#91 - Raising the Standard w/ Pat & Jo Southwell

Send us Fan MailPat & Jo Southwell join us to unpack the state of inspections, the myths around labelling, and why real CPD matters. From running a family business to driving industry training and advocacy, they share what it takes to keep solar standards sharp as the industry shifts. This episode is proudly sponsored by Southwell Solar Training—delivering practical, standards-based CPD that installers actually find useful. Their online courses cover real-world issues like defects, labeling, battery installation, and system upgrades, helping solar professionals stay compliant while building confidence on the job. Just Another Solar Podcast is hosted by Luke Beattie, Karl Jensen, Nigel Morris and Jess MacPherson. It's a casual conversation that shouldn't be taken as business, financial or legal advice.  0:00 – Intro & catching up with the crew 2:00 – Nigel’s big life changes and new role at Smart Energy Council 5:00 – Tindo Solar wins Sunshot Fund support 7:00 – Battery sizing mistakes & system design challenges 13:00 – Cashflow crunch from the battery boom 17:00 – Welcoming Pat & Jo Southwell 19:00 – How inspection changes hit their business 20:30 – From inspections to turning systems on 21:30 – How Pat & Jo got into solar 23:30 – What’s holding Victoria back on batteries 25:50 – Pat’s own mega solar + battery setup 29:00 – The Solar Sidekicks podcast journey 31:00 – Advocacy, emergency backstop & industry challenges 37:30 – Launching Southwell Solar Training 39:00 – The labeling minefield explained 44:00 – Most popular courses & subscription model 47:00 – Why CPD must be more than “beer and pizza nights” 52:00 – Future training plans: apprentices, sales, and marketing 56:00 – Closing thoughts & sponsor message