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Trainee to trainer Three months after starting 100% Plumbing and Gas, Julian took the opportunity to share everything he’d learnt in his apprenticeship by taking on an apprentice of his own through Masterlink. He says he was determined to bring an apprentice on board who would be the perfect fit for his fledgling company—and Jayden ticked all the boxes. In Julian’s own experience, the first year of the apprenticeship was the hardest. “It started off slow, but then ramped right up as I started to ‘get it’ and understand more, which gave me confidence.” His advice to anyone completing an apprenticeship: although it might start out tough, stick with it as it does get easier and is worth it in the end. “It’s amazing to see how fast Jayden is coming along,” he says. “It’s also very rewarding.” Julian and Jayden connected via the local Masterlink Regional Manager, but Julian advises anyone looking for an apprenticeship at a company to go about it the right way. “Just sending an email or giving someone a phone call often isn’t enough,” he explains. “Go door knocking. Take the boss a coffee and actually go visit them—show them how keen you are.” In less than 10 years, Julian has gone from being the apprentice knocking on the door of a plumbing company, to the owner of his own plumbing company, training an apprentice. The future looks bright for Julian, Shannon, Jayden and 100% Plumbing and Gas.
APPRENTICE TO BUSINESS OWNER: Julian’s top tips
• The start of an apprenticeship can often be the hardest part—but stick with it! Once you gain knowledge, experience and confidence, it will become more straightforward. • Only you can get the most out of your apprenticeship, so aim high! • When looking for work experience—or a company to give you an apprenticeship—go door knocking. Showing your face, rather than simply emailing or phoning, shows how keen you are. • Contacting Masterlink to become an apprentice candidate can make getting an apprenticeship a much less daunting task. It’s also a great way for employers to find suitable candidates. • Look at an apprenticeship as playing the long game. You may not get paid much in the beginning, but in the long run you’ll have lots of opportunities and be able to earn more. • It may seem like a long time, but an apprenticeship actually goes by very quickly—so learn as much as you can, and get to know the industry and its people as much as possible. • Set a goal and go for it!
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