Plumbers told to get a broader skillset

By Kate Southam

The need for a cleaner, greener world means today’s plumbers need a broader skill set than just traditional technical skills according to new research.

A new report by the National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER) recommends plumbers develop “generic” skills as well as technical skills specifically to meet the demand for environmental sustainability.

Report authors Sian Halliday-Wynes and John Stanwick looked at how the plumbing sector was changing and the key drivers of that change as well as the skills and training needed to meet these changes.

The two found that while the relevancy of technical skills has remained largely unchanged, laws and regulations designed to promote water-saving including the promotion of ‘greener’ plumbing products had created the need for additional skills.

Those skills include basic business, IT, and customer service skills regarded as “soft skills” when compared to the technical training involved in becoming a plumber.

The report authors write: “Broader generic skills are seen as being very important in the modern context of plumbing. Most respondents specifically mentioned computer skills and more advanced IT skills and communication skills as crucial.”

TAFE teachers and trainers were also promoting the need for apprentices to consider gaining skills outside their technical trade. Established plumbers surveyed also said they were using business and IT skills to successfully run their own show.

The authors explain that TAFE and industry groups also recognised the need for plumbers to develop good communication skills to use with customers.

“For example, being able to explain to customers the advantages and disadvantages of particular installations. Plumbers admit that in some cases their customer service skills are not what they should be.

“Accounting is also an important component of running a small business and many plumbers are reliant on their spouses who take care of accounts and keep up to date with legislative changes.”

TAFE trainers were already including new practices into coursework by drawing on their ongoing involvement in family plumbing businesses, national committees or professional bodies, and being involved in changes to state legislation.

NCVER claims that while the industry understands the need for a broad skillset for plumbers getting qualified plumbers to access training was “challenging”.

“It’s clear from the interviews in this research that entry-level training at TAFE needs to keep up with what’s happening in the industry and continue to emphasise the fundamentals. It must also provide the generic analytical and communication skills needed to deal with legislation, regulators and increasingly fussy or bewildered customers as well as establishing the foundation for continuing professional development”, says Dr Tom Karmel, managing director of NCVER.

“As to up-skilling already qualified plumbers, vendor training is offered by large manufacturers, although such training is often in a sales context. A more controversial approach would be to make ongoing professional development a condition of
registration, as is the case in New Zealand,” says Dr Karmel.

Copies of Plumbing, sustainability and training are available from
www.ncver.edu.au/publications/2451.html