A father and son who started up their own plumbing business in Nottingham four years ago did not have to look very far when increasing workloads meant that they needed to take on an apprentice.
Phil Curtis and his son, Shane, started Mint Plumbing when the bathroom chain they both worked for went into liquidation. Business has been booming ever since and when they realised they needed another pair of hands and wanted to take on apprentice, there was one ready and waiting in the wings, in the form of Phil’s other son, Scott.
Scott had not initially gone into plumbing but having seen how well work was going for his father and brother, and seeing the training opportunities that are available, he knew that joining the family firm was the right move.
“I’m really looking forward to starting to learn about plumbing,” the 24-year-old told the Nottingham Post. “I know bits and bobs, so I’m keen to get learning.”
Shane said that they were inspired to make the new position an apprenticeship due to the initiatives and encouragement that are currently around to promote the work-based training.
“I was an apprentice myself when I was younger and I think it is a really good way to get into work because you are learning and earning at the same time,” he said to the newspaper. “I think apprenticeships are a great way to start a career and can really benefit a business.”
Scott will spend one day a week at the local college carrying out theory training, and will spend the rest of the time learning on the job. The Nottinghamshire Post is running a campaign to find 300 apprenticeship placements in 100 days, as part of its Get Notts Working programme.