Following a two-year Covid gap, Scotland’s top plumbing apprentices finally had the opportunity of demonstrating their expertise at the SkillPLUMB competition held at Glasgow Clyde College in June. Organised by SNIPEF, Scotland and Northern Ireland’s plumbing and heating industry’s trade association, the competition enables talented apprentices to showcase their skills and knowledge of best plumbing practice.

Under close inspection by industry experts, competing apprentices tested their expertise on a series of challenging practical tests and were assessed on their individual knowledge, practical skills and employability attributes against set criteria in a competitively timed environment. The competition gave participants three hours to complete practical exercises in copper pipework or lead work before their work was marked and assessed.

A total of 24 apprentices from colleges and training centres across Scotland competed for the top prizes and the winners were as follows:

Lead winners

  • First: Gregor McNee of Dundee & Angus College who is employed by Tayside Boiler Services.
  • Second: Ryan McCrone of Glasgow Clyde College who works for Cruden Building (Scotland) Ltd.
  • Third: Ben Mitchell of West College Scotland (Paisley) who is employed by James Frew.

Copper winners

  • First: Sean Esslemont of Moray College who is employed by McDonald & Munro Ltd.
  • Second: Kayne Forsyth of North East College Scotland who works for Camwater Ltd.
  • Third: Jack Forbes of Edinburgh College who is employed by A Alexander & Son (Electrical) Ltd.

As the Scotland regional heat for SkillPLUMB, the highest-scoring competitors in the copper competition may go onto represent Scotland in the WorldSkillsUK 2022 National Finals which will take place this November in Middlesbrough.

Stephanie Lowe, acting CEO of SNIPEF, comments: “This great event would not be possible without the support of our partners, funders and sponsors to whom we wish to say a huge thank you, not least to Associated Lead Mills for supplying the lead and Mueller Europe for supplying the copper.”

Picture caption:

Back row – Lead winners: Ryan McCrone, Gregor McNee, Ben Mitchell

Front row – Copper winners: Sean Esslemont, Kayne Forsyth, Jack Forbes

For further information about SNIPEF please visit: www.snipef.org