Great Yarmouth College plumbing student John Kennedy was awarded for outstanding achievements in his chosen profession by the professional body representing the industry.

John, who is re-training as a plumber alongside a successful career as an insurance salesman at Aviva, was recognised after nominations by his tutors for the Norfolk Branch of the Chartered Institute of Plumbing and Heating Engineering (CIPHE) awards.

The annual awards are for students who made "outstanding achievements in plumbing studies".

Father-of-two John was enjoying a promising career in insurance, earning £30k a year with bonuses and reaching the national finals of Aviva sales awards, when he decided to retrain as a plumber and set up his new enterprise, Permanent Plumbing Solutions.

“Although I was very good at sales and moving up, I did not see myself always working in an office.

“Construction was always in my mind because my father is a builder in London and I was drawn to plumbing because it involves a lot more science than other trades.”

John, 29, was able to retrain because his bosses at Aviva allowed him to study for two years on day release and gradually cut his hours while his business takes off. 

His business is the first fledgling enterprise to move into the new Alchemy 2, the centre for new trades businesses at Great Yarmouth College, which offers 12 months’ free workshop space and business support for new businesses.

John will complete his level two plumbing qualifications later this month and will return to college two days a week from September to complete his level three plumbing which will allow him to undertake gas work.

As well as a CIPHE trophy, John also received a certificate, a year's free trainee membership of the Institute, a copy of the internationally recognised Plumbing Engineering Services Design Guide worth £40 and a voucher for £50, sponsored by plumbing merchants PTS.

Other awards were made to plumbing students at Lowestoft College, City College Norwich and College of West Anglia.

To find out about plumbing courses at Great Yarmouth College contact a college information advisor on 01493 655261 or visit www.gyc.ac.uk. To find out how to access facilities at Alchemy 2 contact Mrs Anu Babu, Head of School for Innovation and Enterprise, on 01493 419248.