Meet the member: Sarah Oliver BSc Hon MCIPHE RP

What do you love about your job?

I’m in the happiness business. When I put in something that’s new, that someone wants, I’m a heroine. If I fix something, I’m a heroine. And from my children’s perspective, the fact their mother is a plumber is wonderful. They know their mother can do anything.

How did you get into the industry?

After I had my first child, I needed to get back to work. I needed a job where I could work school terms and hours. Cambridge Regional College needed a technician and my neighbour was having work done. So, I went up to the plumber and said ‘give me job’.

How did you get into your current role?

I liked the small jobs. A lot of the competition didn’t want the little jobs like leaky taps. I didn’t want to work 8am to 5pm because of my children so I went self-employed. I’ve never wanted for work.

What’s the most interesting thing you’ve learned along the way?

Someone who’d been very successful in retail said when I started ‘your biggest challenge will be saying no’. And as an apprentice, I was told it’s not what you do, it’s what you know. When you do something and it doesn’t work, don’t panic in that situation.

Have you got a standout moment?

During the Beast from the East, someone rang at 9am on a Monday. They’d moved out and turned the heating off. I went, despite the conditions. Water was pouring through the letterbox and I had to break the ice in the box where the mains tap was. He was hugely grateful.

Tell us something people don’t know about you

When I was at university, I learned to scuba dive and I kept it up. I’ve dived around the world; Kenya, the Maldives, Costa Rica. It’s how I met my husband. We weren’t under water at the time, I’d like to make clear...

What are the benefits of a CIPHE membership?

It’s about education and learning about the innovations. It makes sense if you’re doing statutory work. There are lots of untrained people on social media showing what they’ve done. It might work, but you have to think about all the things that could go wrong. That’s why the CIPHE matters.

Would you do it again?

In a heartbeat. There are days now when after a cup of tea, I can’t get back up again, but I still love it. It’s been a wonderful, satisfying, altruistic 17 years of my life.