4 minute read
PERSON PROFILE WITH
TEAMED UP WITH ESG
We’ve teamed up with ESG Limited and are co-sponsoring an All-Female Skills Competition on International Women’s Day in March, to encourage more females into the industry. The competition, held at Lewisham College, will include eight female apprentices based in London and/ or the South East. The competition is supported by Baxi and Scruffs, and will be judged by CIPHE’s Jerry Whiteley.
ESG currently has 20 apprentices and a designated Apprentice Mentor, Stephanos Yohannes. We had a chat with Stephanos to find out how he got to where he is now.
INTERVIEW WITH STEPHANOS YOHANNES PLUMBING AGAINST ADVERSITY
Stephanos had a tough start. He was in and out of the care system, experienced racism and battled with dyslexia. But he didn’t let adversity get in his way and now he’s a fully qualified plumber mentoring apprentices at ESG.
HIP MAGAZINE: What made you start a plumbing apprenticeship?
Stephanos Yohannes: I saw a plumber fixing a cylinder at my mum’s house, asked him what he was doing and he gave me his company card. I rang them the week after and they gave me a start date.
HIP: What sort of support did you have?
SY: To be honest, I didn’t really have much support, just Allan, a plumbing tutor at Lewisham College.
HIP: Did you ever doubt that you could complete the apprenticeship?
SY: Yes! The company I worked for went bust and I had to look for my own placement. My dyslexia was really bad at the time, so I never thought I would finish.
HIP: How did you get through it?
SY: I really doubted myself at first, but my tutor always believed in me, he always said to look for the light at the end of the tunnel. It was really tough but I’m really glad I persevered.
HIP: How did you end up working for ESG?
SY: I called an agency and started with them the following Monday. Through the agency, I ended up working for ESG as a self-employed plumber.
HIP: When did you become the ESG Apprentice Mentor and what does the role mean?
SY: I became the Apprentice Mentor in 2021. My main role is to give the apprentices support and guidance.
HIP: What’s changed for apprentices since you were one?
SY: I feel there’s more support, more communication and more guidance now.
HIP: HIP and ESG are co-sponsoring an all-female skills competition on International Women’s Day. What changes has the industry seen regarding female engineers in the last decade?
SY: We have more female apprentices now but there’s still no equality. From what I’ve experienced it’s getting better but there’s still a way to go.
HIP: What barriers do you see to people completing their qualification?
SY: Often it’s circumstances: living on their own, can’t afford rent, travel, having to be independent, not having a family environment around them.
HIP: What do you think is the biggest factor for success in the industry?
SY: I think it’s providing more support - more understanding of individual backgrounds, and more guidance.
HIP: What do you wish you’d known when you were starting out?
SY: That there are people out there willing to help and how to find them.
HIP: Who has been the biggest influence on your career and why?
SY: Darren Moore, he helped me personally and emotionally, and my foster carers.
HIP: What piece of advice do you give to your apprentices?
SY: You will hit brick walls, you will have down days but you just have to beat it and push through to the other side.
HIP: What other job would you like to do?
SY: I’ve never really thought of doing something else! I love my job and I’m so grateful that, despite the challenges, I’ve become the person that I am today.
TOP TIPS
■ Always take notes
■ Don’t be afraid to ask questions
■ Don’t let anyone put you down
■ Always keep your tools tidy
For more information visit: www.esglimited.com
SUPPORT
Supporting plumbers of the future
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