PLUMBING APPRENTICESHIPS
Our people - our apprentices … our future
We have an extensive apprenticeship program where apprentices make up 30% of our trade employees. Our apprentices are selected from the TAFE Prevocational Training program. Apprentices have the opportunity to gain experience either within the construction industry in major or small contracts or within the Service division. Both offer different aspects according to work preferences.
A person who prefers personal interaction with customers and to self manage may prefer to specialise in service plumbing and the growing interest in sustainable energy and water saving products and services whereas another person may prefer to be part of a large team on a construction site like the Adelaide Airport and aspire to one day be a Project Manager for a $5m plumbing project
Once you commence an apprenticeship, apprentices spend eight weeks per year at TAFE in nationally accredited training, then are rotated and supervised throughout the company to ensure you have maximum exposure to different aspects of the trade, and to access and learn from the experience of different supervisors. It is in our interest to ensure that by the end of your apprenticeship, you are qualified to manage your work and be ready to take up extra training for promotion within the company.
During your apprenticeship, we arrange additional accredited training specific to the work you are doing and according to our policies and safety requirements e.g. Green Card, First Aid, OH&S, Asbestos training, Scissor lift operation. You are encouraged to extend your qualifications to include Gas Licence, Class B Electrical, Backflow prevention, and Contractors Licence (Master Plumber) during your apprenticeship time. Self motivated study is rewarded with a tiered wages structure for extra qualifications.
- Many of our apprentices win awards of excellence during their apprenticeships. We encourage and mentor apprentices to apply for awards like the Apprentice of the year and Worldskillls.
- Many who began their career as apprentices with Smith Brothers now run the company as Division Managers, Project managers, site managers and estimators.
- We recruit and employ the largest number of plumbing apprentices in South Australia in partnership with joint training schemes, and aim to take on twenty new apprentices pa.
- Due to our diversity, we can offer apprentices a wide range of experience and mentors.