Name: Philip Riches

Trading Ward: Airedale

Business Name: PR Plumbing

Business Address:

The Bungalow, Longwood Ave, Bingley, BD16 2RX

Website: www.prplumbingservices.co.uk

Email: Contact PR Plumbing

Telephone: 01274 512642

Mobile: 07810 362557

Background of Business

Phil Riches worked in engineering for 9 years and after his last contract ran out he worked at home fitting out the family bathroom. This involved all the plumbing, plastering and tiling. He really enjoyed the work and demonstrated a natural talent for it and so enrolled on a plastering course, followed by a short plumbing course. He enjoyed the plumbing and made the commitment to go on the full City and Guilds training. He finished his training at VIY in Leeds with a City and Guilds 6129. He decided that he would like to have a go working as his own boss and set up PR Plumbing.

Support Journey

Phil saw a press advert for Kickstart and got in touch. He then met with a Kickstart business adviser to discuss a way forward and what help was available to him. Through Kickstart Phil got in touch with the Prince’s Trust who were able to help him in several ways. An adviser helped him put together a business plan which he presented to the board of the Prince’s Trust. This in turn led to a grant of £1,000 to be spent on a plumbing start up pack, a roof rack and pipe tube for his van and a communications grant towards a computer and satellite navigation. This final item has proved to be invaluable. Also through Kickstart he qualified for funding to help him with business branding and stationery and with it was able to procure business cards, letterheads, promotional leaflets and invoice pads. He continues to receive business advice through the Prince’s Trust and has regular meetings with one of their advisers. He has also taken advantage of business training seminars provided through Business Link and Bradford Chamber of Commerce. He bought his van himself and has just paid to have it professionally sign written with his business name, ‘PR Plumbing’, and logo.

Where are they now

Phil started trading in January 2008 and has been putting the support and advice he received to good use. Apart from the help for essential equipment, he has listened to all the business advice he received and is putting it to good use. He has an extremely professional drop leaflet and undertakes regular leaflet drops to local households. He is keeping up a pictorial record of completed jobs and building up written references from satisfied customers. He is also building relations with plumbers merchants, contacting plumber’s forums and attending network meetings whenever time allows. He has been in touch with the Trading Standards office to discuss appropriate standards and has joined the Institute of Plumbing and Heating Engineers. As a result of acting on the assistance, advice and information he has received Phil is steadily building up his business. For the future he wants to qualify as a Corgi registered engineer and develop the business to a point where he can employ others.
 
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