Plumb Center welcomes apprentices

Apprentices from plumbers merchant Plumb Center and sister company Parts Center attended a special apprentices-only day at Wolseley UK’s head office to assess their progress and chart career development.

The 18 apprentices met Plumb and Parts managing director Keith Jones and other senior managers from the business as well as taking part in a group project called The Hoist.

This was a teambuilding task where apprentices designed and built a real life pulley.

The apprenticeship scheme is a two year programme focused on customer service.

The first year sees apprentices complete their intermediate level apprenticeship, whilst year two takes them to level three.

Apprentices are based at a ‘home’ Plumb Center branch and spend time at other branches in their ‘home’ branch network to broaden their experience. The scheme includes regular performance reviews so that all apprentices stay on track and develop throughout the programme.

Operations training manager Frank Clayton, who manages the programme said: “Our apprentice scheme brings fresh people into the business and encourages them to develop within the company.

“Apprentices gain real life work experience and on-the-job training and we hope that all of our apprentices go on to further their careers with Plumb Center and Parts Center.”

Network manager Nathan Morrison of Plumb Center Leeds joined a Plumb and Parts trainee scheme a number of years ago, similar to the Apprenticeship Scheme run today, and rose through the ranks to oversee the development of today’s recruits.

He said: “I’m living proof that the apprentice scheme works.”

There are currently 20 apprentices within the business.