MD of Quooker UK Stephen Johnson urged industry to unite in training the next generation of fitters, at the inaugural conference of the British Institute of Kitchen, Bedroom and Bathroom Installation.

In a personal and impassioned speech about the significance of apprenticeships, he spoke how, as the son of kitchen furniture manufacturer Neville Johnson, the industry “has always been deeply ingrained in my DNA.”

He explained how a “gifted” apprenticeship opportunity in the family firm, and the experience during his time working for the company, helped him achieve current success.

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“One of my first jobs was sanding and assembling timber dovetail drawer boxes in the factory. This was our USP. I spent two years on the factory floor, carrying out menial tasks, all while observing and aspiring eventually to one day run that business.

“What an opportunity. How lucky I was. I learned everything – from manufacturing, stock control, accounting, marketing, retail sales to commercial sales. I often explain to people that this was my schooling. Those years have enabled me to get where I am now. I remind myself of this every, single day.”

Using these experiences to build the Quooker business in the UK, he now provides an opportunity for employees to learn a trade.

However, he also recently pledged funding for the BiKBBI apprenticeship initiative and stated, “we feel strongly that we have a responsibility to support the wider industry”, adding “We work hard to achieve this in a modest and humble way and recognise this is only made possible because of the incredible loyal and valued support of our dealers and our customers.”

Speaking about the urgent need to bridge the skills gap, Stephen Johnson stated: “We have a skills crisis. It exists today. It is therefore essential that we unite to bring more young people and diversity into our industry. All the work and effort we do now will resolve it. However, it is a long-term job.

“That’s why, last year, we pledged £250,000 annually as an initiative to address this problem. I will continue to offer this level of support for at least the next three years but, hopefully, much longer. It’s the first figure that went into this year’s budget.”

He concluded: “It’s important to understand, though, that even if we all pull together, we’re not going to avoid this crisis. It’s going to take at least five years before we begin to see any progress that will fix the systemic failure in our industry. And if we don’t foster more support and more funding, it could take even longer.

“A skills shortage means no installer. Without installers we have no industry. We all have a wider responsibility to support wherever possible.

“It is essential, therefore, that companies and retailers unite and do what they can to help to save our industry.”