James Runham – Apprentice Plumber

At the time of your initial employment, you were given the opportunity to work in various departments at Group Metropolitan, what made you choose the plumbing route of our apprenticeship scheme?

When I was lucky enough to be offered the opportunity to be an apprentice, I wasn’t completely sure which trade I wanted to pursue. My dad has been a plumber/pipefitter for over 40 years, the last 5 of which have been here at Group Metropolitan, so after speaking with him at length, it was an easy decision.

What do you feel was the biggest challenge you faced during your apprenticeship?

I started my apprenticeship just before Covid and it was a huge challenge trying to learn as there were so many restrictions put in place.?My Level 2 course should have been completed over two years, but with a quieter than usual period with the lockdowns, I was able to focus more time on the academic side of my studies and I managed to complete the 2 year course content in 1 year. As recognition for my efforts, I was awarded the BESA Apprentice of the Year award for London, Midlands & South of England which I am very proud of.

Do you feel there’s enough support throughout your apprenticeship?

The team within Group Metropolitan are very supportive and are always happy to help with any questions I have, the support has been amazing. I feel comfortable asking questions and nobody makes me feel silly for doing it.?The high level of support I received definitely helped me complete the Level 2 course in a shorter time frame.

Where do you see yourself in the next few years?

In the next 2/3 years I hope to be completely confident and competent with all aspects of plumbing, and be in a position to help new apprentices that are recruited.?There are lots of experienced staff within Group Metropolitan who I can learn from, and work towards being the best plumber I can possibly be.?

What does your typical day involve?

The best thing about my job is variety, I work on different sites and this makes it very interesting as no two days are the same, I get to work with different people who are all happy to help me. My working hours also vary from one week to the next, between days and nights and often weekend work is required. I enjoy the variation that I have week to week.

Do you have any former apprentices in your team who are now full-time members of staff who have really helped you?

All the trades people I work with currently completed their apprenticeships with other companies, but because they’ve started as apprentices, they understand the importance of helping and guiding me, to ensure things are done correctly. There are a number of others in my department that started with Group Metropolitan as apprentices and have worked their way to even higher positions, such as supervisors, engineers, managers and even Directors. There is plenty of opportunity for me to grow my career with the company.