According to the Institute of Plumbing 29,000 plumbers will be required by 2007. the problem is only 800 qualify each year. Andy Enright of Plumb Direct believes the trade is suffering from ‘the snob factor’: "School leavers just arn’t entering the trade. It’s a career worth considering. the rewards are great in a trade which many consider to be recession proof — people are alwaysgoing to need a plumber. In London you can earn £1,000 a week easily."