SOLUTIONS FOR A LOWER SKILLED WORKFORCE

How can ongoing product development support an industry gripped with continued skills shortages? Antony Corbett, product applications engineer at Geberit, examines how R&D from manufacturers is making things easier for installers in a rapidly evolving industry.

The UK Skills Index 2023 shows an ‘alarming’ skills gap in construction, with plumbing one of the trades facing the biggest shortage. More than 73,000 plumbers are needed by 2032 according to the research commissioned by Checkatrade, part of a total 937,000 new recruits needed in the construction and trade sector. Nearly a quarter of a million of those need to be qualified apprentices to plug a growing skills gap.

Of course, the skills gap is not a new concern in our industry, but it becomes even more critical as the UK continues its shift towards achieving Net Zero, with new technologies and new priorities for installers to consider.

Addressing the issue

Whilst good work continues to be done at an industry level to get more people into training and apprenticeship schemes, it is evident that more can be done to train installers on how to install specific systems and materials.

In the past I participated in a CIBSE roundtable event with contractors and consultants, sponsored by Geberit, where education and training was a hot topic – particularly the need to give the right training for individual systems. One participant noted that there is too much emphasis on price reductions, as opposed to good training and getting the right skills for the relevant products.

One of the biggest issues is the polarised age demographic of the plumbing and heating industry. Many young consultant engineers entering the workplace have little onsite experience. Those at the other end of the scale approaching retirement may be more reluctant to move away from technologies and materials that they have used for most of their working life.

In fact, by embracing new technologies, installers of all ages can take advantage of quicker, more reliable and easier installation. Making installation methodologies easier in key areas such as piping is a huge area of research and development focus for manufacturers – and in a continued skills shortage, another tool to help mitigate the impact of such shortages.

A simpler solution

A lot of work has been done in recent years to make it harder for installers to get piping system installations wrong, with features such as colour coordination and simple to use press-fit systems. Even so, some installers do still fit simple systems incorrectly on occasion, particularly if they haven’t received the correct training for the individual system as highlighted above, or if they skip critical stages.

With Geberit’s new Geberit FlowFit multi-layer system, it is much simpler to install than most other system types, with fewer stages to complete a joint. Whether a new apprentice just coming out of college or an older installer who is used to welding, it could not be more simple for a labour force becoming less and less skilled, to get it right first time.

Geberit FlowFit combines the benefits of multi-layer piping (including flexibility and strength) with a unique, patented pressing method for a quicker, more reliable and more sustainable installation.

Input from plumbers played a decisive role in the development phase, during which Geberit was able to reduce everything that makes work on the building site difficult and cumbersome. It means effortless and intuitive processes during installation, including far more convenient pressing, because the installer only has to place the pressing jaw on the side of the fitting rather than around the pipe, with no need for deburring and calibration of the pipes (unless there is a particularly bad cut). Crucially, the tool and pressing indicator fit together like a lock and key, which virtually eliminates any risk of a failed pressing sequence caused by incorrect positioning.

Industry-wide efforts

Geberit FlowFit is not the only example of manufacturer innovation to support easier installation. Others include Geberit’s Duofix system, which includes intuitive fixings and the inclusion of water inlets and waste outlets as part of the assembly kit. This eliminates the need for additional components when installing the cistern inside a drywall for wall hung toilets. The result is a strong, reliable and leak free finish, with quick and simple installation.

These systems and more have been developed over many years with input and feedback from installers to facilitate easier installations no matter the experience level of the individual using them. Efforts will of course continue to raise vital skills and standards across the industry, but the research and development investment of manufacturers is also playing a key role in helping to maintain the integrity of installations.

https://www.wolseley.co.uk/brands/geberit/