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fair well financially, but the company was also hailed as an equal opportunist, gaining publicity through hiring Britain’s oldest worker, Buster Martin, who died last year aged 104. The plumbing firms press exposure didn’t stop there, with Charlie telling me that he dedicates three days a week to promoting the company, working alongside PR guru Max Clifford, who Mullins declares “is very much like me - he has a basic background, he’s straightforward and he doesn’t take any shit.” I then put forward the idea that in the same way Charlie leads the way in the plumbing industry, Max also prides himself in being the king pin of the PR game. “I think he’s the best publicist in the world and yeah, we do have alot in common. He’s very black and white and he say’s it like it is.”


As well as working the press circuit to put Pimlico Plumbers on the map, Charlie has used his new-found celebrity status for a positive cause, appearing on Channel 4’s The Secret Millionaire as well as being placed on the judging panel on the BBC’s Young Plumber of The Year. However, perhaps his strongest work has been through his government


“I spoke to that David Cameron fella in Downing Street about apprenticeships and he said its great but he doesn’t know how to implement it. George was definitely more in favour of it”


initiative in support of apprenticeships, appearing on a recent documentary that highlighted the importance of hiring apprentices in the workplace, particularly during what is now being deemed a double-dip recession. “I spoke to George Osborne and told him my thoughts on unemployment in the UK. The simple solution is that companies need incentives to take on apprentices, because no business wants to fork out £15,000 a year to pay a new worker. Instead, government should give benefit money to the employer to put towards a minimum wage to give to the apprentice. Instead of signing up for the dole, the unemployed can gain an apprenticeship using that money. I spoke to that David Cameron fella in Downing Street about this idea and he said its great but he doesn’t know how to implement it. George was definitely more in favour of it.”


His political influence doesn’t stop there. When asked by Boris Johnson after the London riots how he would cut down crime, Charlie reiterated the same message. “Kids go out and commit crime because they don’t have a job and they’re bored. Give them a job, and you’ll start saving money sorting out crime on the streets.” Charlie has now implemented the idea himself with the Pimlico Apprenticeship Scheme, turning Job Seekers Allowance into a Job Achievers Incentive, declaring that if the same programme is used nationwide unemployment will be cut by 50%. Mullins also works closely with the Prince’s Trust, providing mentorship and workshops for youths in the community. When I ask Charlie if more entrepreneurs could be helping the cause, he mentions another rather famous London business owner who publicises his use of apprentices. “I’ve had run-ins with Alan Sugar and I think he sends out the wrong message. Apprenticeships are nothing to do with his programme - he just has a bunch of half-wits running around trying to please the ‘Lord.’


Charlie takes pride in staff uniform and the presentation of his offices


40 entrepreneurcountry


The difference between me and him is I was an apprentice myself and I want to show people what it’s really like. With the Prince’s Trust we do ‘Pimlico Tours’ and we get 20 youngsters, give them lunch, show them what the workplace is


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