Brett South never expected skipping school to pick up extra shifts at Coles would set him on the path to becoming one of the Territory's most successful plumbers.
He set his sights on the tradie life at just 15 with the support of his father, who noticed Brett wasn't enjoying school – he began an apprenticeship a short time later and graduated from TAFE in 2019.
Now, Brett is living the dream as the director of his own business, Complete Plumbing Solutions NT.
"Starting my business was fantastic, I had a fair bit of experience through the industry and the timing felt right so I decided to take the risk and test my skills on my own," he said.
"Putting on my first apprentice Nathan and seeing him throughout his career and signing him off was very special."
Brett is also living out a full-circle moment, and now proudly training and employing his son, Cohen.
"Working alongside my son is its own rewarding journey, because he's grown a lot throughout his apprenticeship," he said.
"One of the biggest drivers for starting this business in 2018 was exactly this – seeing these young boys turn into men, watching them realise it isn't so much about skill, it's about having a good attitude, character, and work ethic.
"Seeing that light bulb moment in Cohen and the other apprentices is cool to see."
Cohen, who is following his father's footsteps by studying plumbing through CDU TAFE, said he hoped to carry his family's legacy forward and was excited to pick up his father's tools and follow in his footsteps.
He said the apprenticeship was far from easy work, but having his dad's support – both on and off the job site – made all the difference.
"It makes it a lot better when you have someone like your dad working with you, showing you right from wrong, and always showing you how to get better at what you're doing," Cohen said.
"He's passionate about what he does and gives it everything he has to give.
"I'm not sure what my future holds, but I truly hope it looks something like what Dad's does."
