Case Study: Paul Pickering - PP Plastering Services
Former Hull Kingston Rovers player Paul Pickering knew that he could not bank on his sporting prowess to give him a long-term career.
28 year old Paul from Longhill, Hull, had played rugby league since he was eight but went straight to college to pick up qualifications for a career in the building trade, wanting primarily to become a bricklayer, and went on to work for Sangwin’s. Paul did more plastering than brickwork, however, and it is this skill on which he has now focused to begin the latest phase in his working life, running PP Plastering.
Former Hull Kingston Rovers player Paul Pickering knew that he could not bank on his sporting prowess to give him a long-term career.
28 year old Paul from Longhill, Hull, had played rugby league since he was eight but went straight to college to pick up qualifications for a career in the building trade, wanting primarily to become a bricklayer, and went on to work for Sangwin’s. Paul did more plastering than brickwork, however, and it is this skill on which he has now focused to begin the latest phase in his working life, running PP Plastering.
Paul played full-time for Hull KR as a hooker and thought his plastering days could be kicked into touch at one stage when the Robins were set to go into the Superleague. After four years at Craven Park, Paul signed up to Sheffield Eagles for a further three years before making the difficult decision to retire to concentrate on the day job.
He worked for three years for Connaught before being made redundant in the company’s difficulties in 2010. It was at the start of the New Year that Paul, who is married with one son, Harvey, and a stepson, Aaron, decided to go it alone, encouraged by the work he was being asked to do by friends and family.
He first approached Businesslink who advised on what he should do and who to see, and referred him to Probe. The Pre-Enterprise team at Employment House gave a lot of help, advised on a business plan and helped to access a £2,000 Acorn Fund grant to pay for advertising and tools. His only family sacrifice was to sell his car and buy a van!
“Every job is different,” says Paul. “I particularly like doing full refurbishments on houses, especially old ones, where it means going back to the brickwork. I decided on a career in the building trade to use my practical skills. Hopefully, in time I can take people on and help those who don’t have jobs. I know what it feels like.”
The rugby league feeling hasn’t disappeared as it has only been two years since he hung up his boots. Paul recalls the ultimate glory for a Hull lad to run out onto the KC Stadium turf in a derby game and was part of National Rail Cup and promotion success at Sheffield Eagles. Now, though, stepson Aaron has been taken on to a KR scholarship. Even his own son Harvey has started to show signs of dad’s practical skill with his deft use of a toy screwdriver.
“It feels good working for myself and to know that my stamp is on many houses in East Yorkshire and I can be proud to say I did that wall. We’ve never been a family with lots of money but I’ve created a business and haven’t struggled for work.”
Customer Kerry Waterman has used Paul for a lot of work on her house in Foredyke Avenue, on which she has been spending thousands of pounds on modernisation. She says he was known to one of their friends and they had no hesitation in asking him to come in when work needed doing: “We were having our loft converted and the contractor we were using had brought in a plasterer but the quality of work was not good. We then decided to bring Paul in and he re-plastered the loft. Such was the quality that we asked him to do another job in the house, and in the end, he has done the rest including the new conservatory, bedrooms and now the lounge. He also left the place very tidy which was a pleasant surprise.”
Businessman Sean Reel invited Paul to carry out work on three properties he owns in Birmingham. This was after they met when Paul was working at a fitness camp in Norfolk. Sean says: “He’s done plastering, skimming and kitchen flooring. It can be difficult to find someone who can do the job and be trusted, especially as I work away. Paul’s done good job on my refurbishments and there are more houses for him to work on now.”
PP Plastering Services
(01482) 811303
(07876) 153661
paulpicky@hotmail.co.uk
He worked for three years for Connaught before being made redundant in the company’s difficulties in 2010. It was at the start of the New Year that Paul, who is married with one son, Harvey, and a stepson, Aaron, decided to go it alone, encouraged by the work he was being asked to do by friends and family.
He first approached Businesslink who advised on what he should do and who to see, and referred him to Probe. The Pre-Enterprise team at Employment House gave a lot of help, advised on a business plan and helped to access a £2,000 Acorn Fund grant to pay for advertising and tools. His only family sacrifice was to sell his car and buy a van!
“Every job is different,” says Paul. “I particularly like doing full refurbishments on houses, especially old ones, where it means going back to the brickwork. I decided on a career in the building trade to use my practical skills. Hopefully, in time I can take people on and help those who don’t have jobs. I know what it feels like.”
The rugby league feeling hasn’t disappeared as it has only been two years since he hung up his boots. Paul recalls the ultimate glory for a Hull lad to run out onto the KC Stadium turf in a derby game and was part of National Rail Cup and promotion success at Sheffield Eagles. Now, though, stepson Aaron has been taken on to a KR scholarship. Even his own son Harvey has started to show signs of dad’s practical skill with his deft use of a toy screwdriver.
“It feels good working for myself and to know that my stamp is on many houses in East Yorkshire and I can be proud to say I did that wall. We’ve never been a family with lots of money but I’ve created a business and haven’t struggled for work.”
Customer Kerry Waterman has used Paul for a lot of work on her house in Foredyke Avenue, on which she has been spending thousands of pounds on modernisation. She says he was known to one of their friends and they had no hesitation in asking him to come in when work needed doing: “We were having our loft converted and the contractor we were using had brought in a plasterer but the quality of work was not good. We then decided to bring Paul in and he re-plastered the loft. Such was the quality that we asked him to do another job in the house, and in the end, he has done the rest including the new conservatory, bedrooms and now the lounge. He also left the place very tidy which was a pleasant surprise.”
Businessman Sean Reel invited Paul to carry out work on three properties he owns in Birmingham. This was after they met when Paul was working at a fitness camp in Norfolk. Sean says: “He’s done plastering, skimming and kitchen flooring. It can be difficult to find someone who can do the job and be trusted, especially as I work away. Paul’s done good job on my refurbishments and there are more houses for him to work on now.”
PP Plastering Services
(01482) 811303
(07876) 153661
paulpicky@hotmail.co.uk
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