After a competitive search for PolyPlumb Enhanced Ambassadors throughout the start of 2025, Polypipe Building Products were proud to announce Meg Francis and Daisy Turner as our winners at this year's InstallerSHOW.
Following their first visits to our manufacturing sites in Doncaster, we sat down with them to hear all about their journeys, their biggest challenges, and what they hope to achieve in their new roles.
Meg's path to plumbing was a unique one, starting a bit later in life after nearly a decade as a chef. She shared:
"Previously, I had worked as a chef for nearly a decade, amongst trying a few other things earlier on in life, but I realised I wanted to change careers to something versatile and practical. I hadn't even thought about the trades until I'd had a conversation with a guidance counselor and my brother in law who's a sparky. I knew I wanted this fresh career to tick certain boxes like; problem solving, working with my hands and a good variety within the work life too!
"I'm currently doing a managed learning programme in gas engineering and have already completed a City and Guilds Level 2 in Plumbing but I am looking to get the full NVQ in plumbing maybe after my first silly season is done and dusted!"
"When I started to look into this amazing opportunity I quickly realised not just how well they look after apprentices but how much our values aligned. They care about their community, donating to charities and supporting diverse events like Doncaster Pride. They are also making changes around sustainability in construction which is hugely important, given the world we live in.
"Did you know that all the energy used across their manufacturing sites actually comes from renewable sources?! Pretty cool!
"As an ambassador I'd like to help educate communities and fellow plumbers & engineers about the environmental benefits of Polypipe’s recycled products. They work so hard on their sustainable construction practices behind the scenes and deserve support from us tradies. Lets help them, to help us, help the planet!"
Meg describes a typical day starting at 6:30 a.m. with a cup of coffee and her tools packed, ready to meet her mentor. The variety of work is what she loves most, with jobs ranging from servicing and repairs to full installations.
For Meg, the most challenging part of being an apprentice is getting comfortable with making mistakes.
"I quickly realised that this is just a necessary part of apprentice life and that these are in fact, important opportunities for growth and are actually some of the most memorable ways, to learn the right way of doing things.
"The most valuable lesson I've learnt so far is to be resilient, if you make a mistake then just fix it as best as you can, learn from it and move on, try not to let it ruin your day!"
"I'd say the best bit of advice I could offer a new apprentice is to not be afraid to ask questions—even if you think they’re silly, this is what we are here for, to be a sponge and soak up as much as we can from our mentors, so stay curious and enjoy the process."
Meg believes that early exposure is key. She advocates for more school outreach programs that present the trades as the respected and fulfilling career paths they are, rather than a "Plan B."
"I wish I'd started my journey into the trades sooner! You’ll learn skills for life, you’ll grow in confidence, and you’ll find the community is actually so kind and supportive on the whole."
Daisy's journey into the trades began when she decided she wanted something different from her friends who were going to university. She shared:
"I got into the trade because I just fancied something different. A lot of my friends went to uni or did very feminine roles, but I didn’t really know what I wanted to do. My mum was sort of hassling me, that’s probably the wrong word but you know what I mean... I think she was just a bit worried because both of my sisters knew what they wanted to do, they knew their plan, they had to go to uni to get their dream job. Whereas I was just sort of going with the flow a little bit. And then one day she was asking me, and the plumber was there so I just said I’ll be a plumber and I’ve stuck with it ever since! And I really enjoy it, I love it.
"Throughout my apprenticeship I’ve put myself out there a little bit, not only have I put myself forward for ambassador roles, I’ve put myself forward for quite a few competitions so I’ve done HIP Magazine's competitions, I’ve done one for the entries for World Skills, I’ve done International Women’s Day competition, I was a finalist in Screwfix Trade Apprentice of the Year 2025, so yeah I’ve kept myself busy! But in college I’ve always challenged myself - it has been recognised so I’ve won a couple of awards at college aswell like Apprentice of the Year and things like that. It’s been a different journey to most because a lot of people don’t really put themselves out there but that’s okay because everyone gets there eventually."
"Being a PolyPlumb Enhanced Ambassador is really cool because not only plumbers know who PolyPlumb is. It’s pretty cool that I can tell anyone, whether they’re a plumber or not in the trades at all, or in different trades, and they sort of know that Polypipe is such a good quality brand, so I don’t always have to explain myself. That everyone sort of knows and respects that.
"In terms of what I hope to achieve as an Ambassador, I hope to expand my knowledge and my confidence with their products. As well as sort of help others understand why it is so important to use the quality products over the cheaper alternatives; because although the cheap alternatives will do the job, they won’t do the job as well.
"So to be able to learn that first hand, with me being able to handle all of the products, and then be able to share my experience as well not only as an apprentice, but maybe as a woman aswell. When I first started, trying to push a bit of 22mm pipe into a 22mm fitting was really difficult. I mean I’ve sort of worked out a way to do it now. It takes a little bit of a wiggle but we get there in the end, but most blokes they wouldn’t even think twice because they’re that little bit stronger so being able to use their products as a woman, as an apprentice, just starting, it is really important to sort of give that feedback aswell to the manufacturers."
Like Meg, Daisy loves that her job is different every day. Her company works on a wide range of projects, from bathrooms and kitchens to heating systems and boilers.
"Every day is different, you don’t sort of go in getting bored of your job. I think if I did the same thing day in, day out, I’d be bored but the best thing about my job is that it’s so varied. You can specialise in certain things, like underfloor heating for example or specialise in bathrooms if you wanted to be more of a bathroom fitter, or the gas side of things - whatever avenue you want to go down. With the company I work for, I’m really fortunate we get involved in everything so it gives me a very wide knowledge."
The most challenging part of her apprenticeship is the sheer amount there is to learn. From different system types to the shift toward renewables, Daisy is constantly on her toes.
"The most challenging part of being an apprentice is how much there is to learn - especially in plumbing. You need to know all of the different system types, so whether it’s S plan, Y plan, whether you’re just doing heat only, boilers, whether it’s combi boilers - there’s so much to learn. Although it is a challenge, it’s one of the best things because it always keeps you on your toes, you’ve always got something to learn, you’re never going to stop learning especially more so now because it’s pushing toward the renewables side, which is really interesting, but it is a little bit hard to grasp because you’re trying to learn all of the “old” stuff with the boilers, but also trying to move with the times and learn all of the renewables."
"I think the most valuable lesson I’ve learnt is to be prepared. So whether that’s a pencil in your pocket, a tape measure in your pocket, having the materials in your van ready to do any job. I know it’s not viable to keep every single material and a hundred of everything in your van, I understand that, but to have just a few little bits and pieces to get you out of trouble, that’s perfect because it means you’re not wasting time coming forward and backward but of course you need to have your PolyPlumb Enhanced fittings in the van!"
"Just be willing to learn. If you show that you’re interested in it and you ask questions, if you go the extra mile… that’s an opportunity for you to learn."
She also highlighted the biggest difference between college and the field. College provides a "textbook perfect" version of plumbing, while the field is full of "curveballs." With so many manufacturers and variables, real-world jobs present a much wider range of possibilities and challenges.
To any young woman thinking about a trade, she says, "Just give it a shot." Instead of directly targeting women, she believes the key is to show that the trades are open to everyone.
"When I was at school, I put myself forward for a construction course, and I got called into the headteachers office - I was a bit confused to start with - but I went along and had a chat with them, and they said that I was too smart to do the construction course and I should do my A-levels instead. So I did A-level Maths, Physics and Sociology. But because I could get a good grade in Maths and Physics for example, they didn’t want me to get a good grade in construction because it looks better on the school to get a good grade in academic subjects. But it’s obvious that’s not what I wanted to do, I wanted to be in the trades! But I did stick at it, but I think you just have to let them know it’s an option and give them that option. But not directly saying women can do it, you have to say it’s open for all, if you’re just targeting women, then that can be a bit intimidating aswell.
"Advice I’d give anyone considering getting into the trades is just give it a shot. If you’re considering giving it a go, you’re obviously meant to be there and it’s okay if you struggle because it is a very complicated career. No one expects you to get it first time, you can be explained something 2, 3, 4...10 times maybe before it clicks and you understand it completely. And even so, I’ve been doing it for a good few years now and I still make mistakes, and everyone makes mistakes, we’re only human so to give it a shot is the biggest thing you can do and that’s the best piece of advice I can give, is just give it a go and give it your all, and give it a chance.
"A lot of people drop out a little bit too early, and they haven’t given it a chance, they haven’t given themselves a chance so, give plumbing a chance, give the trades a chance, give yourself a chance and if you’re considering it, you’re meant to be there so just go for it!"
Keep up to date with Meg on her journey.
Keep up to date with Daisy on her journey.