Modern Apprentice of the Year Competition 2005

This year's competitions have brought together the best 1st and 2nd year Apprentice Electricians from 24 approved Centres across Scotland. SECTT has been organising and carrying out an annual competition for apprentice electricians for a number of years and in a variety of venues, allowing the best 1st and 2nd year apprentices to compete against each other on a regional basis. North, East and West regions all host exactly the same competition to find the best candidate who will go forward to the national final in October this year.

Both sets of apprentices carry out a practical test in the morning and a written test in the afternoon, all based on the SVQ Level 3, which they are studying as part of their Modern Apprenticeship training. This is then followed by a presentation ceremony identifying the winners in both 1st and 2nd years.

All competitors and their employers are presented with certificates for winning first place at their respective colleges during a presentation ceremony. This year saw prizes for all the competitors of Makita Drill/Drivers and specialist tool kits supplied by SECTT through White and Milne. Each of the six regional winners received a superior Makita model with three batteries and will also be invited to the national finals to compete for Gold, Silver and Bronze. Makita will supply additional prizes for this event.

This year's regional winners are:

North Region - Held at Tullos College
1st Stage - Daniel McLeman - Scofish Ltd, Fraserburgh
2nd Stage - David Horne - JGC Eng & Tech Services Ltd, Halkirk

East - Held at Falkirk College
1st Stage - Lawrence MacFarlane- J W Wheatley & Son, Alyth
2nd Stage - Scott McLean - Neil Hart (Electrical) Ltd, Stenhousemuir

West - Held at James Watt College
1st Stage - Martin Peterson - Stevenson Electrical, Blairmore
2nd Stage - Ross Currie - Bell Electrical of Lockerbie, Lockerbie

The national final was held in Roslin, where all six candidates were interviewed by the panel comprising of Bill Anderson, Secretary of the SJIB, John Noble, Employer Representative and member of the SJIB Board and Billy Parker, Amicus Representative, member of the SJIB Board and SECTT Trustee. All candidates were regional winners and though the panel found it very difficult to decide on the winning order due to such high standards attained, the judgement was as follows:

1st Stage
Gold Medal - Martin Peterson
Silver Medal - Daniel McLeman
Bronze Medal - Lawrence MacFarlane

2nd Stage
Gold Medal - Ross Currie
Silver Medal - David Horne
Bronze Medal - Scott McLean

Below are quotes from the winners:

Martin Peterson - 1st Stage Apprentice of the Year Winner 2005

Employer - Stevenson Electrical, Blairmore Argyll

The regional competition was very well organised on the day, the competition was a good representation of experience normally gained in college. The practical competition was very challenging with plenty of space for working and it was good to share the experience with apprentices from other colleges.

I really enjoyed the whole day of the Final and liked the experience of conversing with other people about my own job and the type of work I do. There was a good atmosphere and we were really well looked after by our hosts, particularly Jeanette, and the day finished off with a nice meal.

My apprenticeship is going along more or less as I expected. I always gain a real sense of achievement when an installation is energised and everything works and the job is complete. We work very much as a team with my employer, and I enjoy the banter on site and good working relationship with my workmates. At college I always enjoy the physics component, I was good at physics at school but it is rewarding to see the theory have a real relevance to the real thing on site. As a result I feel I can now link the skills gained in college and put them into practice on site. I also feel I can now plan out a job and because of this I am gaining confidence in my ability.

My immediate ambitions are to stay in the industry and gain as much experience as possible. Long term, I think some day I would have my own company and perhaps move into property development at a later stage.

Martin’s employer, Mr Stevenson, is delighted that Martin’s hard work and dedication has been recognised, his enthusiasm is infectious and he is a delight to work with.

Ross Currie - 2nd Stage Apprentice of the Year Winner 2005

Employer - Bell Electrical of Lockerbie

I found the competition really good; it was a great day, a bit nerve wracking to say the least. I met a lot of interesting people on the day and enjoyed the company. I also thoroughly enjoyed the regional final at James Watt College - it was a great experience. I don’t think I’ll ever forget the moment it was announced that I had won!

I feel I am progressing really well through the apprenticeship; the time seems to be passing really fast and I am looking forward to a good and exciting future in the industry.

I have particularly enjoyed the college part of the training. I enjoy working onsite, but I am tending more towards the theory, technical side.

My ambition is to get my approved electrician grading card and to continue with further qualifications by doing the HND at my local college so that when I have served my apprenticeship I may start my own company or possibly go into the electrical design side of the industry.

My employer is very pleased with my achieving the gold medal and I would like to thank him for the opportunities he's given me and the high standard of training he has provided. I would also like to thank Dumfries and Galloway College for the high standard of training. Also a big thanks to SECTT!!!

Pictured from the left:

Back Row:
Scot McLean, David Horne, Ross Currie, Martin Peterson, Daniel McLeman and Lawrence MacFarlane.

Front Row:
John Noble, Bill Anderson and Billy Parker.

Back to Awards