Name: Lee Dow
Centre: London
Years with OLCI: 1½

1. What did you do prior to becoming a plumbing and gas tutor?
I went into a plumbing apprenticeship straight out of school – completing 5 years of hard labour!  However, in my early twenties I did go and live in Spain for 5 years developing my plumbing skills, running my own business and generally enjoying life to the full.  I came back around 7 years ago and almost immediately found my way into a further education college where I obtained my teaching certificate and assessor’s award.

2. What do you like most about being a plumbing and gas tutor?
I enjoy the interaction with students and seeing people develop their skills.  We often have people coming into our centres who are either upgrading their skills or even completely changing their career path.  It is highly satisfying to see a student leaving after having completed one of our courses successfully and with the satisfaction that they have obtained skills that can then be transferred into the workplace.  We often have past students dropping in for a cup of coffee and a chat to let us know how they are progressing within the industry.

3. Do you have any particular tips on how to pass the practical assessments?
Preparation and practice is the key.  It is very important to read all of the instructions and prepare fully before starting any practical task as this is often neglected.  If you imagine building a house – you need to ensure that the foundations are solid – it is the same with doing a practical task.  Also, buy yourself a few tools and practice at home to perfect your skills, the more you do something the better you will become.

4. What’s your best practical tip for plumbing and gas engineers working on-site?
Be prepared to undertake all tasks within your field of work and quite often a few outside – it is the best way of gaining experience.  Having experience of the smaller, more mundane tasks can often help with your understanding of the bigger tasks.  Four absolutely essential skills to take onto site: make sure you are punctual, tidy in appearance and the way you work, and make sure you do a good job for the customer.

5. Do you have any funny stories or experiences from working as a plumbing and gas engineer that you’d like to share?
During my apprenticeship, on a lazy Friday afternoon, I had been left on-site to test three houses which had just been completed by my colleagues.  I was told I could go home as soon as this task had been completed.  I ran through all three houses turning the water on as I went, thinking ‘I will soon be out of here!’  Unfortunately my colleagues were not the best of tradesmen and by the time I had managed to get back to the first house there was water pouring through the ceiling.  The same happened in the second house, and at this point the ceiling fell down in the first house, quickly followed by the ceiling in the second house.  The third house was fine!  Sheepishly, I explained the situation to the site manager and left site having turned the water off and tidied up the mess.  At this point I might add it was around half past six in the afternoon and my Friday night out was seriously on the line.  As I drove home, my blood boiling, and trying to challenge the land speed record a rather annoying police officer stepped out from behind a bush to query my driving habits.  This did nothing to quell my anger in the slightest but the moral of the story is – less haste more speed!

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