Mark Taylor, who founded MTP Gas, has seen his business grow from working out of a garden shed during Covid to occupying a unit on Riverside Industrial Estate.
After years of self-employment on Teesside, Mr Taylor set up his company in 2014 and, with the support of the Combined Authority, has been able to take on two local apprentices.
Mr Taylor’s own journey began in the Midlands, leaving school at 15 and spending three years in an apprenticeship before serving almost nine years in the RAF.
He later moved to Teesside, where he formed his business.
Four years ago, with help from the Combined Authority, he hired his first apprentice and now employs two – Luke Boddy from South Bank and Will Simpson from Nunthorpe.
Mr Taylor said: “I had apprentices, but it never seemed to work when we did it.”
He explained that reaching out for support made the difference.
“I approached the Mayor to see if there was help available, and he put me onto the team to help through the process.”
Mr Taylor added: “The authority helped set up the interviews.
“We whittled it down to about six and did the interviews from there.
“The funding from the Tees Valley was brilliant.”
Apprenticeship schemes are vital for the future of the industry, according to Mr Taylor.
“Unless there are employers willing to invest, which I have done, we’re not going to have a future.”
He pointed out: “The average age of a gas fitter at the moment is between 50 and 55, which is just not sustainable for the industry.”
Mr Boddy joined MTP Gas over four years ago and said: “It’s been good, I’ve learned a lot over the last four years.”
He added: “It’s been good to learn off Mark – he’s taught me properly.”
Mr Simpson, who switched from university to a hands-on job, shared his positive experience at MTP Gas.
He said: “I didn’t learn anything – and I wouldn’t have passed college if I’d stayed there.
“I reached out to Mark, and I’ve learned more here since starting last June than I did in years there.”
The company’s work now extends nationwide, including NHS contracts in East Anglia, the Midlands, and London.
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Mr Taylor said: “Because we’ve expanded, we’ve been able to take on contract jobs – we’ve done one in Birmingham putting a full central heating system in.
“We’ve been to London and Norwich.”
Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen praised Mr Taylor’s approach, saying: “Mark’s career and approach shows exactly what we’re all about in Teesside, Darlington and Hartlepool – backing our brilliant small businesses and making sure they have the support they need, shaped by what they tell us works.”
