Tap into new skills to find a plumb job
PRACTICAL Calum Heath is following in his brother’s footsteps by training to become a plumber through a popular apprenticeship scheme.
The 21- year- old joined Pimlico Plumbers’ programme in September last year and will be fully qualified by September 2019.
He currently divides his time between the central London company and Lambeth College.
Calum says: ‘ My brother, Jamie Brown, works at Pimlico Plumbers, so I knew of the company through him and I applied when they were offering apprenticeships.
‘They receive hundreds of applications, so I was lucky to secure one.
‘Jamie is almost 18 years older than me, so I have always known him as a plumber. As a youngster, I watched and helped him and I knew then that I wanted to be a plumber, too.
‘And as he’s shown me, you’ll never be out of work with a trade.’
Calum has a varied day, ranging from fixing leaking taps and lavatories to completely refurbishing high end bathrooms.
‘ I think this is why I enjoy my apprenticeship so much,’ he said.
‘The best bit of my job is when we complete something, such as a beautiful bathroom, and the customer is so happy with the end result, it’s so satisfying to see.
‘The worse bit of my job is probably unblocking lavatories and drains although I still get a sense of achievement when the blockage finally clears.’ Calum believes an apprenticeship was an obvious choice as he is a very ‘hands on’ person.
‘You do need to be practical and not afraid to get your hands dirty, but you also need to have good communication skills and feel comfortable chatting with people on all levels,’ he says.
‘For me, an apprenticeship was a far better option than going to university.
‘I believe that for people wanting to learn a trade it is better to learn on the job than in a classroom. The experience you gain as an apprentice is invaluable. I’m proud that I’m on my way to a skilled career that will take me anywhere, and earning while I’m learning.’
Pimlico offers several types of apprenticeships including plumbing, heating engineering, electrical, carpentry, building and mechanics.
A spokeswoman says: ‘ At Pimlico Plumbers we believe that apprenticeships are vital in tackling skills shortages and youth unemployment.
‘Apprenticeships offer a quality, hands on training route and many employers and young people benefit from them.’