Apprentice of the Year Final – winners unveiled!

AOY finalists with SJIB Secretary Fiona Harper

This year’ s crop of talented young apprentices were recognised for their efforts at the SECTT Apprentice of the Year Final, with SECTT Chief Executive Anne Galbraith saying: “The standard from each competition and from the apprentices never fails to impress me.

The SECTT Apprentice of the Year Final 2015 took place on September 22 at The Original Rosslyn Hotel in Rosslin. Well done to all six finalists who took part. The winners received a gold medal, with silver and bronze awarded respectively to the runners up. Thefinalists had already been through a rigorous assessment of both practical skills and theoretical knowledge in each of their area competitions.

A panel Chaired by Fiona Harper of the SJIB, Alex Smith of SELECT and Scott Foley from Unite the Union put the finalists through their paces.

1st Stage results:

Gold – Gary Bremner – G & A Barnie Building Services Ltd - North Highland College UHISilver – Stephen Berry - Electrical Solutions Network Ltd - Ayrshire College, Ayr Campus Bronze – Kevin Cargill - Davie Electrical Services - Dundee & Angus College, Kingsway Campus

2nd Stage results:

Joint Gold – Scott Mason - Gary Bruce Electrical Contractor - Perth College UHI & Steven Harper - Derek Mitchell Electrical - Dumfries & Galloway CollegeSilver – Graham Lorimer - Walkers Shortbread Ltd - Moray College UHI

Anne Galbraith, Chief Executive of SECTT, who presented the prizes said: “The standard from each competition and from the apprentices never fails to impress me. Every apprentice who took part today told me how much they enjoyed being an apprentice electrician. This certainly showed in the practical competition and from the answers that they gave to the panel today. It is the support from employers and families that is so important when you are an apprentice and this was evident today with both family members and employers taking the time to come along today. Well done and well deserved to all. We are also grateful to White Milne & Co who provided Makita drills for all the finalists.

Dalziel Services held their first Apprentice of the Year awards on the September 2. The event followed on from the company winning the Apprentice Trainer in North Lanarkshire 2015.

The awards night was attended by all 30 apprentices from their electrical and mechanical division along with their parents. Barrie McKay, SECTT training officer, was asked to say a few words about the apprenticeship on behalf of the industry.

Pictured are the winners with the company Contracts Manager and Director. From left to right Iain Colvin (Electrical Contracts Manager), Luke Patterson 1st year AOY, Jack Palmer 2nd year AOY, Jamie Delaney (Company Director), Marc Young, 2nd year most improved, Calum Wilson 1st year most improved, Barrie McKay (SECTT Training Officer, Lanarkshire).

CABLEtalk November 2015