Plumb Centre launches industry initiative to better support the next generation

The new initiative, Gen T, has been launched by Plumb Centre to better understand and support the next generation of trade professionals.

As part of the initiative, tradespeople from across the industry are being invited to share their experiences in a national survey that will help shape future support for those entering the trade.

While Gen T is centred on understanding the experiences of younger tradespeople, the survey is open to tradespeople of all ages and experience levels. By bringing together views from across the trade, Plumb Centre hopes to build a picture of the challenges faced by younger tradespeople, identify potential support and understand where the industry could improve.

Earlier this year, Plumb Centre sat down with a group of young plumbers and heating engineers, apprentices, newly qualified tradespeople and others finding their feet in the industry to understand their experiences.

What they heard was clear: young tradespeople are motivated, ambitious and proud of what they do.

However, while the trade offers fantastic opportunities, there are moments, particularly in those early years, where they suggest better support could make a real difference. Whether it’s the right advice at the right time or being taken seriously by merchants and suppliers, early experiences can shape the tradesperson someone becomes.

Their feedback suggests first days in the trade are formative. Loading up a van for the first time, arriving on site or heading to a merchant with an unfamiliar materials list – those early experiences, alongside skills learned, mistakes made and support offered, all play a part in shaping a career.

Those initial conversations provided the foundation for Gen T, but Plumb Centre is now looking to hear from a much broader cross-section of the industry. The more voices involved, the better the understanding of what today’s tradespeople need and how the industry can better support tomorrow’s workforce.

Prizes on offer

To thank those who take part, there are a range of prizes available throughout the survey. Every completed section earns an entry into a prize draw, with those who complete the full survey also entered into the grand prize draw to win a Milwaukee M18 FUEL™ Promo Powerpack worth £750 RRP. Additional prizes include a prize bundle from Bristan, a selection of Grundfos prizes, a Makita site radio and Digifunk radios.

The survey, bein run in partnership with NAPIT, CIPHE and brands including Bristan, Milwaukee and Grundfos, is now live and can be accessed here: Survey: Empowering the next generation. 

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