Geraldine Goh is a woman who knows how to get things done.
As a licensed plumber and the director of her own plumbing company, she’s used to rolling up her sleeves. It’s a skill she’s been honing since childhood, growing up in a single-parent family.
“When there were issues at home like a blown light bulb, my mom would ask, ‘Do you want somebody to fix it?’ But I would say, ‘I think I can do it. Let’s just do it on our own.’
“I was always interested in fixing things at home, hanging up pictures, and all that,” Geraldine shared.
She took up a mechatronics engineering course and dabbled in electronics and wiring. She eventually worked for a town council where she managed contractors doing maintenance for housing board estates.
Being the curious person she is, Geraldine followed the workers around. She was fascinated by the inner workings of plumbing systems.
“I went up to the roof and was blown away by how it all works. There’s a pump room, there’s a water tank … the water comes down through different pipes, there were pump feeds, there were gravity feeds.
“That’s when I really got interested in how water works,” she said.
In 2017, Geraldine established her own plumbing company, Brothers Building & Plumbing.
Now at 29, she’s breaking down business barriers, inspiring young people to follow in her footsteps and consider a career in trades.
All in a Day’s Work
Geraldine’s company does all sorts of plumbing work – from industrial sites to homes. But what really sets them apart is her hands-on approach to the business.
“It really makes a difference when you lay your hands to do the work. The kind of satisfaction you get solving problems, creating, building a system inside a building … it makes you proud to complete a project and know that you had a hand in it,” said Geraldine.
But having a hand in building something also means getting those hands dirty, quite literally.
She shared matter-of-factly: “There are times when you have to … let’s say there’s a floor trap that is choked, you have to put your hand in and just grab whatever that’s there.
“You just put on rubber gloves. And just wash your hands after. Don’t scare yourself. It’s just a mindset change.”
Breaking Barriers
Geraldine is not afraid to jump in and tackle the most challenging jobs alongside her team. And she’s always looking for ways to innovate and improve, whether through the latest technology or more efficient work processes.
“There are lots of new equipment available these days. For instance, when there’s a choke, you don’t have to go down with pails to scoop it up. There are tools that can help you with that.
“Plumbing is no longer considered a ‘dirty job’,” she said.
Perhaps what’s most striking about Geraldine is her fearlessness. She’s not intimidated by the male-dominated world of plumbing and is determined to show other women that they don’t have to be either.
“I think that ladies have a very meticulous mind. We catch on to very small details which men may sometimes overlook. It’s always good to work together, men and women, so we can complement one another,” she said.
Building a Pipeline for Success
The plumbing trade has faced a decline in recent years. Some may think that being a plumber will lead to nowhere. This couldn’t be further from the truth.
Plumbing requires expertise and skill, and those committed to it can advance in their careers, just as Geraldine hopes to do.
She shared: “I would like to be able to do more, not just plumbing work itself, but to understand the entire mechanical system of what a building requires. I want to upskill myself to do more.
“I’m now doing a part-time degree in construction and project management. I see myself being in charge of a big project, seeing through the whole construction.”
There are plans to create clear career paths for tradesmen – such as NTUC’s Career Progression Model – which offers growth opportunities.
Should these proposals be accepted by the government, the plumbing trade can attract more young people like Geraldine to build a fulfilling career in this field.
“Plumbing is like solving a puzzle. It’s a constant challenge that I’m addicted to … Solving problems of people is an addicting job,” she said.
But for Geraldine, being a plumber isn’t just a job – it’s her passion. This, plus her enthusiasm and dedication, make a real difference in the industry, one pipe at a time.