Makita tools make great prizes for best electrical apprentices in SECTT competition
Author : J GALE
In the Scottish Electrical Charitable Training Trust (SECTT) Modern Apprentice of the Year Competition 2010, Malcolm Brown, 20, Ayr College, employed by McCaskie (Farm Supplies Ltd) has taken Gold in the Stage 1 contest, and Kevin McConnell, 22, Perth College, employed by David Cruickshank Electrical Ltd., has taken Gold in the Stage 2 contest of this prestigious and long established annual event.
SECTT, a non-profit making organisation concerned only with the training of apprentices within the Scottish Joint Industry Board (SJIB) Apprenticeship Scheme - the only industry approved training scheme for Electrical Contacting apprentices in Scotland - brings together the best 1st and 2nd year apprentices from 22 colleges who have competed against each other on a regional basis. North, East and West regions all host exactly the same competitive task during May and June each year to find the best candidates to go forward to the National Final in October.
At the Awards Ceremony, SECTT Chief Executive Alan Ross presented the medals and certificates to both apprentices and employers. Alan Ross commented: "All medal winners represented the very best of apprentice electricians in Scotland. The winners today will become the industry exemplars of best practice and with apprentices of this caliber the future of the electrical contracting industry in Scotland will be in good hands."
This year all competitors received a Makita drill driver, valued at £170.00 and supplied through distributor White Milne & Co of Dundee, and each of the six regional winners going through to the National Final to compete for Gold, Silver and Bronze were awarded a Makita 96 piece Electricians Pouch Set, sponsored by Makita UK.
"This is a superb initiative and we are pleased to be a sponsor of the SECTT Modern Apprentice Competition," says Hugh Caldwell, Regional Sales Manager, Makita UK. The contestants carry out practical and written assessments based on SVQ Level 3, and the finalists are selected from an interview procedure.
"Makita takes skills training very seriously and we strongly believe that young apprentices deserve to work with the best tools and materials if they are to be competitive in their sector," continues Mr Caldwell.
Competitors may now be eligible for WorldSkills nomination following a rigorous elimination procedure which will identify the winners in a large number of skills as Best in Class. A previous winner of the SECTT Modern Apprentice of the Year, Richard Sagar of Langholme, employed by contractor Eden Electrics, won the Gold medal in the WorldSkills, Calgary, Canada in 2009.
Modern Apprenticeships offer those aged over 16 years paid employment combined with the opportunity to train for jobs at craft, technician and management level. Apprentices work alongside experienced staff to gain job specific skills as well as training, perhaps one day a week, with local training providers and colleges.
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