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PLUMBING CONNECTION
SPRING 2015 19
I know it’s not in the nature of contractors to spend money
on education but these issues need serious consideration.
Having a start in the plumbing industry is quite a leg up in
this day and age. You get paid well to learn on the job in an
age when most ~22 year olds coming out of university have
gotten by on slim pickings from after-hours retail jobs. They
also have a HECS-HELP burden to shoulder for many years
and generally pay packets on entering their chosen career
(let’s put aside law, investment banking and specialist
medicine) are fairly mediocre.
In putting this first edition together, I had the privilege of
meeting former onsite plumber Andy Farrell, who has turned
adversity from a life-threatening sporting accident into a
positive outcome for himself and this industry, by producing
and marketing a complete estimating kit, something this
industry has long been waiting for.
At another level, Plumbing Connection editor Justin
Felix caught up with Robert Woolley, whose family has
run a successful plumbing business for the past 50 years
in and around Melbourne. While Rob is full-time across
the business he also makes time to teach estimating
at Holmesglen TAFE where he shares some real world
experience and knowledge with the next generation of
plumbers and those who are ready to take the next step
of running their own business. He’s added his valuable
knowledge to this story which in many ways seems like
basic info… except too many contractors keep ignoring the
obvious.
To finish this feature, we introduce you to the debt
recovery training services from Anthony Igra, which you can
access anytime over the web.
Anthony has developed specialist knowledge courses
to assist you and your staff to improve your dealing with
customers and smooth out the payment process – without
the usual hassles.
We thoroughly recommend you sign up to both service
offerings from Andy and Anthony as you will significantly
improve your business practices and sleep far better at
night.
I’m sure there are also lots of ideas and tips about these
two issues hidden away in plumbing offices around the
nation – if you have some, feel free to share a few with us for
future articles and help lift the standard (and profit) of the
industry.
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