National Apprenticeship Week 2026: 9 – 15 FEBRUARY

A week-long celebration that brings together businesses and apprentices across the country to shine a light on the positive impact that apprenticeships make to individuals, businesses and the wider economy. Kev Clark, BPEC’s Head of Technical Operations gives an insight into why he believes apprenticeships matter.

From Apprentice to Shaping the Future of the Trade – by Kev Clark.

If you’d told the 17-year-old version of me that one day I’d be helping to shape national plumbing and heating standards, I’d have laughed and gone back to hunting for a 15mm olive I’d just dropped behind a cylinder.

I started exactly where thousands of apprentices are starting today — on site, learning the basics, asking loads of questions, and realising very quickly that plumbing and heating is far more than ‘fixing taps.’

An Apprenticeship is a Launchpad, Not a Job Title

My apprenticeship gave me something no classroom alone ever could: real competence. I learned how systems actually work in people’s homes, how to think through problems, and how important it is to do things the right way — not the quick way.

What I didn’t realise at the time was that those foundations would open doors I didn’t even know existed: moving from engineer, to trainer, to assessor, to quality assurance, and now into a role where I help shape how the next generation are trained.

That’s the bit people often miss: an apprenticeship isn’t the destination. It’s the starting line.

This Industry Moves Faster Than People Think

Plumbing and heating today isn’t the trade I joined. We’re talking heat pumps, low-temperature design, water efficiency, smart controls and ever-higher expectations around safety and compliance.

Apprentices coming through now are stepping into one of the most technically exciting periods our industry has ever seen. If you like problem solving and technology that actually makes a difference to people’s lives, you couldn’t pick a better time.

Good Training Changes Lives – and Industries

Having worked on both sides, on the tools and now in technical operations, I’ve seen how powerful quality apprenticeships are. They don’t just create installers; they create future supervisors, business owners, designers, teachers and innovators.

The skills you pick up go way beyond pipework: communication, planning, professionalism, and the confidence to take responsibility for real homes and real customers.

Why we Need the Next Generation

The country needs skilled plumbing and heating engineers more than ever. Homes are changing, expectations are rising, and the push toward renewables means we need people who understand both traditional systems and new technology.

That’s why National Apprenticeship Week matters. It’s a chance to show that this trade offers more than a job, it offers progression, respect and a career you can build your life around.

My Message to Anyone Considering it

If you’re thinking about a plumbing and heating apprenticeship, don’t see it as “just a trade.” See it as a doorway.

Work hard, ask questions, take pride in the details and never stop learning. The toolbox you start with might be small, but the opportunities ahead of you are huge.

I’m proof of that — and so are thousands of others across our industry.

Above: Kev Clark – Head of Technical Operations