Cary Rudd from Manchester and Livvi Hodges from Norfolk have been announced as the new PolyPlumb Enhanced Ambassadors by Polypipe Building Products, in recognition of their dedication to the plumbing and heating industry and their commitment to supporting the next generation of installer. The pair were unveiled at last week’s InstallerSHOW, following a competitive application process with entries reviewed and scored against a set of criteria designed to identify individuals who demonstrate technical excellence and enthusiasm for the trade.
The Ambassador Scheme was launched last year to help support apprentices and early-career professionals entering the plumbing and heating sector. Named after Polypipe Building Product’s PolyPlumb Enhanced push-fit range, the initiative provides ambassadors with a package of support including PolyPlumb Enhanced products, tools, workwear, technical guidance and opportunities to raise their profile across the industry.
After beginning her own apprenticeship at the age of 16, Livvi gained Level 3 qualifications in plumbing and gas before moving into education, where she spent several years as a plumbing lecturer and assessor. She has regularly delivered talks to young people and parents, organised hands-on plumbing events for schoolgirls, and continues to advocate for greater diversity within the industry while running her own plumbing and renewables business alongside her teaching role.
Cary Rudd, meanwhile, impressed the judging panel with his resilience and passion for promoting careers in the trades. Now in the fourth year of his plumbing and domestic heating apprenticeship, Cary overcame the setback of being made redundant early in his training and has since gone on to become a finalist in this year’s Screwfix Trade Apprentice competition. Through his growing presence on Instagram and TikTok, he is also helping to showcase the opportunities available within the industry to encourage more young people to consider a career in the trade.
Jason Nightingale, head of marketing at Polypipe Building Products (pictured with Cary and Livvi above), says: “The standard of applications this year was incredibly high, making the judging process extremely difficult. Cary and Livvi stood out not only for their professionalism and technical ability, but also for the passion they have for encouraging others into the trade.
“The scheme was created to support and celebrate emerging talent within the sector. As an industry, we need to continue attracting and developing skilled individuals, and both Cary and Livvi are fantastic examples of the people helping to drive the profession forward. We’re really excited to be working closely with them over the coming year and supporting them as they continue to develop their careers.”
