Young Workers Find Gold in Plumbing and Hospitality Jobs

In a world worried about AI stealing jobs, 21-year-old Peter Bredin has found his answer: plumbing. "This is a job AI can't take away," he says confidently as he trains at Colchester Institute in Essex.

His optimism isn't unfounded. While a recent government report warned that one in six young people could be unemployed within five years, trainers on the ground are telling a different story.

Ross Brady, head of plumbing at Colchester Institute, says places in his program are "like gold dust." The country faces a national shortage of plumbers, and with plans to build more homes, the demand will only grow. The current workforce is aging out, and young people who enter the trade now are stepping into guaranteed work.

Peter spends one day a week in class and the rest working on new builds in Cambridgeshire. He's the first in his family to learn a trade, and he's not worried about his future. "You can do this all year round. The weather doesn't affect you and there'll always be work," he says.

His classmate Finlay Painter, 18, chose plumbing for its longevity. He knows apprenticeships can be challenging to secure because some employers worry about the investment. But he's confident the training he's receiving will make him valuable. His mom has already lined up his first side job: installing her new bathroom.

Hospitality is seeing similar green shoots. Adrian Martin, deputy manager of Edge Hotel School in Essex, admits the sector has been fragile with restaurant closures making headlines. But successful new businesses are opening, and supervisory and manager positions are plentiful.

Scarlett McGloin, 20, is soaking up hands-on training at the hotel school. "There's always a job in the hospitality industry for anyone," she says. Her classmate Poppy Chambers, also 20, sees unemployment around her and refuses to accept that future. "It does make me want to push hard to show people I can be successful in my career," she says.

The Ripple Effect

Some companies are taking active steps to bridge the gap. Greater Anglia runs industrial placements that put university students like Maddie Green and Mia Annarumma directly into paid roles where they contribute real value. Maddie works in HR while Mia handles press relations, learning professional communication skills that can't be taught in a classroom.

The rail company also offers First Step Into Rail, a free three-week program combining station shadowing with classroom learning for young adults. Jonathan Denby, who did an industrial placement himself years ago, knows these experiences are invaluable. Students aren't just watching; they're working.

Young people like Peter, Scarlett, and Finlay aren't waiting for perfect conditions to build their futures.