There’s a new face on the tools at PGS! Meet Lily, our Plumbing and Gas Apprentice, who joined the team in September and is already getting stuck into life in the trade.
We caught up with Lily to find out how she became interested in plumbing and gas, what she’s enjoyed most during her first month and what she gets up to outside of work. From changing taps to holding a black belt in kickboxing, there’s more to Lily than meets the eye!
Finding Her Feet in the Trade
Before joining PGS, Lily had already gained some hands-on experience helping out in her dad’s garage as a mechanic. She also spent two years working at Cherry Lane Garden Centre, so she’s no stranger to getting stuck into different types of work.
Lily became interested in plumbing and gas through her connection with Sarah, who previously worked as an engineer at PGS. Working alongside Sarah gave Lily the opportunity to learn more about smaller domestic jobs, including changing taps, installing garden taps, fitting shower heads and replacing parts on baths.
Sarah helped Lily build her basic knowledge of the industry and develop confidence in her work. As another woman working in plumbing, Sarah also made Lily feel welcome in the trade and gave her someone to look up to when she was first starting out. These experiences helped Lily discover a genuine interest in plumbing and gas and encouraged her to pursue it as a career.
Now, she’s starting her own journey with us, completing a four-year plumbing and gas apprenticeship alongside her college studies at EAS Mechanical in Northampton.
Lily has already had the chance to visit a range of commercial sites, including Center Parcs. With so many different places to work and jobs to experience, she’s getting an early look at just how varied life in the trade can be.
Getting Hands-On from Day One
When we asked Lily what she’d enjoyed most so far, her answer wasn’t about visiting the biggest site or seeing the most complicated job. It was changing taps!
As Lily explained, “That was fun because I actually got to do it instead of watching it.”
Getting stuck in and carrying out the work herself has been a highlight of her first month. She’s enjoyed the variety of jobs she’s experienced so far and hasn’t found anything she hasn’t liked.
It’s still early days, but Lily is already getting opportunities to put her skills into practice, learn from the team and experience different sides of plumbing and gas. We’re looking forward to seeing what else she gets involved in as her apprenticeship progresses.
Six Things You Might Not Know About Lily 👀
There’s more to Lily than plumbing and gas, so we asked her a few questions to get to know the person behind the workwear!
- She’s a black belt in kickboxing. Lily started kickboxing when she was around six and continued until she was about 14. That’s a pretty impressive achievement!
- Meet Finley. Lily has a black Labrador called Finley, who sounds like a lovely companion to have waiting for her at home.
- She’s all about iced matcha. Her go-to is matcha with oat milk, white chocolate and ice.
- House music is her thing. Lily enjoys listening to house music, and her current favourite song is Take You to Paradise by Scott Steer.
- She has a big renovation dream. One day, Lily would love to buy an abandoned house and renovate it herself. With her hands-on attitude, we can see why that appeals to her.
- Her favourite food is steak pasta.
Lily’s Advice for Future Apprentices
We asked Lily what advice she’d give to someone thinking about starting an apprenticeship, and her answer was simple: just do it.
In her own words:
“I’d say just do it. Don’t look back at what you could have done; focus on what you’re actually doing. I feel like people are always asking, ‘What can I be in 10 years?’ instead of asking, ‘What am I going to do tomorrow?’
Don’t spend so much time worrying about 10 years from now. Think about what you’re doing today.”
It’s a great reminder not to get too caught up in planning every detail of the future. Sometimes, the best thing you can do is take that first step, give something a go and focus on what’s in front of you.
We’re Only Just Getting Started!
We’re really pleased to have Lily as part of the PGS team and can’t wait to see how she gets on throughout her apprenticeship.
Welcome to the team, Lily! Keep an eye on our socials to follow her journey.