Pimlico Plumbers, one of the UK's largest independent plumbing companies, has announced plans to create an Apprenticeship Training Academy.

The central London-based company plans to double the size of its 30,000 sq ft headquarters in Lambeth to accommodate the training centre, which will initially have an intake of up to 60 apprentices.

The Academy is the brainchild of Pimlico Plumbers’ founder Charlie Mullins, who is a strong advocate of apprenticeship training. Charlie believes that this project will help create a new breed of apprentices that will develop into the best skilled professionals in the sector.

Pimlico Plumbers currently has a dozen apprentices on its books, but has identified the need to dramatically increase this number to support the future skills requirements of the business and its industry.

Already working with colleges including Lewisham, Bromley and Carsharlton, Pimlico Plumbers will soon open talks with a range of providers that could help deliver the training programmes.

Apprentices would split their time between Pimlico’s training academy classrooms and workshops and practical, on-the-job experience with the company’s team of more than 200 plumbers, heating engineers, electricians, plumbers and carpenters.

Mullins said: “The Pimlico Apprenticeship Academy would create the first of a new breed of apprentices. They will be trained and taught at an establishment dedicated solely to producing high-class tradespeople, through an association with a fully-functioning services company, able to provide training from the best skilled professionals in the country.

“Undoubtedly, true apprenticeships, which are those that take three years to complete and include qualifications such as City & Guilds, require real tradespeople to do the lion’s share of the teaching.

“By doubling the space of our headquarters we can create a facility that will enable apprentices to train alongside some of the most talented and experienced engineers in our industry, which will be a huge advantage.”