Case Study: plumbing and heating engineer in Barnsley

Andrew's dad and granddad both worked in local pits around Barnsley. Andrew first started out at North Gawber when he left school and after two years moved to Wooley Colliery.

Andrew worked his way up from being a mining craft apprentice to finally becoming a deputy. When he first found out in November that the Prince of Wales Colliery was due to shut in March 2002, Andrew and his family decided that this was an opportunity for him to try out a new career. They figured that at 35 years old, he was definitely not too old to change and make a new start.

Over the years he had always enjoyed DIY - Andrew would do anything from knocking down walls, to fitting new pipes and decorating. He decided that he wanted to focus on plumbing as he enjoyed it the most, but also wanted to get a gas certificate so that he could work on boilers as well as bathrooms.

Andrew found it difficult to get the right information on how to go about becoming a plumber, although he knew that there was a big demand for workers in this trade. When he finally got in touch with Wakefield Skills Centre he found out that there was a chance to go on a 26-week training programme. This also involved working with a local company in order to learn on the job. Andrew had heard of a company - Acqua Interiors in Wakefield - that needed more plumbers and were happy for him to work with them whilst he was also on the training programme.

As he had a HNC in Mining Engineering Andrew was able to move ahead rapidly on the training programme and begin earning a wage relatively quickly. However, he knows of other people on the same course that don't have the engineering background that he has, and that has not been a problem for them.

At the moment Andrew is working on a big contract over in Calderdale where they are doing up some blocks of flats. Andrew says that he now really enjoys working out in the fresh air and seeing the change in the weather. He and his family are pleased with the change in circumstances and while this has taken time to settle down - particularly not earning a proper wage for a few months - they are happy with Andrew's new job. "I enjoy it... it's nice not to be in the dark all the time!"

The Selby Coalfield Helpline telephone number is: 01757 693008