Adele Ferguson: Building confidence and a career in plumbing and heating

Adele’s training combines college and on-the-job experience. For the first three years, she spent one week in college and two weeks on site. “That split worked well,” she explains. “A week in college was enough because the units were big and packed with information. It can feel overwhelming when they try to cram everything in. But then you go back to work, talk to tradespeople, and start seeing what you’ve learned in college, on the job. That’s when it makes sense.”

Supportive colleagues helped her to build confidence early on, and the variety of work has kept her motivated. “When I first started, I was doing routine maintenance in people’s homes for about six months. Then they moved me on to empty houses, getting them ready for new tenants. Now I’m working on bigger jobs in schools and community centres, and I’ve probably enjoyed that most.”

Starting out, Adele noticed how few women were on site. It was daunting at first, but her confidence grew as she gained experience. She believes the heating and plumbing sector needs more women and says the stigma will only fade if more women join the trade.

Her advice to young women is simple: go for it. “If you want it to become normal, it needs to happen more often,” she explains. Adele also feels schools could do more to show girls that plumbing and heating are genuine career options. When she was at school, she didn’t think it was possible. Careers events rarely included trades, and she never saw plumbing presented as an option. She believes it’s a career that offers good pay, long-term stability and the potential to be your own boss. It’s time to push the boundaries.

Adele has even had customers reach out because they feel more comfortable with a female tradesperson in their home. She says this shows there is demand for women in the industry and it’s clear that representation matters.

Adele is excited about the industry’s shift to greener technologies. Heat pumps were new to her when she started, but she sees them as the future. “They’re expensive now, but prices will come down as demand grows. I’d love to work with them more.” She explains that working with heat pumps is not completely different from conventional plumbing. The principles are similar because it is still about pipes and fittings and making sure heat and hot water reach the home. The main change is the source of the heat, but the overall process feels familiar to her.

After qualifying, Adele plans to stay with Mears to build experience. Longer term, she hopes to go self-employed and run a small team.

Why plumbing and renewables matter

Plumbing and heating engineers are key to creating low-carbon homes. Technologies like heat pumps cut emissions and help the UK reach net zero. Skilled installers are in demand, and apprenticeships like Adele’s are a great way to start.

Find out more

If you’re considering a career in plumbing or heating, an apprenticeship is a great way to gain hands-on experience while you learn. Contact your local college to find out more about heating and plumbing apprenticeship opportunities.