SNIPEF SkillPLUMB national Plumbing competition makes first
visit to NESCol
04 June 2015
The SNIPEF SkillPLUMB plumbing competition will be hosted by North East Scotland College for the first time
this Friday and Saturday (5 and 6 June). Top plumbing apprentices from colleges across Scotland will descend on
NESCol’s Altens Campus in the hope of coming out on top in the 40th edition of this prestigious annual event.
The SkillPLUMB competition is last believed to have been held in Aberdeen nearly thirty years ago, when it was
hosted by Aberdeen College. Over the years it has been won by apprentice plumbers who represented Aberdeen
College in 1980, 1982, 1986, 1990 and 2000. This year competitors will face three tough rounds of competition
designed to put their skills to the ultimate test.
On Friday afternoon, they will have four hours to complete a copper pipe work exercise before the competition
concludes on Saturday with a two and a half hour practical lead work exercise followed by a written test. The work
will be judged by a panel of representatives from SNIPEF and the industry.
John Davidson is the Vice Principal for Learning and Quality at North East Scotland College. He said, “We
are delighted to be able to welcome competitors from across Scotland to Aberdeen to compete in the 40th
SkillPLUMB Competition. It is a fantastic opportunity to showcase and celebrate the talent within the plumbing
sector. Equally importantly, it also allows competitors to enhance their skills and build their confidence.”
Malcolm Drysdale, SNIPEF Education Officer, said, “All of the competitors taking part are winners already as
they have been selected by their college/training centre as the best candidate to go forward to the national
competition. The standard of work produced every year is high which reflects well on the Industry, the colleges
and training centres who teach the apprentices, and their employers who consolidate that training in the
workplace every day.
“Competitors will find out who has come out on top before the competition concludes on the Saturday afternoon
with the presentation of awards by Alwyn Webster, SNIPEF Past President and employer, and Ross MacGregor,
Wolseley PlumbCenter Local Network Manager for Grampian (one of the competition sponsors). Thanks are also
due to other sponsors, Worcester Bosch, Summit Skills, BPEC, The Plumbing Joint Industry Board, Calder Lead
and 1st Supplies Scotland.”
Prizes will be awarded for best copper pipe work, best lead work as well as 1st, 2nd and 3rd overall in the
competition based on the aggregate scores from the copper exercise, the lead exercise and the written test. The
overall winner will receive the SNIPEF Shield plus £250 and a Bosch cordless drill. There are second and third
prizes of £200 and £150. The best copper pipe winner will receive £200 plus the Yellow Pages Cup. The best lead
work winner will receive £200 plus the Robert Mair Quaich. All competitors taking part will receive £25 vouchers
from Wolseley PlumbCenter.
The top scorers from the Scottish competition may get the chance to compete at the SkillBuild UK national
competition at the NEC in Birmingham later in the year.
ENDS - 04 June 2015
For further information, please contact:
Lynne Andrews, Marketing and PR Officer
Telephone: 01224 612028
Email: [email protected]
PHOTO OPPORTUNITY:
An invitation is extended to press photographers who are welcome to attend either day. The competition will
run from approx. 1pm – 5pm on Friday 5th and 9am – 2pm on Saturday 6th with the presentation of awards from
2pm – 2.45pm on Saturday afternoon. On arrival at the Altens Campus, please ask for Rhonda Fraser, Head of
Marketing and PR. She can be contacted on 07989 547353.
VENUE:
North East Scotland College Altens Campus
Hareness Road
Altens Industrial Estate
Aberdeen AB12 3LE