Training Matters
MEET THE TWO DAVES Aqualisa's Shower Training Experts
This month The Installer magazine speaks to David Beattie and David May – the Northern and Southern Technical Product Trainers at Aqualisa, respectively. Both trainers talk about their career, training and the work Aqualisa are carrying out with apprentices and installers within the UK. David Beattie, Northern Technical Product Trainer
David May, Southern Technical Product Trainer
I have been lucky enough to train qualified installers in both Belgium and Dubai as Aqualisa’s products have achieved success in both countries." 62
Can you tell us a bit about your careers? What was your background prior to your current roles as Technical Product Trainer? DM: Before joining Aqualisa in 2000, I had been in the plumbing and heating industry for about 15 years, working in a variety of roles including sales positions and as a plumber. I originally joined Aqualisa as a service engineer before moving on to a Technical Product Trainer, a role I have enjoyed for the last 17 years. You wouldn’t think I was that old, would you? DB: When I was 16, I started an apprenticeship in Northern Ireland for Scottish & Northern Ireland Plumbing Employers Federation (SNIPEF) before working full-time as a heating engineer for Willis Heating in Belfast. After this, I worked as a self-employed service engineer for 16 years, servicing a range of products from various shower brands including Aqualisa. Finally, I joined the Aqualisa team as a Technical Product Trainer, a position I have held for the last five years. David May, your training role has taken you beyond the United Kingdom, can you tell us a bit about the training you have been involved with abroad? DM: During my time at Aqualisa I have been lucky enough to train qualified installers in both Belgium and Dubai as
Aqualisa’s products have achieved success in both countries. These trips were a learning curve for me, as well as the installers, as they work with different systems to the UK so I had to adjust my training accordingly. It was certainly challenging but it’s great to expand my own knowledge, so I can pass that on in my training here. David Beattie, much of your role in the North involves working with and training apprentices in colleges – can you tell us a little more about this? DB: I work very closely with colleges, putting together training courses to help get Level 2 and Level 3 apprentices up to speed on installing showers, which is also a great introduction to the Aqualisa brand. Having gone down the apprentice route myself, I feel this helps me to relate to the students I meet on a regular basis. The training seminars I present are always very well received. We present information on Aqualisa and effectively show samples of our products; including the original bi-metallic coil which has been used in a range of our showers for over 40 years. The course is also completely hands-on – for example, for smart and digital showers, we show them how to fit the smart valve and then they can try themselves.
