For over 35 years, Stephen Cox has been working in the plumbing and gas industry, starting in Portsmouth, England. Shortly after leaving school, he joined British Gas, where he completed a traditional and comprehensive apprenticeship, and in 1982, he qualified as a Journeyman Class 1 Gas Service Engineer. Two years later, he left British Gas to set up and run his own successful plumbing and heating business, S Cox Heating & Plumbing, serving the residence of Portsmouth. From this, he learnt that the way to a successful business is through trust and honesty, along with reliability.