Would you pay over £500 a week for an apprentice?

​​​​​​​James Broadbent talks about his difficulty taking on apprentices because of the recent increase in minimum wage

Andy Cam and Todd Glister from The Heating & Plumbing Show are joined by plumber and heating engineer James Broadbent, who struggles to take on a 21-year-old second-year apprentice because he can't afford the weekly wages of £518. 

While James has a team of seven, he is eager to hire an apprentice to expand the scope of his work. "Over the years, I've taken five apprentices, and it's always been a good experience, even when the lads leave. We learn along the way," he says.

For James, paying £518 a week is not feasible; he argues that the government needs to provide more grants. "Paying that much doesn't make sense, as we don't know what stage of learning they are at. What if he's a slow learner? It isn't easy." 

James also reveals his experiences with apprentices over the years, including that some leave as soon as they get qualified to start out on their own, while a few have shown no interest in learning the trade. "Then those are who are 

However, he still believes in hiring apprentices. Currently, he is in the process of hiring another.

Listen to the full podcast here.