Louchavan Lemard, PH247

Louchavan Lemard, co-founder of PH247, is the UK's first-ever National Plumber of the Year. He is a Master Plumber, a Chartered Fellow and Trustee of the Chartered Institute of Plumbing and Heating Engineering (CIPHE), and a Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Plumbers.

PH247 has won the Start-up Construction and Building Services award at the National Start-up Awards and the Plumbing and Heating Company of the Year title at the Best of the Best awards. In 2026, Louchavan was also named National Plumber of the Year at the inaugural Plumber Awards. Judges praised his "technical expertise, commitment to customer service and ability to deliver practical solutions that make a meaningful difference to homeowners."

He also left school without GCSEs, experienced homelessness through much of his teenage years, and was turned down the first time he tried to start his plumbing training.

Tell us about your background - how did you get into the trade?

"I came into plumbing through an unusual route. I experienced homelessness through a lot of my teenage years and left school without GCSEs. When I first tried to get into training, I was turned down for Level 2 because my academic record just was not there. So I started at Level 1, built my portfolio, secured an apprenticeship, and worked my way through. When I did Level 2, I ended up winning my college's Apprentice of the Year award."

"What it showed me is that the industry risks missing some of its best future engineers when entry criteria focus too heavily on academics. When I got my first job, it was based on my attitude, not my academic background. That has always shaped my view of how people should be recruited."

You founded PH247 with a clear mission. What was that?

"The reason I set up PH247 was that I wanted to do more than run a commercially viable plumbing and heating business. I wanted the company to protect consumers through high standards, transparency and accountability, while also creating opportunities for people who might otherwise be overlooked."

"Our social mission is about creating a genuine gateway into the industry for young people who face barriers to employment. We focus on mentorship and pastoral support alongside technical development, because getting someone through the door is only the first step. Retention and long-term outcomes matter. Our three-step pathway is simple: work experience, then paid work experience, then progression into an apprenticeship or employment. The industry gave me an opportunity, so now I want to pay that forward."

You've signed the lead-free solder pledges. How long have you held this view?

"There is no place for lead in a potable water system. It directly affects the safety of our drinking water, so that is a public health issue, not a technical preference. I was glad to sign the pledge. For me, prevention is better than cure, and removing avoidable risks at source is exactly what good plumbing should be about. But I also think the pledge needs to sit within a much bigger conversation about where this industry is heading."

You said you backed WaterSafe’s call for mandatory registration.

"I believe the UK plumbing industry needs mandatory registration and stronger regulation to protect public health right across the country. Plumbing is not just about fixing leaks or installing appliances. It directly affects the safety of our drinking water."

"As an industry, we should have a clear national standard: plumbers who are properly qualified, registered and accountable. This is not about making life harder for good plumbers. It is about protecting the public, raising standards and making sure competent professionals are recognised."

What does being WaterSafe-registered mean to you?

"Being WaterSafe-registered tells a customer that the person they are letting into their home understands water regulations, takes compliance seriously and is accountable. I would like to see that become the legal minimum."

"Gas Safe is a mandatory register for gas engineers. There is no logical reason the same principle should not apply to plumbers. The consequences of poor plumbing for drinking water safety can be serious, and some of those risks are less visible to the public."

You co-chair a City & Guilds Employer Industry Board and are involved in shaping apprenticeship standards. Why does creating pathways into the trade matter so much to you?

"The skills gap is real. The industry cannot keep turning away people who have the right attitude and drive simply because they do not have the right paperwork at the start. We need to recognise potential as well as qualifications. For me, attitude can open the door, and structured training should then build the competence."

"That is why mentorship and pastoral support matter so much. Some young people face barriers outside the workplace that can make it harder to enter a career and stay in it. If we want real outcomes, we have to think about retention, not just recruitment. Give people a structured pathway, someone in their corner and a genuine opportunity to progress, and you can change a life as well as strengthen the industry."

What's your message to other installers?

"Get registered, do it properly and do not cut corners on compliance. Regulations exist to protect people. And if you still have lead solder in your toolkit, take it out today and do not replace it. Good plumbing is about protecting public health as well as delivering good workmanship."