A common complaint within the building and plumbing industry is that margins are continually being squeezed. You only have to visit your local merchants first thing on a Monday morning to hear the moans, 'The client has seen it cheaper in the local DIY shed.', 'They've gone and bought it direct.', 'How can I make money at this price?' etc......
Competition has never been stronger and margins never lower. Traditional building techniques using traditional materials are not proving to be cost effective anymore. The builder and plumber is desperate to increase his or her income but from where?
Many are now turning to outside the UK for new construction and installation techniques and new products that can offer substantial time and material savings. New Water Regulations, which came into force in January this year, have allowed the use of many new products that could deliver what the builder and plumber is looking for.
The main barrier to the use of these new techniques and products is fear of change. These techniques and products have been tried and tested across Europe for decades. However, legislation and a resistance to change have restricted their introduction into the UK. Restriction by legislation was understandable when the legislation was initially put into force. However, these new Regulations have taken account of technological developments and advances and have lifted the outdated restrictions previously in place. The overall goal of the new regulations is to promote and secure increases in water savings.
The resistance to change comes from a fear of new techniques and products – 'I like to use what I know.' being a common statement. Well, that is all very good however if builders and plumbers want to make a better living then they must be open to change. It will be the ones that adapt quickly and embrace new techniques that will make a better living and ultimately survive.
This is where training becomes a valuable asset and can produce a high return. To learn any new building or installation technique requires training. To use and install many new products also requires training. The problem is time! Every minute spent off site loses the installer money. 'Why lose money if I can just keep on building the way that I have done for years?'
In answer to this installers have to ask the question, 'Do I want to increase my margins?' If so, then training is the answer. The return on investment will be substantial over the years. Those using new techniques and products will save time, money and survive a changing work environment.
A simple theory works as follows:
Why Training?
Existing Materials + Existing Methods
=
Reducing Margins
New Materials + New Methods
=
Increasing Margins
New Materials + New Methods + Training
=
Rapidly Increasing Margins
Embracing new techniques and products has to be the way forward. However, if you add into the mix training you can benefit from the many years of experience that has already been gained through their use. Training will show you the most efficient and effective way to use and install new products saving both time and materials.
Training your personnel ensures that jobs are completed quicker, to a higher standard, correctly and with less wastage. And, if a job is done properly the first time then you won't have to go back to correct it later.
Many manufacturers now have extensive training programs covering new building techniques and their products. With the increase in new products coming in from Europe the installer needs to be kept up to date. There are generally two levels of training available from manufacturers.
Firstly, there are basic theory courses that explain the properties of products and their uses. These provide the plumber or builder with a basic knowledge that only goes some way to helping him/her to be more efficient in his/her work. These courses are more about selling a product than helping the installer to further their knowledge. Many plumbers and builders leave these courses with the view that all training is a waste of time. This is not the case!
There are more comprehensive courses that take a little more time but are wholly of more use to plumbers and builders. These are practical based training courses that allow the installer to have hands on use of product and techniques in a real life environment. Quite often they are also CPD accredited to help towards installers qualifications. Several manufacturers have built these more realistic training facilities and it is important that installers first find out about the content of a course and what is involved before they attend.
Hands-on courses help plumbers and builders to learn new techniques and new products that ultimately enable them to make better livings through time and material savings. New technology means better ways of working – this is why new technologies are developed. To make our lives easier!
Without training builders and plumbers may not use these new products and if they do use them they may not use them correctly or to the best effect. The plumbing and building industry needs to improve its reputation. Many years of cowboys destroying the reputation of the professionals ahs taken its toll with the public. Training is a way forward to creating a better reputation and a more professional industry whist increasing margins and making a better living.
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