Case Study - Shauna Bramham

A great example that apprenticeships aren’t just for school leavers is Shauna, who after 14 years working as an Income Officer at Incommunities, decided to retrain and learn on the job to become a fully qualified gas plumber. 

Now at the end of her four-year apprenticeship journey, Shauna was named plumbing apprentice of the year by Bradford College in 2023. 

Shauna’s career change was driven by a desire to do a practical job and learn skills that would help make a difference in people’s homes. 

She was given the opportunity to shadow some of the in-house trade teams before committing to her plumbing apprenticeship. 

Shauna loves the variety of work, the relationship and feedback she receives from customers. She is incredibly proud of the progress she has made during her apprenticeship. Going from applying sealant around a bath on her first day as an apprentice – to now being able to do a full boiler install! 

Shauna said: “I really fancied doing a practical job, I wanted to learn skills that would help me to make a difference in people’s homes.

“The support that I have received from my mentors and colleagues across the organisation has been invaluable, from helping me decide on my chosen path, to the on-the-job training. I also receive lovely feedback from customers on a daily basis, they are all pleasantly surprised to see a female plumber arrive at their home.

“The work is varied and challenging, no day is the same. When I look back on my development I'm so proud of what I have achieved.”