It has previously been the silver award winner of the 2023 UK Audio and Radio Industry Awards for best station sound. It broadcasts on DAB Digital Radio across the UK as well as online and mobile.

Background

Fix Radio was founded by its current (as of 2023) CEO, Louis Timpany, to provide music, news and entertainment aimed at UK

tradespeople A tradesman, tradeswoman, or tradesperson is a skilled worker that specializes in a particular trade (occupation or field of work). Tradesmen usually have work experience, on-the-job training, and often formal vocational education in contrast to ...

. It went on-air at 7am on 26 April 2017 with the tagline "We're Nailing It!" and special guest

Charlie Mullins Sidney Charles Mullins (born 28 October 1952) is a British businessman. He is the founder of Pimlico Plumbers, London's largest independent plumbing company, which he sold in 2021. Early life Mullins is the son of a factory worker father and ...

. The first song played was

Starship A starship, starcraft, or interstellar spacecraft is a theoretical spacecraft designed for interstellar travel, traveling between planetary systems. The term is mostly found in science fiction. Reference to a "star-ship" appears as early as 188 ...

's " We Built This City". It specialises in trade focused content with dedicated painting and decorating, heating and plumbing, carpentry, plastering, and electrical shows. Although it broadcasts 24 hours a day, only the hours of 7am to 4pm are produced " as live". It was initially launched on DAB digital radio in London operating out of the

Spectrum Radio Spectrum Radio was a multi-ethnic radio network based in London. It catered to over 20 different ethnic communities. Spectrum Radio was distinguished by its multiethnic, foreign language programmes, many of which had been on air since its la ...

building in

Battersea Battersea is a large district in south London, part of the London Borough of Wandsworth, England. It is centred southwest of Charing Cross and extends along the south bank of the River Thames. It includes the Battersea Park. History Batter ...

. 2018 saw its first major expansion and the creation of Fix Media after a takeover of the Facebook group "Tradesman Banter," accompanied by a move to new studios in

Angel, Islington Angel is an area on the northern fringes of Central London within the London Borough of Islington. It is north-northeast of Charing Cross on the Inner Ring Road at a busy transport intersection. The area is identified in the London Plan as one ...

. Broadcasts expanded to cover Manchester on 14 January 2019 at 7am on the SSDAB minimux. Fix Radio claims the most detailed weather forecasts specifically aimed at tradespeople working outdoors, and no repeat of music within a 48-hour period.

Broadcasting Nationwide

In March 2022 it was announced that the station would start broadcasting nationwide by joining

Sound Digital Sound Digital is a semi-national commercial digital radio multiplex in the United Kingdom, owned by Arqiva, Bauer Media Group and Wireless Group. The multiplex covers 73% of the population from a total of 45 transmitters. History Following t ...

's national DAB digital radio multiplex after securing a national broadcasting licence and £950,000 of crowdfunding. It launched nationally on 3 May 2022 and moved to new headquarters at the Vox studios in

Vauxhall Vauxhall ( ) is a district in South West London, part of the London Borough of Lambeth, England. Vauxhall was part of Surrey until 1889 when the County of London was created. Named after a medieval manor, "Fox Hall", it became well known for ...

. On 19 May 2023, Fix Radio confirmed it had signed a deal with TradePoint to sponsor the station's breakfast show, ''The Bald Builders Breakfast Show''. In November 2023, Louis Timpany, the founder and CEO of Fix Radio, won Creative Entrepreneur of the Year at the Great British Entrepreneur Awards in London. On 7 December 2023, Fix Radio launched a poll to ask listeners if they wanted the station to play Christmas hits after its breakfast presenters had an on air discussion about whether it was too early for Christmas songs. The poll will run until 15 December, with the playlist from 18 December determined by its outcome.

Notable Presenters

Andy Hodgson Andrew Simon Hodgson (born ) is primarily known as an auctioneer/presenter on the British television shopping channel ''bid tv''. Bid TV Andy Hodgson used to be seen presenting bid tv on Sunday between 3.00 pm and 6.30 pm, as well ...

(''The Friday Sports Kick Off!'') * Clive Holland, former BBC TV and radio presenter

Notable Former Presenters

Ugly Phil Ugly Phil O'Neil (born Phillip Surridge on 14 March 1963) is a radio DJ/announcer. He was born in the United Kingdom, and lived the majority of his life in Australia. Before adopting the on-air name of Ugly Phil he was known on-air as Phil O'Neil ...

* Russ Williams *

Jono Coleman Jonathan "Jono" Harry Coleman (29 February 1956 – 9 July 2021), was an English-born television presenter, radio announcer, writer, comedian, and advertorial spokesperson. He was known for his career in his native country and Australia. Earl ...

Awards

External links

References

{{coord missing, United Kingdom Digital-only radio stations 2017 establishments in the United Kingdom Radio stations established in 2017 Radio stations in the United Kingdom