INDUSTRY UPDATE
PJH Celebrates CIPD Apprenticeship Success
THE IPG Supporting Independents
The IPG – Steady Demand, Squeezed Margins: How Independent Merchants are Supporting The Trades Biggest Challenge in 2026
JH is pleased to celebrate the achievements of two colleagues from its Learning & Development team, Lauren Fergus and Justyna Prasek, who have each successfully completed their CIPD apprenticeships. Their commitment to developing skills embodies the culture of continuous learning PJH is building across the business, and their success reflects the positive impact that professional growth can have on both individual confidence and the wider organisation. Lauren (Pictured Right) has completed her Level 3 Learning & Development Practitioner Apprenticeship, gaining a strong understanding of how people learn and how to design training that genuinely supports different needs. As she explains, “Completing my Level 3 Apprenticeship in Learning & Development has been a really rewarding experience. The apprenticeship journey has given me a deeper understanding of how people learn, what motivates them, and how to design and deliver training that makes a real impact.”
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Justyna (Pictured Left) has completed her Level 5 CIPD Learning & Development Business Partner Apprenticeship, further building her skills in both learning design and delivery. She has developed her confidence in coaching, working with stakeholders, and supporting management development, while continuing to align Learning & Development with the needs of the business.
Commenting on her acheivement she said: “Completing my apprenticeship has been one of the most valuable development opportunities in my career. The programme has strengthened both my strategic understanding of Learning & Development and my practical ability to deliver impact across the business.”
Dawn Kennedy, PJH’s Learning & Development Manager, commented: “We are proud of both colleagues for their hard work and dedication to their professional development. Their success is a welcome reminder of the value of investing in people and the positive impact that learning has on the strength and capability of PJH as a whole.” With more PJH colleagues taking responsibility for their development and exploring new training resources , these achievements underline the growth in Learning & Development engagement across PJH. For further information on PJH, call or visit the website.
0345 450 8932
www.pjh.uk /
www.partners.pjh.uk
lumbing and bathroom installers are moving through 2026 with workloads holding steady, but under increasing financial pressure from tighter margins and more cautious customers.
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TradeBrain’s Q4 2025 Pulse survey of 2,080 tradespeople highlights that while demand remains resilient and typical day rates sit between £150 and £249, rising material and tool costs are affecting 63% of the trade, restricting real income growth. Notably, almost one in three installers now report uncertainty over what their next job will actually be worth, reinforcing that the key challenge is no longer securing work, but ensuring its profitability.
Against this backdrop, bathroom and plumbing work is becoming more closely tied to the “small jobs economy.” February 2026’s Monthly Insight, based on 254 tradespeople, shows that small repairs and callouts account for the largest share of work at 31.1%. When combined with routine maintenance and refurbishment or renovation projects, these smaller-scale jobs make up nearly 40% of all activity. For many plumbers and bathroom installers, this means a shift away from large, high-value projects towards a steady flow of fixes, replacements and incremental upgrades. For independent plumbers’ merchants and bathroom showrooms, this evolving landscape presents both challenges and opportunities. Installers carrying out more frequent, smaller jobs rely heavily on merchants for quick access to products, dependable availability and knowledgeable support. Being part of a buying group such as The IPG enhances this position, providing stronger purchasing power, access to trusted suppliers and the backing needed to remain competitive.
At The IPG, we know that success in this environment will depend on supporting our members with well-stocked ranges of competitively priced products, to help their customers maximise value on every job. We are as committed as ever to ensuring our members can protect margins, strengthen customer loyalty and drive consistent repeat business - leveraging the scale and support that being part of a buying group provides to merchants and showrooms alike.
Nike Lovell,
Marketing Director, The IPG.
www.the-ipg.co.uk
BKU APRIL 2026 35
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