Custom Heat & Cool has welcomed government plans to help smaller businesses take on young people; however, it said the detail will decide whether they work.
The government published its Construction Jobs Plan this month as part of the Industrial Strategy. It commits to 40,000 construction placements a year, towards an existing ambition of 100,000 job opportunities annually in the sector.
The plan includes a new Construction Apprenticeship Network to boost recruitment by smaller firms. Plumbing is named among the skilled trades it will cover.
A statement said the industry will also plan workforce needs at national, regional and local level, including in repair and maintenance. Mayors, employers and Local Skills Improvement Plans will have a bigger role in shaping training around local jobs, it added.
The plan sits alongside existing support. This includes an incentive of up to £2,000 for smaller firms taking on an apprentice aged 16 to 24, and a National Insurance exemption for apprentices under 25.
Lincoln Smith, managing director, said support for smaller employers was welcome, as firms like his rely on apprentices to grow.
He said: “Apprenticeships are how we build our team. Heating and plumbing is skilled, technical work.
“Our engineers work on modern systems and they’re in people’s homes every day. They need to be good with customers as well as the kit. Young people should see the trade as a proper career, not a fallback.
“Taking on an apprentice is a big commitment for a small business. You’re paying wages and giving up an experienced engineer’s time for several years before that person is fully qualified. Colleges are stretched too, and that can slow apprentices down.
“A network that helps smaller firms recruit is a good idea. But we haven’t seen yet how it will work in practice.
“If it cuts the admin, puts firms in touch with the right candidates and helps colleges keep up, it will help businesses like ours take on more young people.”
Lincoln added that he would be inviting John Slinger, MP for Rugby, where the firm is based, to meet its apprentices and hear directly from a small employer about what support is needed.