Meet the boss!

8 May 2026 Luke Smith Comments Off on Meet the boss!

Quickfire Q&A: Luke unplugged

We asked Luke a few questions. He answered honestly. Maybe too honestly…

What did you do before you became a plumbing & heating engineer?
I was a photocopier engineer.

What’s one thing about your job that would surprise most people?
There isn’t as much wee and poo as they think!

What’s your favourite part of the job?
Reading all the kind reviews from happy customers and the trust they put in me when they refer me to their friends and family – it means I’m doing my job well! Also, meeting everyone’s pets 🐶😺

Coffee or tea? And how many cups does it take to get you through the day?
Coffee in the morning, tea in the afternoon. Oooh… least one an hour!

What do you do when you’re not working?
I love music, so going to gigs and playing a bit of guitar. Spending time with my family. Also lifting weights in the gym to try and keep up with Isaac!

What’s the best advice anyone has ever given you?
If you have quiet periods, don’t spend time worrying about it. Enjoy it! Rest, spend time with your loved ones, have a break. The work will soon come rolling in again.

ACLJ – Luke’s story

After 7 years training with and working for a local plumbing & heating firm, Luke took the plunge (or should that be plunger?) and started ACLJ Plumbing & Heating as a sole trader in 2010 at the age of 28. It was quite the year, as his daughter was born too!

In those early days, Luke juggled contractor work on building sites across Suffolk and Essex while gradually building his own customer base. From unblocking sinks and changing taps to servicing boilers and installing complete heating systems, he got stuck in and worked hard.

As well as his technical skills and professionalism, customers also appreciated his reliable, honest, approach. Word-of-mouth recommendations became the backbone of the business, and Luke built a reputation as tradesperson people could genuinely trust.

In 2015, PHAM News featured Luke as their tradesperson of the month, and the business continued to grow steadily. The challenge soon became fitting an ever-increasing workload in, with just one pair of hands!

Navigating the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 (Luke’s 10th year in business) brought a different kind of challenge. He made the difficult decision to temporarily close for three months during an incredibly uncertain time for everyone. The phased reopening that followed involved enhanced safety measures, careful risk management, and a lot of protective equipment! But what really stood out was the kindness, cooperation and understanding from customers. It reinforced for Luke just how lucky he was to be working in such a supportive local community.

In 2022, the ACLJ team finally grew when Luke achieved his long-held goal of taking on an apprentice. This new responsibility marked the next phase of Luke’s professional life – he wasn’t just running his own business anymore; he was now an employer and mentor too.

For Luke, that investment well and truly paid off. In late 2025 (Luke’s 15^th year of business) former apprentice Isaac joined ACLJ as a permanent Plumbing & Heating Technician and now represents ACLJ on his own jobs, as well as still teaming up with Luke on larger projects.

Luke is proud of what he’s built and is looking forward to the next chapter – carefully scaling up the business as the team’s capacity grows with two technicians on board.

After over 15 years of serving the local community, ACLJ now covers Kesgrave, Martlesham, Rushmere St Andrew, Ipswich, Woodbridge, Felixstowe and the surrounding areas. Over 200 loyal, local customers trust ACLJ with their plumbing, bathroom fitting, boilers, heating systems and gas safety.

Word-of-mouth referrals remain the biggest source of business for ACLJ, and the 110+ reviews customers have left on Freeindex are a testament to Luke’s commitment to reliability, quality and safety.

Contact us – ACLJ Plumbing & Heating

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