Plumber

As a plumber, you'll:

• install and repair water, heating and drainage systems
•  cut, shape and join pipes and fittings
•  service gas and oil-fired central heating systems and radiators
•  respond to emergency call-outs, like broken boilers or blocked drains
•  fit weather-proof materials and flashings to roofs, chimneys and walls

We've identified this as a potential green job

For a plumber to be a green job, you could:

• install solar powered hot water systems
•  replace old copper piping and joints with recyclable components
•  fit heat pumps in households to reduce reliance on fossil fuels

Find out more about green careers

• the ability to use, repair and maintain machines and tools
• knowledge of building and construction
• to be thorough and pay attention to detail
• knowledge of maths 
• the ability to work well with others
• the ability to use your initiative
• the ability to work well with your hands
• customer service skills
• to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device

You can get into this job through:

• a college course
• an apprenticeship
• working towards this role
• applying directly

With experience, you could:

• do further training to become a heat pump engineer
•  work with ventilation and air-conditioning systems, or renewable energy technologies like solar powered heating
•  get certified with the Oil Firing Technical Association (OFTEC)
•  become a master plumber or move into building services engineering
•  teach and assess trainee plumbers in a further education (FE) college or training centre.

Find out more about working in FE from Teach in further education.