Plumbers are struggling to hire apprentices due to wage demands, Boiler Upgrade Scheme applications double and Prince Andrew confront buildings putting in speed bumps
More than half of plumbers claim they’re struggling to hire apprentices due to high wages and National Insurance contributions -— that’s according to research from Wavin.
Half of the respondents to the Behind the Pipes survey also struggled to find suitable candidates.
The survey revealed that 39% of plumbers didn’t have time to properly train or supervise apprentices.
With the government aiming to create 30,000 apprenticeships in the next four years, 49% of plumbers also wanted to see apprentice wages subsidised.
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Applications for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) have jumped by nearly 50% in the first half of the year.
Government figures indicate that over 87,000 people have applied for the £7,500 subsidiary, with 97% opting for air source heat pumps.
Chris Collinson, chief executive of heat pump manufacturer Aira, said the figures showed the industry was on track to hit 600,000 annual installations by 2028.
Heat pump sales reached nearly 100,000 units last year.
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Prince Andrew had a foul-mouthed rant at builders installing speed bumps near his 31-bedroom mansion.
The 65-year-old Duke of York was riding his horse around Windsor Great Park estate, when he stopped to berate construction workers.
A source told The Sun that Prince Andrew was “obviously a bit peeved”.
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