Mustafa Salihu, Plumbing and Heating Apprentice with Joe Brennan Training

When asked “Why plumbing?”, Mustafa gave two main reasons. Firstly, he felt that as it was one of the more technical trades, he would be better suited to it and secondly, it was a trade that would enable him to help people for charity, especially abroad.

Mustafa fully admits that during his school years, he struggled with options and felt that there was not enough information about this industry. Initially, the same applied when he decided to go to college. Even then, he didn’t feel he was mature enough to understand what was at stake.

However, there came a turning point when he realised that if he did not knuckle down, he would not achieve anything. It was at this point he got serious about the construction industry and the route he needed to take to get there. Mustafa has a close bond with his mum and confirmed that she has always supported him. So, at the age of 23 when he realised that he needed to enrol on a Diploma in plumbing, his mum backed his decision and even helped him to finance it.

Mustafa attended the City of Westminster college and was determined to succeed, he did not want to do odd jobs or labouring, he wanted a qualification and a trade under his belt.

Mustafa had been working as a delivery driver, before starting his apprenticeship with Joe Brennan Training and was delighted to be given the opportunity of working on Countryside’s, Peel Precinct project in Brent. This was made possible by Countryside sharing its Apprenticeship Levy, to create local apprenticeship opportunities with our supply chain; particularly where there are skills shortages.

Countryside partnered with the London Progression Collaboration Reskill the Recovery Programme a project supporting businesses to offer more apprenticeships to low-paid Londoners.

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