Plumbing companies are turning down work, sacrificing new opportunities or controlling growth to counter a desperate shortage of skilled tradespeople.

Many are advertising in vain or recruiting from overseas, mostly South Africa or the United Kingdom. Yet some say the overseas recruits take time to assimilate into Kiwi work practices, understand our plumbing products, and often require mentors for several months.

At Tauranga Hardware and Plumbing, Managing Director Craig McCord estimates his company is sacrificing as much as 60 percent of its normal workload because it doesn't have the staff to service it. That's despite having five apprentices - several more than usual - and hiring four tradespeople from the United Kingdom.

Craig describes the shortages as hopeless and adds the company has given up on recruitment strategies in New Zealand and overseas. His focus is now on training young apprentices though he did employ a 67 year old who he says "just walked in the door."

He says word of a very good employee coming to Tauranga led to "a Dutch auction." "Plumbing companies just pounced on him," Craig says.

Some customers were understating the extent of a job just to get a plumber on a site. "It's stressful trying to service work without enough resources, and without being able to service the business properly. What is it costing our reputation? Then there's the downstream effect on the mental health of the staff." Craig has had incidents of staff being abused because of "a perceived lack of performance."

In contrast, the picture appears different in Hamilton where two plumbing companies were recruiting successfully. C.F. Reese Plumbing is actively training 13 apprentices and has recruited three tradespeople from overseas in the past 12 months and more recently two from Fiji.

Managing Director Aaron Rink says the company has invested heavily in apprentice training to grow the business and service clients. Recruiting from overseas had some drawbacks as the qualifications of recruits were often not recognised and products and working practices were different."Training is the solution," he says, "if you don't train people you're going to have trouble getting staff."

At Hamilton Plumbing, Managing Director Colin Fagg says prospective apprentices are approaching the company regularly for work. Colin says there are pre-trade trainees available from nearby Wintec. The Wintec Plumbing and Gasfitting Advisory Committee, along with the local Master Plumbers, has done considerable work to raise awareness and profile of the industry. "I understand Wintec is running extra classes this year to meet demand.The skills shortage is nationwide which is affecting all trades."

In Hastings, Roger Panton of Panton Plumbing describes the shortage of plumbers as "desperate" and adds that advertising in both Auckland and Wellington failed to attract any qualified applicants. "We would probably employ four to five plumbers immediately as we've got that much work," says Roger, the Managing Director.

"We're turning work away and that's work that's been given to us. It's most frustrating." He has three apprentices and is looking for a fourth but he says 80 percent of apprentices who have been trained have not stayed. Are they a good investment? Yes and no, he says, adding that ongoing support for the apprentice scheme is crucial.

In Whangarei, Plumbing Manager Mel Walsh of Watco Plumbing says it's "reasonably diabolical getting skilled people." He says advertising last year got a ‘reasonably dismal response' yet the company had not considered overseas recruitment. Watco had four apprentices and adds it's important to "give the young fellas a shot." "We're always on the look out for good tradespeople. If one comes along, we'd grab him."

Just like most plumbing companies today, it seems.