Award for Fife apprentice Sam

Sam Shepherd (24) from Cardenden, won first place in the annual Scottish and Northern Ireland Plumbing Employers’ Federation (SNIPEF) SkillPlumb Plumbing Apprentice Competition for his Copper Pipe Work Task and impressed judges with his neat and accurate work in the competition taking an overall second place.

Competitors from across the country were put through their paces over a two day competition which was the 41st annual competition to be run by SNIPEF.

The competitors spent the first day being judged on their practical skills as well as a written paper on all aspects of plumbing which Sam passed with flying colours. Day two involved lead work practical including welding, bossing and forming.

The competition was entered by students from eighteen colleges and training centres across Scotland that deliver the SVQ Level III in Domestic Plumbing.

Sam, who is a third year student at Fife College, was accompanied and supported at the event by his lecturer Mark Wilkie who said: “I’m extremely proud of Sam, and delighted with his success. Sam is a credit to the college and I wish him well in the final year of his apprenticeship and his career in the future.”

Sam added: “I’m proud of my achievements, it just goes to show what can happen with a little commitment and hard work.”

The Skills Plumb competition is designed to promote standards and skills across the plumbing industry, developing competence into excellence.