ASSOCIATIONS 3
From the Executive Director
By
Steve Brown
Quality training creates a quality plumber .
Education is something that IOPSA is strongly involved with and it ’ s something that I personally feel strongly about . One of the challenges the plumbing industry faces is that of training and education .
The question we ask is are these learners that leave college equipped to work in the marketplace ? Are they employable ? Do they have the correct skills for the job market ? Or are they emerging from their studies as a qualified apprentice , not a qualified plumber ?
It ’ s important that learning institutions keep up with trends and technology . This ensures the relevance of their training , and then by the same token , the relevance of the learner in relation to the workplace .
We also need to look at equipping these young people with the skills they need to become entrepreneurs . So many are sitting at home , having done their training , but have no idea what they need to do to build and run a business . And let ’ s be honest , there are still experienced , working plumbers out there right now today that don ’ t know how to cost their services .
IOPSA runs business courses and webinars , among other things . This provides an opportunity for plumbers to grow and upskill themselves and their staff . We hear some plumbers mumbling about CPD points , but continued professional development makes better entrepreneurs and better plumbers out of all of us .
If you ’ re not keeping up with the trends , how relevant are you ? How relevant are your staff ? And , importantly , how relevant are the curricula for young people wanting to make plumbing their career ?
Ultimately , an investment in yourself is an investment for a better future . PA
© Plumbing Africa
Steve Brown , Executive Director , IOPSA .
“ Are these learners that leave college equipped to work in the marketplace ?”
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July 2024 Volume 30 I Number 5 www . plumbingafrica . co . za