From UK apprentices to global changemakers

Two apprentice award winners, Daisy Turner and Ruben Duggan, share just how far an apprenticeship can take you – all the way to Nepal! The plumbing pair utilised their skills as part of a team helping to bring clean, reliable water to a rural community. 

Both Daisy and Ruben trained as plumbing apprentices in the UK and went on to win national industry awards – in 2024, Daisy won both the HIP Magazine Learner of the Year and Female Skills competitions, while Ruben won a Silver medal at the WorldSkills competition. 

They’ve since used those same skills to help restore a vital water supply for families living in Changam Basti, a remote village in Nepal.

Supporting a community in need

The local springs in In Changam Basti had become unreliable due to environmental changes, leaving residents without a steady source of clean water. Daisy and Ruben joined a small team from the Chartered Institute of Plumbing and Heating Engineering (CIPHE) and the Worshipful Company of Plumbers’ Plumbing Professional Development Scheme (PPDS) to help rebuild the village’s gravity-fed water system.

The work included repairing and upgrading water tanks, laying new pipework and working alongside a local Nepalese plumber to exchange knowledge and expertise.

Inspiring the next generation

Before travelling to the village, the team visited plumbing schools in Nepal to donate tools and educational materials. It’s a simple but powerful way to support young people starting their own journeys into the trade.

For Daisy and Ruben, it’s also a full circle moment - from apprentices themselves to role models for future plumbers.circle moment 

We caught up with Daisy and Ruben to hear about their experiences:

How did you become involved in the PPDS programme?

Ruben: “I was lucky enough to be chosen to be part of the PPDS through my success in plumbing competitions.”
Daisy: “I was invited to take part after winning the Worshipful Company of Plumbers’ bursary in 2023.”

What were the biggest challenges you faced during the project?

Ruben: “As well as technical plumbing skills, being able to adapt and think on our feet while working in a jungle-like environment was vital. Communication skills were also key due to the language barrier and the nature of the challenge.”
Daisy: “The biggest challenge in Nepal was the terrain – we trekked through the jungle each day to lay the pipework, foundations and tanks needed to provide the drinking water in the village below.”

What impact did your work have on the local community?

Ruben: “The plumbing skills we used were quite basic, but for the villagers it was life-changing. Seeing the faces of the locals when we turned on the water was almost indescribable.”

Daisy: “The most rewarding part was when we got the water running through the taps in the village and seeing how appreciative the villagers were of something we take for granted. The villagers helped us throughout the project, and you could see from day one the difference we were making.”

How would you describe the overall experience?

Ruben: “There are no words to describe the experience I had. It was unforgettable, and I'm so grateful I was offered the opportunity – I would do it all again in a heartbeat.”
Daisy: “It has allowed me to go from one extreme to the other in terms of work environment and technicality of the job – it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”

What advice would you give to apprentices looking to progress in their careers?

Daisy: “My advice for any apprentice wanting to advance their career is to have a look at your apprenticeship so far, identify any gaps in your knowledge or skills and focus on what you can do to improve that. Even small changes make a big difference.”

Jonathan Samuel, Managing Director of WaterSafe, said: “At WaterSafe, we’re proud to celebrate the dedication and professionalism of plumbers across the UK and Daisy and Ruben’s achievements highlight the positive impact qualified, approved plumbers can have, both at home and abroad.”

“It’s clear that Daisy and Ruben relished applying their professional skills in a challenging environment and I’m sure they have inspired many young people in Nepal and the UK to consider a career in plumbing.

“Access to clean drinking water is something many of us in the UK take for granted, but for the people of Changham Basti, it is life-changing.”