Business Central December 2021

74 | Top honours for natural born talent T Richard Loader EG Glennie are the Wellington distributors for SolarPeak, a type of thermal solar water heating system. “People also spend more time in their kitchens and bathrooms than they did ninety years ago. The kitchen used to be a place where you cooked dinner - now it’s the hub of the house.” NZ Plumbers Awards: EG Glennie & Co CONTRACTING W orking for EG Glennie & Co, one of Wellington’s oldest existing plumbing companies, Vinny Roth is a shining success story. Awarded the Plumbing World Scholarship at the national 2021 New Zealand Plumbing Awards recently held in Blenheim, Vinny has been working for EG Glennie & Co for four and a half years. Now aged 29, Vinny worked in a sole charge position on a farm before starting on a part time basis with EG Glennie. Company Director Mike Gooch says Vinny demonstrated an aptitude for the work, so when an apprenticeship arose it was offered to him. “The timing was right and Vinny had a good work ethic and desire to get stuck in and learn the trade. Plumbing is a special kind of fit for a person. “We have kids coming through the school’s Gateway program that have no idea what plumbing’s about. Some only last half a day, while others take to it straight away. Vinny was one of those who just took to the job. “We put Vinny forward for the scholarship because he always puts effort into what he is doing and had recently shown maturity and leadership. “That’s a great asset to our company. He had also shown great progress and improve- ment in the final year of his apprenticeship.” Vinny won $500 on a Plumbing World trade account, which he can put toward tools and/or materials, but Mike says the award recognises Vinny as a valued and contributing member of the team. “The confidence it has given him will help both him and us in the years to come. He’s just finished his apprenticeship, so he’s now one of the tradesmen out and about in his own van — he’s a good story.” Vinny is working for a company with a proud history and an industry that has seen significant change over the decades. Established in 1928 by Edward Glennie back in the day of wooden ladders, hand tools and galvanized piping, the business is now owned by Mike and business partner Gordon Diggle. “We spend a lot of time these days replac- ing that old galvanised piping with PVC and synthetic pipe work,” says Mike. “Plumbing used to come under the Health Ministry because of the need for high sanita- tion. But plumbing is now a registered trade under the construction industry. “We used to carry around big books in the van with all the standards and codes, now the guys bring them up on their phones.” Mike says advances made in technology have improved a lot of products, and refers to the humble toilet which can now be flushed with half as much water — all good for sus- tainability and the environment. “People also spend more time in their kitch- ens and bathrooms than they did ninety years ago. The kitchen used to be a place where you cooked dinner. “Now it’s the hub of the house and there’s much more of a design aspect to them with a much greater range of plumbing products. We do a lot of alterations and it’s quite rewarding work because you see the transformation from the old to the new. “You give the taps a polish at the end of the project and walk away from something that is worlds away from what was in there before.” Based in central Wellington the EG Glennie team covers the greater Wellington area as far north as Kapiti Coast. “Our core business is maintenance of ex- isting properties and both domestic and light commercial alterations. We do everything; plumbing, gasfitting, drainlaying, solar, and sheetmetalwork. We’re also the Wellington distributors for SolarPeak, a type of thermal solar water heating system.” Complementing the company’s large data- base of residential customers is a broad range of commercial customers that include BP Oil, KiwiRail, Weltec Institute of Technology, SPCA, Cancer Society, various schools, restaurants and a number of commercial buildings in Wellington CBD. Along with Mike, Gordon and two others in the office, the EG Glennie team includes nine plumbers, gasfitters and drainlayers out in the field. “All team members are licensed by the Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drainlayers Board and we have first, second, third and fourth year apprentices. “Training is our passion and a must for a robust workforce. We belong to Master Plumbers and their MasterLink programme provides a mentored apprenticeship training scheme. “Apprentices keep us on our toes and require that we’re up to date with legislation, training and health and safety innovations. Reflecting on the success and longevity of the business Mike says it comes down to a personal touch and being able to put clients at ease that EG Glennie has their best interests at heart. “It’s also about integrity, listening to our customers and having good manners.” Thorndon Quay 232 Thorndon Quay 04 499 9750 Newtown 164 Adelaide Rd 04 389 0400 Tawa 95-97 Main Rd, Tawa 04 232 4100 Kapiti 40-44 Amohia St, Paraparaumu 04 296 4000 0508 LOCATE locate@cablelocators.co.nz www.cablelocators.co.nz Want to know what's below before you dig? We locate all services