Power of education

Jason Clark, who was recently sworn in as the new President of the CIPHE, has been operating within the plumbing and heating industry for over 35 years and is an active and impactful member of the industry’s wider community.

“My involvement initially began as a 15-year-old, intrigued by the intricacies of domestic-heating pipework, having watched a team of skilled plumbers install a new heating system,” recalls Jason. “And so began my extraordinary journey from an eager YTS apprentice to receiving the Master Plumber award at Merchant Taylors’ Hall.

“In 2021, I received the Freedom of the City of London and became a Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Plumbers (WCoP),” adds Jason. “This was a fabulous experience and one I feel honoured to have received. I have enjoyed every step of the journey so far.”

Among other things, such as WaterAid and the Plumbing Museum at Amberley, West Sussex, the WCoP works closely with the CIPHE to support young learners and apprentices via bursaries and their joint initiative, the Plumbing Professionals Development Scheme (PPDS).

Supportive role

After a varied career, which included working as a plumbing and heating engineer, designer and estimator, Jason moved into sales and jointly established PEW, strategically diversifying into supplying specialist electrical controls and mechanical materials to the lift and escalator industry.

“PEW is now one of the largest suppliers to the UK Lift industry and I am proud to be director and executive chairman, along with PEW Holdings,” says Jason. “In 2020, I was nominated for the Institute of Directors’ (IOD) Director of the Year award for London and South region for businesses between £5m and £50m, and reached the final.”

In addition to his commercial activities, Jason is a keen supporter of several charitable organisations including Little Havens Hospice, on behalf of which he ran the London Marathon in 2011 and which PEW continues to support through fundraising and services.

“I encourage social impact and provide leadership to communities via PEW’s Corporate and Social Responsibility Programme too,” he adds. “I enjoy delivering inspirational talks to students from disadvantaged backgrounds and those with special educational needs. Building on this, I also work in collaboration with Tier Blundell, the founder of Excluded from School (excludedfromschool.com). The project provides inspiration and helps to find solutions to enable an unrepresented group of children to access education via apprenticeships and other routes.

“This is a cause that is very important to me, because I experienced disruption during my childhood and an apprenticeship was my way of escaping my environment and back into education.” In recognition of his work supporting young learners and apprentices, he reached the final of the City of London Lord Mayor’s Dragon Awards, in January 2023, for Social Impact and Leadership.

Upholding standards

Jason has been a member of the CIPHE for nearly four decades, first joining the Institute back in 1987. Since then, he has become a Fellow, a registered engineering technician and was Elected as the Institute’s Vice President in June 2024.

He was appointed chair of the Plumbing Employers’ Trailblazer Group (PETG) in April 2024, which focuses on supporting UK apprenticeships in the plumbing and heating industry. The PETG was recently appointed by the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education, (IfATE) and was given the responsibility to help and advise on reshaping plumbing apprenticeships in the UK.

“As Vice President, I represented the CIPHE and supported the activities of the president,” explains Jason. “I had the pleasure of working with some of the most experienced people in the plumbing and heating industry, for whom I have the utmost respect and admiration.

“Since 2016, I have also served as a member of the CIPHE disciplinary committee, again with some very experienced colleagues in the industry. We help to maintain the standard of workmanship in line with the CIPHE policies and code of conduct.”

Jason currently serves on the communications committee and is the membership lead on the membership committee for the WCoP.

“I would like to take this opportunity to appeal to fellow professionals in the industry to contact me, the WCoP or CIPHE if they would like to become a member and share their knowledge in helping apprentices and young learners. You can find me on LinkedIn.”

As the CIPHE’s 2025/26 President, Jason shares his views on the Institute and his role in the future: “Since becoming a member in 1987, the CIPHE’s influence in the industry has been clear, and it seems to have really gained traction over the past few years under the fine stewardship of its current CEO Kevin Wellman and his team.

“The CIPHE plays a critical role in the development of the UK plumbing and heating industry. Apprenticeships, CPD training, promoting standards, campaigning for better water quality and much more. Its current work with IfATE, to reshape the UK plumbing apprenticeship, is possibly the most important role it has played to date.

“I feel extremely grateful and honoured becoming President of the CIPHE and appreciate the trust placed in me by its members. This is a pinnacle moment for me and I will take great care to represent the CIPHE and its members in its true spirit.

“During my time in office as president, I shall represent the values of the CIPHE and support all the great work that it and its volunteers do. My focus will be training and apprenticeships, and unrepresented groups, and to further continue with the PETG to reshape UK plumbing apprenticeships. I would also like to bring more awareness of the work the CIPHE and WCoP collaborate on.”