Find a Job

You've probably heard the myth before: traditional, university education is for those 'clever' enough, and that a 'trade' is a secondary option for those who can't afford or qualify for university or academic education. Well, let it be known, modern times are very different and these days an apprenticeship is a hugely beneficial thing for your career.

In this difficult economic time, with university fees having dramatically increased and spaces becoming less available, more and more people are considering a modern apprenticeship, and not just those interested in the traditional trades that you might expect. Over 190 different sectors now offer modern apprenticeships programmes developed in association with the government, and designed to help young people establish a foot on a career ladder and learn a whole set of valuable skills, both specific and widely transferable.

Plumbing is one of the classic trades in the UK, and an industry in need of young blood. Whilst it might sound archaic, the truth is that much of the country's plumbing system is old and tried. So as well as plumbers receiving standard call-outs such as say, blocked pipes or fitting a shower, you'll also be responsible for installing and understanding all-new digital systems that reflect today's modern plumbing challenges. An interest in new technology is just as important asset in modern plumbing as a good head for logic and problem-solving.

Starting salaries after a plumbing apprenticeship range from 17,000 to 21,000 a year - if you choose to work for a company. Many recently qualified plumbers will stay with the firm that took them on as an apprentice in the first place. As a guild member and freelance plumber later on, you can write your own paycheque and while you're not exactly holding the general public to ransom, there will be times they will gladly pay you whatever you ask for your services.

You'll also earn whilst you learn. All apprentices under the age of 19 and over the age of 16 command a minimum wage of no less than 2.60 an hour, although you may earn more dependent on your employer. Regardless, whilst this doesn't necessarily seem like a great amount, it's nothing compared to the debt you might otherwise rack up at university.