For Bill Phillips, the key to running a successful business is not being afraid to get your hands dirty.

As the owner of Victoria-based Island Temperature Controls Ltd., Phillips balances managing his company while still working side-by-side with his employees.

"There are different management styles, some are more office and corporate-focused and others are hands-on," said Phillips, adding he has three other managers who help him oversee the day-to-day business activities so he can troubleshoot with technicians. "I'm definitely involved from a corporate point of view but I'm also hands-on with the technicians and the work they are doing," he said.

Tinkering with mechanics has always been a hobby for Phillips, who has been refurbishing cars, and now boats, since he was a young man. After high-school graduation, Phillips had been working in wholesale and retail, selling tools and equipment when he decided to begin a career in the trades.

"I was drawn to the technical side of mechanical systems and was looking for a career that offered a lot of challenges and diversity," said Phillips. "I realized that the trades was probably the place that I wanted to start and see where it went. As it turns out, it was the best decision I ever made."

At 23, he enrolled in a pre-apprenticeship program at Camosun College training in mechanical systems. He ended up working as a pipefitter, installing boilers, cooling towers and other mechanical systems on construction sites. From there he landed a four-year-apprenticeship working in pneumatic controls. Suddenly, he found himself upgrading his education, studying several electronics programs, including industrial and power engineering, and learning mechanical drafting. By the '90s, he was a qualified pipefitter, steamfitter, sprinkler-system installer, plumber, power engineer and electrician.

"I definitely had the idea to eventually have my own contracting business when I started all this but I knew I would need a lot of training and experience to start with," he said. "In the beginning, you don't know how far you are going to go or how it's going to work out."

In 1990, Phillips was working as a controls technician at Island Temperature Controls Ltd. when he purchased the company from its owner. The relatively small business, which installs, maintains and repairs mechanical- and electrical-control systems in buildings, has since grown to employ 19 technicians -- 14 are journeymen and five are apprentices.

Phillips employs technicians from a variety of fields, including mechanical systems, electronic systems, digital controls, pneumatic controls, refrigeration and pipefitters to keep up with the company's diverse business. He personally tries to mentor each apprentice, particularly those coming from pre-apprenticeship programs, so that they are taught the one skill all tradespeople need: confidence.

"Because of that experience I had with my mentor, I do my best to provide that same experience to apprentices in this company," he said. "I try to ensure that encouragement that I was fortunate to have. To understand they can solve the problem and be good at their trades."

PROFILE

Name: Bill Phillips.

Category: Employer.

Age: 56.

Town: Victoria.

Trade: Red Seal Certified plumber and pipefitter.

Employer: Island Temperature Controls Ltd., owner.

Education: Camosun College.

Why would someone want to be a plumber or pipefitter? "It's challenging, it's very rewarding, it's diverse and a lot of people are looking for that. It also provides excellent income and benefits. And ... you can be sure of stable employment."

Why did the judges choose him to win? He shows a strong commitment, not just to hiring apprentices, but to ensuring they do all the training they need to achieve certification.

Why did you nominate Bill for this award? "Bill gives all his time to help his employees learn and understand the trade ... He wears a uniform and gets his hands dirty just like any of the guys." — Tye Leishman, former employee

caption: Manager and worker Bill Phillips says the key to success in running a business is not being afraid to get your hands dirty