Being a plumber is all about working with water and pipes! Imagine if your toilet wouldn't flush, or your shower was always cold. A plumber is the superhero who comes to fix those problems. They install and repair pipes, fittings, and fixtures that carry water and gas in homes, schools, and offices. This could involve everything from fixing a leaky tap, unblocking a drain, installing a new boiler to keep your house warm, or even putting in a brand new bathroom! It's a hands-on job where you get to solve problems and make a real difference to people's daily lives. You'll need to be good at figuring things out, enjoy working with your hands, and be happy to travel to different places for work.
The average salary for a plumber in the UK is around 35,000 to 45,000 pounds per year. However, experienced plumbers or those running their own business can earn more.
Apprentice plumbers or those just starting out can expect to earn around 12,000 to 20,000 pounds per year, which usually increases as they gain more experience and qualifications.
The demand for skilled plumbers in the UK is expected to remain steady, with thousands of job openings each year. This means it's a career with good job security.
Imagine being a plumber, but specialising in everything that keeps homes warm! Heating engineers fit and fix boilers, radiators, and underfloor heating systems. It's a great job for someone who likes solving problems and helping people stay cosy.
If you enjoy putting things together like LEGOs, but with pipes, this could be for you! Pipefitters work on bigger projects like factories, hospitals, or large buildings, fitting together all the pipes that carry water, gas, or other liquids. It's precise work and needs a good eye for detail.
Sometimes pipes get blocked or broken, and that's where a drainage engineer comes in! They use special cameras and tools to find and fix problems in drains and sewers. It's a bit like being a detective for pipes and is really important for keeping our towns clean and working properly.
Subjects like Design and Technology (D&T) are a great way to learn about how things are built and repaired, and to develop practical skills.
D&T can help you understand tools, materials, and basic construction principles. You might get to work with different materials, learn about problem-solving, and even build small projects. These skills are really useful for a future in plumbing.
Hobbies that involve making or fixing things, like model building, DIY with your family, or helping with garden projects, can be very helpful.
Any activity that involves using your hands to build, assemble, or repair items will help you develop dexterity and a practical mindset. Think about helping out with home repairs, learning to fix your bike, or even taking apart old electronics to see how they work. This hands-on experience is a great foundation for plumbing.
Look up what a plumber's day-to-day work involves. You can watch videos, read articles, or even chat to a plumber you might know.
Understanding the variety of tasks a plumber undertakes, from fixing leaks and installing boilers to working on new build homes, will give you a clearer picture of the job. You can find many resources online, including YouTube videos that show plumbers at work, or websites for plumbing organisations that describe different specialisms within the trade.
After school, you could look into vocational courses at a local college. These courses often focus on practical skills for specific jobs.
Colleges offer Level 1, 2, and 3 diplomas in plumbing. These courses will teach you the fundamentals of plumbing theory, health and safety, pipework skills, and how to install and maintain different systems. They are a good stepping stone before an apprenticeship, giving you a solid grounding.
Try to get some work experience with a local plumber or plumbing company. Even a few days can give you a real insight into the job.
Work experience is invaluable. You'll see first-hand what a plumber's day is like, learn about tools, and observe how professionals interact with customers. Even if it's just shadowing or helping with basic tasks, it shows initiative and gives you practical exposure to the environment.
Maths is important for measurements and calculations, and science (especially physics) helps you understand how water and heating systems work.
Plumbers need good maths skills for measuring pipes, calculating angles, and estimating materials. Understanding basic physics principles, like water pressure, heat transfer, and how different materials expand and contract, is crucial for designing and troubleshooting systems effectively. Paying attention in these subjects at school will really pay off.
An apprenticeship is the main way to become a qualified plumber. You'll work for a company, earn a wage, and study at college at the same time.
Plumbing apprenticeships typically last 3-4 years. You'll gain hands-on experience working alongside experienced plumbers, learning practical skills on real jobs. Alongside this, you'll attend college to gain formal qualifications like an NVQ Level 2 or 3 in Plumbing and Heating. This combination of work and study is the most common and respected route to becoming a qualified plumber.
Plumbers often work in people's homes, so being friendly, polite, and good at explaining things is really important.
You'll be dealing directly with customers, often when they have a problem or an emergency. Being able to communicate clearly, reassure them, and explain the work you're doing in a way they understand is a key part of the job. Good customer service can lead to repeat business and positive recommendations.
Once qualified, you can choose to specialise in areas like gas work (Gas Safe registered), renewable energy, or commercial plumbing.
After completing your initial plumbing qualification, there are many avenues for further development. For example, to work on gas appliances, you'll need to gain specific qualifications to become Gas Safe registered. You might also choose to specialise in fitting bathrooms, working with unvented hot water systems, or installing eco-friendly heating solutions like heat pumps. Continuous learning keeps your skills up-to-date and opens up new opportunities.
Like plumbers work with water, electricians work with electricity. They install and repair wiring, lighting, and other electrical systems in buildings.
Gas engineers specialise in installing, maintaining, and repairing gas appliances and systems, making sure they are safe to use. This often works closely with plumbers on boiler installations.
These engineers design, install, and maintain systems that control the temperature and air quality in buildings, making sure they are warm in winter and cool in summer.
Explore relevant apprenticeships that can help you kickstart your career in Plumber. Apprenticeships offer hands-on experience and training while earning a wage.
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You can get into this job through:
You could complete a college course which may help you to find a trainee position with a plumbing company.
Courses include:
Entry requirements for these courses vary.
4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths for a T Level
You can apply to do a Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship to learn the skills needed to become a plumber. Apprenticeships include:
You could also do a Low Carbon Heating Technician Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship, if you want to become a heat pump engineer.
You may be able to start in an assistant role by doing a Building Services Engineering Level 2 Foundation Apprenticeship.
You can apply for a foundation apprenticeship if you're aged 16 to 21.
If you're aged 22 to 24, you can apply if you:
You'll usually need:
You may be able to start as a plumber's assistant or 'mate' and train on the job to qualify.
You'll usually need some GCSEs, including English and maths, along with good practical skills.
You could apply directly for jobs if you've got qualifications and several years' experience from related industries, like building services or heating and ventilation engineering.
You can join the Chartered Institute of Plumbing and Heating Engineering for professional development training and industry news.
You can find out more about becoming a plumber from the Chartered Institute of Plumbing and Heating Engineering and Go Construct.
Explore other careers or use our AI to discover personalised paths based on your interests.
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