Plumbing opens new doors for Richard

Aug 11 2009 by Karen Dent, The Journal

A FORMER Nissan supply chain worker who started preparing for a new career when the car giant suffered a previous downturn has put his plan into action after being made redundant because of the crisis in the car market.

Richard Cousins, who worked as a maintenance team leader at car parts supplier Unipress, trained as a Gas Safe heating engineer in his spare time as he put together a back-up plan for the future.

And when the global recession in the car industry forced Unipress to announce compulsory redundancies, he decided the time was right to use his new skills to launch Richard Cousins Heating and Plumbing.

Mr Cousins, from Concord in Washington, said: “I started the training a couple of years ago when the company last went through a downturn. I would finish a shift and then start getting work experience with a friend in the trade.

“I needed a change of lifestyle as I had worked at Unipress for more than 17 years and ultimately wanted to be in control of my own destiny. Redundancy gave me the breathing space to get my business off the ground.”

After completing his Gas Safe qualifications, he is now aiming to service trade customers such as estate agents, letting agents and private landlords. The business is also targeting domestic customers with heating and plumbing services.

Mr Cousins worked with Concord-based business start-up specialist SES, which helped him to put together a business plan and secure the funding to buy essential gas testing equipment.

SES business counsellor Michelle Brunton said: “It was a case of second time around for Richard and this time he is fully prepared to move forward with his business.

“That extra breathing space gave him the extra experience and qualifications to make his venture a success.

“For Richard, and many like him, the downturn and redundancy have opened the door to new opportunities.”

SES receives part of its funding to offer start-up grants via the European Union’s ERDF Competitiveness Programme 2007-13, through the Working Neighbourhood Fund.