Bancrofts Plumbing & Heating

Paignton

Allan Bancroft

Owner

Apprenticeships are a real economic benefit to the plumbing industry as well as a good way of finding out who’s suited to the job, says the head of a Paignton firm.

Allan Bancroft of Bancrofts Plumbing & Heating is so keen on them as a way of learning the trade that he’s encouraged his own son, Fred, to undertake a four-year apprenticeship through South Devon College.
 
“He’s doing plumbing for the first two years, then two years of gas work,” says Mr Bancroft. “The college is flexible and Fred’s learning curve is increasing.

“In another year he’ll be very good and he’ll be doing his own thing. The apprenticeship has also made a difference to his people skills.”

Mr Bancroft’s belief in apprenticeships is very much rooted in the realities of what can be a very demanding trade.

“They can go through a phase where they wonder if it’s for them,” he says. “It’s partly a growing-up thing. The reality is crawling around in floors, and it’s easy to make mistakes that are pretty devastating.

“You have to be extremely careful what you let apprentices do. You’re starting off with someone who’s wondering what’s going on, then gradually bringing them into it.

“It’s all about believing in people’s potential. They’re still useful and they get a very good qualification at the end of it.”

Mr Bancroft, whose son is on a day-release course at South Devon College, says there are tangible benefits for employers who take on apprentices.

“The main benefit of taking on a youngsters is it’s more cost-effective than employing someone who is qualified,” he says. “Having an apprentice fits in quite well because you can do it without increasing all the other overheads.

“We get a relatively inexpensive labour force for four to five years, but they are going to get training and a qualification that will allow them to work for themselves or maybe get a job with a bigger company.

“I’ll probably take on another this year. From our point of view, it’s good to have someone coming through all the time.”

As for Fred Bancroft, he’s happy to recommend apprenticeships to other young people – and he’s full of praise for South Devon College, too.

“You can’t do better than learning on the job,” he says. “The college have been great. They’ve helped me every step of the way. It helps that we have actual plumbers in the college teaching us.”

South Devon College