Plumbing courses could see more demand from young people if the remarks of one apprentice are taken on board by others.
Stephen Jackson, who is 16 years old and from Chester-le-Street, managed to secure his apprenticeship through a joint project between Sunderland Football Club and Cestria Community Housing.
He revealed how grateful he is to the organisers for offering him the work and had some positive words to say about the job, which could inspire other young people to opt for plumbing courses as a career move.
"The work is varied and you get to meet lots of new people - I am looking forward to learning more about the plumbing and heating trade," said Mr Jackson.
A representative from Cestria lauded the young plumber's commitment and wished him luck for the future.
Last week, managing director of the National Self-Build & Renovation Centre Tim Doherty urged consumers to call out a professional plumber if they have complex tasks that need doing, such as boiler maintenance.
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