Moray College UHI apprentice plumbers win gold
Two of Moray College UHI apprentice plumbers have both won gold medals in the regional Heats to find the best young apprentice plumber in the UK. All competitors are under the age of 23.
On Thursday apprentice plumber, David Blewett, won the gold medal at the North of England SkillPlumb Heat which was held at Leeds College of Building. He did particularly well on the copper pipework exercise. David works for Shetland Gas Supplies and is now in his second year apprenticeship. Last year he was placed third in the same competition. His employer is delighted with David’s achievement and praised the instruction and guidance that David has had from both Moray College UHI and from Alan Keith at the workplace.
Last weekend Alasdair Scott, also from Shetland won the gold medal at the SNIPEF SkillPlumb competition at Edinburgh College for the Scotland Heat.
Alasdair was awarded first place in the Sheet Leadwork section and placed first overall at the competition after 2 days of practical work and a theory test paper. Alasdair is in the third year of his apprenticeship which he started in Shetland with T. Rowley Plumbing and Heating Services before transferring to work for Dunster Biomass Heating, Forres.
Jim Mackinnon, Curriculum Leader for the SVQ in Plumbing, Moray College UHI, was at both competitions along with Alasdair and David and he was delighted with the standard of work produced by them. “These competitions have challenging practical and theory work and I think this is a fantastic achievement from two very motivated young men.”
Plumbing apprenticeships in Shetland are organised and co-ordinated through Train Shetland with block release attendance at Moray College UHI Linkwood Campus in Elgin.
Alasdair and David are now waiting to see who will now be selected for the UK SkillPlumb finals in Birmingham in November. The selection has only 8 going through to the Final and it all depends on the points scored in Heats. The competition that Alasdair and David are hoping to get into tests the competitors applied skills that demonstrate excellence in their chosen trade.
This SkillsShow is held over the course of 4 days where there are 70 different competitions amongst all the trades to find out who is the best. It is the largest skills and careers event in the country where hundreds of different industries are represented.