My apprenticeship journey: Chris Liffen

In the third of our National Apprenticeship Week interviews we catch up with Echelon Associate Consultant Chris Liffen, who started his career as an apprentice plumber in 1982, aged 16.

He talks about his journey from apprentice to director, and the lessons that he has learnt along the way.

What was the motivation for starting your apprenticeship?

My dad, who was a carpenter, encouraged me to learn a trade. He was a bit of a multi-trader and when I was 14 he installed a heating system in our house. I enjoyed helping him on the job, and so thought plumbing would be a good trade.

In your opinion what are the benefits of apprenticeships compared to other educational paths?

Back in 1982, learning a trade through an apprenticeship gave me the benefit of paid employment whilst learning, and clear salary progression as I achieved my various accreditations. I don’t think much has changed since then apart from the range of apprenticeships available. My daughter has just completed the first part of her health & safety apprenticeship and is going on to do a degree level qualification whilst in full-time employment and without the debt that comes from university.

How has your apprenticeship helped you in your career development?

My apprenticeship gave me a good grounding in building construction knowledge. As a plumber you work alongside other trades, carpenters, bricklayers, plasterers, electricians, groundworkers etc, and you learn how a building really comes together. From a repairs perspective this also gave me an understanding of job pricing and different pricing models. As I moved on to a supervisory role this allowed me to support the trades I was working with, as well as giving me a clear understanding of what I could expect of them.

As I progressed through managerial roles and on to director, I believe my understanding of the process involved in delivering services, from client orders to work being undertaken, has ensured that both clients and boards have confidence in my reports.

I also believe that this same experience has given me a good relationship with the teams that I have managed, enabling them to work with me through challenging times and periods of change, and to support difficult decisions, knowing that I would also support them with a full understanding of the challenges they face.

Can you tell me about any memorable experiences/challenges that you’ve faced in your career to date?

Being an apprentice in 1982! Friendly hazing was just a part of the induction. The common story about getting sent to the stores for a long wait, isn’t a joke. I was there three hours! We always had a good laugh about it afterwards and it was all part of being accepted into the team, but it doesn’t happen anymore, at least not that I’m aware of.

The most challenging part of the apprenticeship for me which made me frustrated was the disconnect between what I was learning at college and what I was doing in the workplace. I learnt lead flashing in college, and I wanted to be practicing next week at work. It never worked that way, so I had to be patient – the learning and the practical will always come together.

What advice would you give to anybody considering an apprenticeship?

An apprenticeship offers a great way to gain training and qualifications while earning a wage. While the salary may be low at the start, look at where you could be when you complete the training, and all without the £9k+ annual debt that comes from university.

Think about the industry you want to work in. You must start somewhere and whilst the apprenticeship may not be in the role where you see your career developing, it is a stepping stone to where you want to be. Who knows, you may gain the experience to build your career beyond your original expectations, just like I have.

If you choose an apprenticeship, be patient, it will all click in the end, and although I am sure hazing is in the past … keep an eye out for the long waits, tartan paint and sky hooks!