When perseverance pays off

We don’t always see the effort that goes into completing an apprenticeship. And we don’t often hear about the challenges an apprentice may face along the way. Conor George’s journey offers one example of what it can take to see an apprenticeship through.

After four and a half years of learning his trade, honing his skills and contending with personal loss, Conor has officially qualified as a plumber.

It’s a milestone that started from a chance conversation, with support along the way from trainers, field officers, mentors and employers.

Conor first explored the idea of becoming a plumber after his dad approached Skill Hire field officer Adrian Wilson at a trade show and sparked a conversation about a possible career pathway.

“Without telling me, Dad just told Adrian that his son wanted to do an apprenticeship,” Conor said. “He got all this information and he came home and said, ‘Here you go. You’re 26. You should have something behind you before you’re 30.’ After thinking it through, it just seemed like a no brainer in the end.”

Conor had already been working for a plumbing supplier so he had some understanding of the trade, but from the moment he rolled his sleeves up on the worksite, he knew he was in the right place.

“It was incredible. The confidence that using tools can give you is incredible. And that’s outside of work too. It opens up a whole new world. That ability to be able to fix things, not only for yourself but your neighbours, your friends…it’s such a great feeling.”

Just five weeks into the pre-apprenticeship, Conor’s dad unexpectedly passed away.

Despite being given the time and space to step away, Conor made the bold decision to return to his training.

“They told me, ‘You don’t have to do this. No one is expecting you to do this,’ and I think that really spurred me to go back,” Conor said. “Going back to class was extremely difficult, but everyone was so supportive. I knew from that day that I’d made the right decision.”

Conor’s efforts were recognised when he received the 2023 MPA Skills Plumbing Achievement and Encouragement Award.

Conor went on to complete his apprenticeship with support from Skill Hire, progressing from his pre-apprenticeship through the years of training to become a qualified plumber.

“It was a massive range of emotions,” he said. “I just felt a deep sense of gratitude for everyone who’d been involved in the whole process. Each field officer, each teacher, the Skill Hire team and the workplace they’d provided. I wanted to make sure that I could do my best to thank everyone. I just felt a really deep sense of gratefulness.”

Reflecting on his journey, Conor said having support beyond the workplace gave him greater flexibility throughout his apprenticeship and helped him get the most from his training.

“It gives you the freedom to work and change with your apprenticeship to what suits your skills. That might be maintenance plumbing, commercial plumbing, new builds or civil. Having a field officer who’ll support that decision, bounce it back off you and check in with you every three months, that’s a really cool thing to have.”

In sharing the news of his achievement, Conor dedicated it to his dad, saying he hoped he would be proud of the tradesman he had become.

Now qualified, Conor is looking forward to continuing to learn, grow and develop his career in the plumbing industry.

“I made another difficult decision recently. I gave my boss plenty of notice that I’m moving to Sydney to be with my partner. So I’m moving over east and giving the plumbing industry there a red-hot crack. It’s going to be a big step, but I’m really excited.”