Basingstoke College of Technology

News and Press

Competition Time In Construction

28 Feb 10

ELECTRICAL and plumbing students from across the South East were put through their paces as BCOT played host to two prestigious competitions.

College staff were proud to welcome learners to the regional heats of the HIP! and Sparks UK Apprentice of the Year competitions for 2010, as battle commenced in BCOT's Lower Concourse.

Ten plumbing students and eight electrical learners took part from Brighton, Uxbridge, North West Kent, Highbury, Chichester and Barking colleges.

A trio of BCOT students took part on home soil, with Chris Parsons entering the plumbing heats and Daniel Mead and Mark Keegan in the electrical competition.

Chris is studying the PEO Level 1 Plumbing Craft course, while Daniel is a Level 3 Apprentice employed by Trident Electrical and Mark is a full-time L2 2330 student.

On the day, the tasks facing the competitors were set by a private training company and had to be completed within a four-hour window.

The learners had to perform set skills in their respective categories that were within their capabilities and that they had been trained to carry out.

BCOT lecturer Paul Austin, who was involved in co-ordinating the event on the day, said: "All the learners enjoyed the competition and they went away with the tools they had used, which had all been supplied by national companies.

"The overall standard was very good and showed the high levels of attention to detail that lecturers take to ensure that students have the skills to be able to meet current standards and produce a good level of work for customers."

The winners of the two categories were awarded prizes worth £300 in the form of power tools.

The national finals of the two competitions are set to be held at Newbury Racecourse on April 21 and 22.

The winner of the plumbing competition came from Barking, while the successful electrician came from Highbury College.