Ibrahim Eksi
Age: 21
Trade: Plumber
Borough: Hackney
Apprenticeship: Level 2 Plumbing Studies
College: CONEL
Background: Ibrahim was studying for his Level 1 in Plumbing Studies at Hackney Community College before starting with K10. He knew that he needed to prove he was competent enough to get himself through a Plumbing apprenticeship and this was the way to do that. Alongside studying, he was helping his brother with domestic plumbing work to get some experience.
During the Apprenticeship: ‘I loved working. Being on site and getting such a good experience with the contractor I was with, Riverside Mechanical. I was learning new things from different plumbers with different levels of experience and techniques, this enabled me to further my knowledge and become a plumber myself. Travelling to different sites wasn’t easy, you would have to adapt to different managers expectations and rules and learn the ins and outs of the new sites. I didn’t mind this too much though as it’s a learning curve for the real world. When I was on site with Riverside, I had a really good experience. They never caused any issues for me when it came to collecting evidence or having to do certain tasks for my NVQ, if anything they were pushing for me to do better. They were a really welcoming company to work for, especially as an apprentice.’
‘Going to college was also a very good experience. I never had any issues. Throughout my course, my tutors were supportive with the tasks I needed to do to get qualified. If I ever needed any advice, they were there and always guiding us through it, even suggesting ways to improve my work and complete my course as quickly as possible. K10 and my Apprenticeship Manager, Jack, were amazing. He was always there to help me if I needed it, if I had an issue or a query, I could call him and he was always happy to help and sort it as quickly as he could. They helped me achieve my qualifications. K10 is the perfect place to start your career.’
‘If I have one piece of advice when it comes to apprenticeships, it is to just start one. Any mistakes you make are a lesson to yourself. You’re there to learn so make the most of it whilst you can.’
After the Apprenticeship: Since becoming a qualified Plumber, Ibrahim is now working on a self-employed basis with Riverside Mechanical as a Supervisor managing his own building on site, a couple of other plumbers and he is also helping to train other apprentices on site. His salary is also a lot higher than his apprenticeship starting wage.
