From Navy to Plumbing, why Auckland BT Plumbing and Gas Ltd apprenticeship is a great career path.
In 2005, Auckland 20-year-old Jordan Ross wanted to travel the world.
The Navy was the perfect opportunity to do this.
“I gained a lot of valuable experience over the next five years which provided me with self-discipline, pride in my work, team work and leadership skills - as well as the travel I was hoping for,” says Jordan.
“Once I had gotten the travel bug out of my system I set my sights higher and aimed to change trades to become a navy diver. The intakes for the branch are heavily contested and the attrition rates for the training courses are high, but after completing my courses with Dux, I joined the dive team in 2010, eventually completing all of my dive tickets,” says Jordan.
In 2013 Jordan started to look towards the future. “I had just gotten engaged to my now wife, and we had just bought our first house. The navy diver role is a dangerous and unpredictable one where at a moment's notice I may be called away to help recover a body or be taken overseas to help clear mines,” says Jordan.
While Jordan loved the thrill of this type of work, it didn't provide the stability that he wanted for his family. “I had considered being either a builder or a plumber but ultimately a trade was where I wanted to be, but all of the advice I was given leant towards plumbing and it’s a decision I have never regretted,” adds Jordan.
What drew Jordan to plumbing is that it is a skilled trade that is high in demand. “It provides employment opportunities anywhere in the country and the world and eventually the opportunity to be self-employed,” says Jordan.
This is where Jordan’s apprenticeship with BT Plumbing and Gas Ltd came to fruition. “I have been with BT Plumbing and Gas throughout my apprenticeship, and while I don’t have anything to compare it to I think an advantage would be the variety in our maintenance plumbing and gas work,” adds Jordan.
“I know that Bruce looks for employees who can think laterally and problem solve and relate well to the customer. I have been able to pick things up fairly quickly so I have been rewarded with BT's respect, trust and responsibility which is a huge thing for me,” comments Jordan.
“From very early on Bruce trusted me with his customers- it’s a huge compliment and has paid off for the business resulting in positive feedback from our customers through the BT website,” says Jordan.
Jordan is not the only ex-navy person that saw the potential in the plumbing career path. From Wellington, Dave Pascoe was a Navy Medic for six years serving on HMNZS Canterbury and HMNZS Manawanvi.
Dave choose this career path because he didn’t want an office job. “It is a good industry with lots to learn,” says Dave.
“A small team with good mentality,” is one of the advantages says Dave, of signing up for an apprenticeship with BT Plumbing & Gas Ltd. “They take the job seriously but also know how to have fun,” adds Dave.
Dave consider his core values to be: “always be honest. Always be trustworthy both to clients and co-workers,” says Dave.
If you are thinking about switching career paths or looking for a new adventure contact Masterlink about their apprenticeship programme.
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