Four fire and security apprentices are celebrating victory in an installation competition that secures them a place at a prestigious national engineering competition.Timed to coincide with Scottish Apprenticeship Week (5-9 March) New College Lanarkshire’s Electrical Fire and Security Skills Challenge saw more than 30 apprentices compete in a two-day challenge.
New College Lanarkshire, which has been in the top three institutions at WorldSkills UK for the last five years, hosts the competition every year.
Participants, who travelling from as far as Aberdeen and Dumfries to attend specialist facilities at the College’s Motherwell Campus, were tested on their aptitude for fitting fire and intruder alarms.
Trevor Jenks from the SSAIB assessed them on health and safety, installation, testing and recording of operational checks and handing over the system.
The winners from each stage and overall winner from each day secured a sponsored place at this year’s Engineers of Tomorrow competition, which will take place at London ExCeL during IFSEC International, taking place 19-21 June 2018.
Competitors will undertake a 90-minute assessment, working in pairs to install and commission an intruder alarm system.
The overall winners of Engineers of Tomorrow – who last year came from New College Lanarkshire’s latest intake – will claim a £1,000 prize and an invitation to the Security & Fire Excellence Awards in November.
“In the third year of their apprenticeship, the competitors performed to an excellent standard, well beyond what is normally expected of someone at this stage of their course,” said David Scott, Curriculum Quality Leader of Built Environment at the College and organiser of the competition.
“This is testament to the high standard of training they are receiving onsite with their employers and at college.
“It was a privilege to have so many industry experts and partners in attendance to watch the competition. It created a real buzz around the competition – at one point there were over 60 visitors from all over the sector and our apprentices continued to perform at an advanced level.
“I’d like to thank all our partners who took the time to attend the competition and support our apprentices and the College. In particular I’d like to thank Simon Banks, Founder of Apprentices for Fire & Security (A4FS) and Group Managing Director at CSL, who was one of the main driving forces behind the huge success of this year’s competition.
“Simon agreed to not only attend the event, but allocated additional time to promote the event with his contacts and CSL’s Marketing Manager helped to drive the engagement internally within the security industry.”
Simon Banks said: “It was great to support the College’s Skills Challenge. The high levels of competency shown by the young apprentices was exceptional and they are a credit to David’s team.
“Seeing so many people from across our Industry joining to show their support is very encouraging. Installers, manufacturers and associations all putting aside competition to focus on reversing the skills shortage is very encouraging. Our challenge now is to replicate this success across the rest of the UK.”
Alan Wheelan, chairman for the British Security Inspectorate Association (BSIA) and longstanding supporter of the apprenticeship programme, was one of many industry visitors who attended. He travelled from Selkirk to watch the competition with his son.
“As Scottish Regional Chairman for the BSIA and an employer with my own apprentices, I am delighted to offer my support to work being undertaken by the college,” he said.
“The skills gap in the fire and security industry is evident for all to see but the manner and quality in which the Modern Apprenticeship is being delivered at New College Lanarkshire is certainly one in which the industry north of the border can be proud of, as it continues to go from strength to strength and is the envy of many a training provider across the UK.”
Throughout the event, staff from the college provided training on a range of products that are used on the apprenticeship programme, including Honeywell Galaxy Intruder Alarm, GENT by Honeywell Fire Alarm and Texecom Intruder Alarm systems.
Paul Saunders from Visonic by Tyco and Matt Broughton of CSL also offered training to employers and students, while Albert Hall attended from Risco Group, a new partner of the Modern Apprenticeship programme.
Texecom donated four premier elite 48 kits to the college to help develop and improve the course delivery.
New College Lanarkshire is looking for more employers for pre-apprenticeship work placements taking place in April. If interested, please contact David Scott on 07808 318265.
Find out more about the Electrical Fire and Security Apprenticeship.
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