Plumbing jobs are a key component of the UK construction industry but it is a highly competitive field. Joining an apprentice scheme is a great way for school leavers to start their career in plumbing and indeed any area of the construction industry.

Apprentice schemes provide excellent on the job training in a huge range of plumbing systems, as well as teaching would-be plumbers how various components work and how to install them. Plumbing jobs require a broad range of knowledge and skills and therefore prospective employees are going to be looking for highly skilled craftsmen and women.

Part of plumbing apprentice schemes will involve taking a certificate, which will cover topics such as basic plumbing skills, central heating systems, cold and hot water systems, sanitation, and safety issues. Apprentices looking to find plumbing jobs in areas such as gas will need to take advanced apprenticeships as a way to enter their chosen profession at a higher level.

People often forget that plumbers work for construction companies, as the trade is often associated with small companies or individuals providing services for commercial and domestic customers. However, with such a diverse range of skills required in plumbing jobs there are opportunities out there for good jobs with construction companies.

The jobs have changed in recent years so that plumbers need to know so many different things, not just how to service boilers or lay underground drainage pipes. They also fit environmentally friendly technologies such as solar water heating. Therefore, the wider range of training you get, the more marketable you become.