And he is encouraging trades people in the Bristol area to come and have a chat with LiveWest, about employment opportunities.
LiveWest is inviting trades people to find out more about working for them on 22 and 29 July at Rexels – Components House, Industrial Estate, Vale Lane, Bristol, BS3 5SA - between 7am and 10am. As well as a potential new career route awaiting, a free breakfast bap is also available.
The events will allow people in trades to find out more about the opportunities and benefits of working for a social housing provider that looks after more than 80,000 customers in 39,000 homes across the South West.
Gary said: “Working for myself was great, but every job I went to was just me, it’s very hard manual work, I got to the point that I needed company and I needed a crew and a team with me to help lift those heavy boilers and tackle the flights of stairs.
This job isn’t for the fainthearted its tough on your body and you can’t just leave your job at work. With your own business its constant day and night and I felt I was always on call meaning work would build up if I tried to take holiday or take time out with my family. The beauty of what I have now is that at 5pm I switch off my tablet, park up my van and I can enjoy my evening.”
After moving from Birmingham and owning his own plumbing and heating company in St Ives for the past 20 years Gary often found himself on call for work which started to eat into his own time with his family.
Gary added: “It’s a big weight off my shoulders, I have no tax, insurance, fuel or van to think about, all of this is provided for me. The tools we get given are top of the range and every five years we get our vans upgraded. The benefits are brilliant, like the pension scheme where LiveWest contribute up to 9%.”
I was able to choose a van that was comfortable for me to help address some issues I had with my back, nothing is too much trouble. They really look after their colleagues and wellbeing is at the forefront of everything they do which makes you feel appreciated.”
Amongst the benefits of working in LiveWest’s trades workforce is a competitive salary and an attractive pension scheme, working with the latest tools and high technology vans as well as having the opportunity to work within a supportive team with shared goals to improve customers’ lives.
Gary is using his years of experience to train up apprentice gas engineers, however he finds his new recruits often teach him new things and every day he learns something new. He is also adding to his own skillset by taking part in a health and safety advisor course which gives him the opportunity to change his career path with LiveWest should he wish to.
Gary added: “Every single property I go into I view as my home, I say to them this is your home and treat it with respect, I want to do a good job and ensure every customer is happy.
At LiveWest we get a real insight into the business, the growth of the company and how we can make a difference, it feels good to be part of a team able to make a difference.”
As a leading South West housing association owning more than 39,000 homes, LiveWest has a dedicated trades workforce who pride themselves on putting customers at the heart of everything LiveWest does and they are looking for new people to help them achieve their goals.
So if you are an electrician, a gas engineer or a multi-skilled technician, then LiveWest are welcoming you to chat to them about the benefits of working for the largest housing provider in the South West. Benefits include the latest tools, high technology vehicles and good pay but most importantly the opportunity to work in a supportive, social and inclusive team who make a real difference to customers' lives.
With over 2,700 homes in Bristol, LiveWest has some exciting employment opportunities available across a range of trades in and around the city.