LIAM DEAN IS SCOTTISH CRAFT APPRENTICE OF THE YEAR
13 February 2013 – Liam Dean was named Scottish Craft Apprentice of the Year during presentation of the HVACR Awards for Outstanding Achievement, in a ceremony held at the headquarters of B&ES Scotland (the Building & Engineering Services Association, formerly HVCA).
Liam, who is employed by Glasgow based KB Refrigeration Ltd and a student at North Glasgow College, received his trophy – the David Kettles Cup – from B&ES president Sue Sharp.
In her address to the gathering, Mrs Sharp noted that it was particularly pleasing that, in spite of the continuing recession, firms in Scotland were able to recruit and train young people “such as those that we are honouring today, who can demonstrate a genuinely impressive level of skill and competence”.
“Indeed, the building engineering services sector can congratulate itself on the exceptional commitment it has shown to apprentice training over many years”, said the president.
“The future of the UK depends on the existence of a high-calibre workforce, so it makes good sense that – wherever possible – we should nurture our own bright young talent,” Mrs Sharp insisted.
B&ES Scotland chairman Duncan Sibbald pointed out that BEST Scotland, the B&ES training subsidiary, had recruited around 100 apprentices in the current year and had, over the past decade, managed the vocational education of over 1,000 young people.
“The importance of apprenticeships cannot be overstated, for they ensure the continuance of a skilled workforce, as well as encouraging new ideas and new ways of thinking,” said Mr Sibbald.
The full roll call of winners and runners-up is as follows:
Pipe Fitter Welder Apprentice of the Year: Leigham Ritchie, employed by Loanhead, Midlothian based Arthur McKay Building Services (student at North Glasgow College).
Pipe Fitter Apprentice of the Year: James Murphy, employed by Broxburn, West Lothian based Vaughan Engineering (student at North Glasgow College).
Service and Maintenance Apprentice of the Year: Allan McCall, employed by Dundee based Skanska Facilities Services (student at North Glasgow College).
Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Apprentice of the Year: Liam Dean, employed by Glasgow based KB Refrigeration Ltd (student at North Glasgow College).
Building Services Technician of the Year: Suzanne Goodall, employed by Dundee based Jaydee Heating & Electrical (student at North Glasgow College).
The Scottish HVACR Awards for Outstanding Achievement were organised by B&ES subsidiary Building Engineering Services Training (BEST) Scotland.
For more information about B&ES visit http://www.b-es.org and for information about apprentice training visit http://www.best-ltd.co.uk.
Ends
Issued on behalf of the Building & Engineering Services Association (B&ES) by Next Step Marketing Ltd
Media enquiries to: Heather Lambert. Tel: 44(0)1256 472020;
Fax: 44(0)1256 471010; E-mail: heather@nextstepmarketing.co.uk
Notes to editors
Since its formation in 1904, B&ES, the Building & Engineering Services Association (formerly the HVCA) has represented the interests of companies engaged in a wide range of building and engineering services including domestic heating and renewable technologies.
B&ES members are subject to regular, third-party inspection and assessment of their technical competence and commercial capability, carried out by an independent certification body at least every three years.
B&ES members who undertake gas installations are registered with Gas Safe – the gas safety watchdog body – and are also members of TrustMark, the Government-endorsed scheme designed to direct customers towards reliable tradespeople.
B&ES operates the Heating Helpline (http://www.heatinghelpline.org.uk) to provide consumers with free, impartial advice on every aspect of home heating.
Picture Caption (Left):
“B&ES president Sue Sharp presents the David Kettles Cup to Scottish Craft Apprentice of the Year Liam Dean of KB Refrigeration and North Glasgow College.”
Picture Caption (right):
“All the award winners and runners up – young apprentices with a bright future ahead of them in the building engineering services sector of the construction industry.”
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