MATTHEW GOES FOR GOLD!

Matthew, our 4th-year apprentice, was a finalist for at The National SkillPLUMB Awards.

Mark Haddow, Director, says, “We are delighted for Matthew. He has won Apprentice of the Year each year at Perth College UHI and this year won Bronze in the Scottish heats of the Skill Plumb Awards. To have place in the UK final is a massive achievement. Matthew has always worked to the highest standard and is very good at working with our customers.”

Gordon Nisbet of Perth College, who attended with Matthew, had this to say “Matthew performed very well in Birmingham and was a credit to your company. First place went to the lad from North East Scotland College, who won the Scottish heat. The Second and Third places went to two students who competed last year and, therefore, had an advantage over the other competitors.”

There were ten finalists in the SkillPLUMB Final; qualifying through regional heats across the UK. Matthew and two other students from Borders College and North East Scotland College were there representing Scotland. The standard of work was very high. The SkillPLUMB Judge for UK Skills said that the standard of work was much higher this year compared to last year, with a much harder installation.

Each competitor had to complete a copper pipe work installation of Hot and Cold Water plus a Domestic Central Heating System. Each competitor had to work to dimensional tolerances of just two millimetres, which is a World Skills standard.

The competitors were given a set task for each day. Any part of the installation not completed could not be completed at any other time during the competition. This put massive pressure on to complete each task, as marks were awarded each day.

The plumbing firms demonstrate the very best of skill and technical ability and the merchant staff support these businesses through delivering first class customer service to make running those businesses easier.

Matthew said that he enjoyed the experience. Even though he did not get a medal, he is still a winner having made it to the Final of SkillPLUMB UK. Only the best ten plumbing students in the UK get to compete for this award.

Gordon added, “We are also very proud of the way Matthew conducted himself during the three days of competition; he was a very good ambassador for Perth College UHI and LW Haddow.”