BBC News ClipsSatisfaction Survey
In 2004 City & Guilds carried out a survey to track the satisfaction of the country’s workforce, the Happiness index placed Plumbers as the 3rd happiest workers above Lawyers, Architects, Accountants and Scientists.
Needed Plumbers
Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) estimate we need 31,400 plumbers to qualify over the next 5 years to meet present demand.
Hardest Jobs To Fill
“Future Skill Shortages… the hardest to fill jobs in 2010 will be electricians and plumbers and in 2015 plumbers and nurses” City & Guilds Report August 2005
Courses Oversubscribed
“Plumbing Courses are oversubscribed with many people looking for a change in career. Last year, for instance Barking college had 2000 applicants for 75 places on its plumbing course” Guardian September 2005
Popular myths and History
Thomas Crapper
Thomas Crapper did not invent the toilet. Born in 1836 he did have a successful career in the plumbing industry in England from 1861 to 1904. He successfully patented a number of plumbing products. The last of the Plumbing Shops he started finally closed on London’s Kings Road in 1966.
Ancient Egypt
Evidence has been found that the ancient Egyptians were installing plumbing using copper pipe work and stone baths in 2500BC.
Ancient China
BEIJING (Reuters) - China has flushed Britain's claims to have invented the water closet down the pan with the discovery of a 2,000-year-old toilet complete with running water, a stone seat and a comfortable armrest. Archaeologists found the antique latrine in the tomb of a king of the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC to 24 AD), who believed his soul would need to enjoy human life after death. The official Xinhua news agency.
Do It Yourself
The do-it-yourself market is suffering as a generation of young homeowners decide to call in professional tradesmen and tell them to do-it-for-me.
This was one of the reasons B&Q Chief Executive Ian Cheshire insisted was behind another poor set of trading results from the DIY Super Store.
Research from GfK underline this trend: Five years ago 23% of new showers were purchased and installed by a professional tradesman with the rest bought by DIYers. That figure has now climbed to 29% last year.