Second in a five-part series from CONTRACTOR
The life of a plumbing apprentice is split between on the job training and classroom work during the four-year program.
Brian Whitehead, 18, a second year apprentice, is in school two evenings a week from September to May, and on the job for 40 and 55 hours a week at Jim Steinle's Atomic Plumbing, in Virginia Beach.
On the job, Whitehead rides with one of Steinle's mechanics everyday.
"The mechanics here are great, and I treat them as if they are my boss.” Whitehead said. “Most of them are really good at teaching. They want to see if I really listened to what they had to say.”
How does Steinle convince his mechanics to be good teachers? "That’s easy. Almost all of them went through the program, too!" he laughed.
Companies that use the PHCC Educational Foundation’s Foundation’s apprentice training program agree that the student will receive effective learning with different skills sets. “These guidelines were developed based on feedback from employers,” Steinle said. “It works for the apprentices and it works for us as business owners."
It can also work for the mechanics, who get an extra hand on jobs. “It’s up to them how much they let an apprentice do, because at the end of the day, (the mechanic) is responsible for it.” Steinle said. "They typically don’t get frustrated with apprentices, because they know what it’s like, but occasionally, there are mistakes.”
"Starting out in the trade, I thought I was capable of doing more, but (the mechanics) didn't let me," Whitehead said. "Sometimes I mess up and I don't make their jobs easier, but I try.”
Steinle's firm is strictly service and repair, meaning close contact with homeowners. So Whitehead is also learning customer relations, along with the technical skills. "I watch how (the mechanic) deals with customers," Whitehead said.
It's just such business savvy that the PHCC Educational Foundation has recently revised in its apprentice curriculum. "I went through the program, but I didn't know the business end at first, Steinle said.
"Our revamped and updated first-year plumbing apprentice manuals are now in full color,” reported Gerry Kennedy, chief operating officer of the PHCC Educational Foundation. The new curriculum was developed after almost a year of meetings with apprentice training and curriculum development experts, including Steinle. Updated manuals for later years will be published over the next 18 months.
Kennedy noted that the Foundation is also putting its business management information into its Contractor Resource Center online. The lifelong educator said learning doesn't stop at the end of the four-year program.
Steinle said he is indeed still learning. He now makes sure Atomic Plumbing has a competitive compensation program to retain his well-trained team.
Steinle has actively supported the PHCC Educational Foundation’s apprentice program, not only to give back to the industry, but because it's simply good business.
"We're always learning" Steinle chuckled. "But you know what? My trained workforce is so good, I can command a price premium in my market. I can afford to compensate my team well, so I do. It just makes sense."
Next: Who pays? The financial commitment for apprentices
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