SNIPEF
Training Services acts as the Managing Agent & Training
Provider for the Modern Apprenticeship (MA) in Plumbing in Scotland.
The MA programme is designed to train apprentices in all aspects
of domestic plumbing and heating.
In Northern Ireland, Apprentice training is managed by PMST,
a company set up by SNIPEF and BEST the training agency of the
HVCA.
Summit Skills is the sector skills council for the Building
Services Sector and they are responsible for developing the
content of the apprenticeship training programme.
ADOPT AN APPRENTICE SCHEME
The Scottish Government has announced a package of financial support for redundant apprentices to enable them to complete their training via an “Adopt and Apprentice Scheme”. Employers who are willing to take on a redundant apprentice are eligible to receive a one-off grant of £2,000 to assist with wage costs. The employer is required to “give an undertaking to employ the apprentice for the duration of the remaining period of apprenticeship”. In the event that an employer is subsequently forced to make a recruited “redundant” apprentice redundant then the employer is required to repay the full £2,000 grant to SDS
Click here for more information.
RECRUITMENT OF PLUMBING APPRENTICES 2009-2010
We are again at the beginning of a new Training year and a new College year is not far away.
Despite the current difficult economic circumstances we are hopeful that many employers will consider recruiting a plumbing apprentice for the training year 2009-2010. We have secured a contract from Skills Development Scotland (SDS) the successor body to Scottish Enterprise (SE) and Highlands and Islands Enterprise (H&IE) for the coming year.
It is important for the future skills base of the industry that employers continue to recruit through difficult trading times to ensure sufficient skilled plumbers in future years and when the economic upturn takes effect.
The Plumbing SVQ is currently delivered across 23 Colleges/Training Centres in Scotland and we are anxious that this local college infrastructure is retained for the training of apprentices now and in future years and we are doing all we can to ensure that colleges are not put under pressure to give up plumbing resources in favour of other disciplines.
APPRENTICE COMPETITION WINNERS 2009
Craig Robertson an apprentice plumber from South Lanarkshire College has won the prestigious Scottish Regional SkillPlumb Competition, which was held in South Lanarkshire College on the 5th and 6th of June. Craig is employed by SNIPEF members, Greystone Plumbing.
At the prize giving ceremony held at the College, SNIPEF President Alistair Mowat presented Craig with his prizes. As well as winning the overall award, Craig also won the best copper pipework award.
Second place in the overall competition was won by Nathan Cumming representing Moray College who also won the best lead work award. Third place was won by Gavin Hart who represented Dundee College.
Both Craig and Nathan will now participate in the UK National SkillPlumb Competition which will be held at the Interbuild Exhibition in the NEC Birmingham in October. The overall winner of the UK Competition could then represent the UK in the next WorldSkills Competition which will be held in 2011.
The competitors.
Warning issued over short term training courses.
South Ayrshire Trading Standards are warning consumers to be vigilant when signing up to distance learning training courses which offer qualifications in the building sector such as plumbing and electrical installation.
Click here to read more.South Ayrshire Council issues warning.
The SQA Star Award for Competitor of the Year.
Scott Reid from Moray College who won the SNIPEF Plumbing Apprentice Competition in 2008 won the SQA Star Award for 2008.
The award recognises SQA candidates who have developed their vocational qualifications to competitive levels, locally or nationally. This award was sponsored by the Scottish Government on behalf of UK Skills and was presented by UK Skills Chief Executive, Simon Bartley
Scott receives his SQA Star Award
SkillPlumb 08 Final
It was all go at the SkillPLUMB UK finals, where the cream of the UK’s plumbing talent competed in a live event at this year’s Interbuild show. The competition, organised by SummitSkills, took place during one of the biggest weeks in the industry’s calendar at Birmingham’s NEC.
SkillPLUMB 2008, sponsored by APHC, BPEC and the UK Copper Board, culminated in a glamorous awards evening at the National Motorcycle Museum, where an eager audience awaited the results. Each competitor, already champions in their own right, was called up individually to thunderous applause as they received specially engraved medals and personal award certificates
Scott Reid, winner of the ScottishRegional heat and who is employed by DD Plumbing Services and trained by Moray College Technology Centre, was named as first runner-up.
SNIPEF Edinburgh Branch APPRENTICE PRIZEGIVING
The 7th Annual Apprentice Prizegiving hosted by the SNIPEF Edinburgh & District Branch was recently held in the offices of SELECT.
Over 70 Apprentices, parents, employers and College lecturers attended the event which was chaired by Branch President, Robin Hall.
Prizes, which were donated by event sponsors, Plumb Center, were awarded to various prizewinners from the 4 colleges and training centre which are covered in the Branch's area (Borders, Jewel & Esk, Telford, Forth Valley and Nationwide Training).
The prize for the apprentice judged to be the "best" overall from the colleges and training centre was this year awarded to Liston Bell from Jewel & Esk College.
Liston Bell, centre is awarded the David A More Trophy, by Robin Hall (left) and David More (right).
SNIPEF ISSUES WARNING OVER “FAST TRACK” TRAINING
In recent years there has been a massive increase in what are known as 'fast track' training providers who tempt people to enrol on expensive short courses purportedly to learn all there is to know about plumbing. In most cases such courses do not lead to the achievement of a Level 3 SVQ which is the minimum qualification required by the industry in Scotland.
SNIPEF has issued the following warning to those contemplating enrolling on a “Fast Track” course.
SNIPEF Director, Robert Burgon said “Plumbing and heating is a highly advanced and technologically challenging occupation. In Scotland the industry normally needs to recruit approximately 400 – 500 new apprentices each year to meet industry demands. These apprentices learn their trade through achievement of a SVQ level 3 qualification and also through the skills and experience they gain during their apprenticeship period.”
He added. “Traditional apprenticeships which last for 4 years and are delivered in employment with part-time attendance at one of Scotland's Colleges of Further Education, are still the method by which the industry recruits the majority of new plumbers. Anyone reading articles or adverts claiming that the industry needs thousands of new recruits needs to be very wary indeed. Behind such claims are often 'fast track' training providers whose main aim is to sell places on inappropriate training courses”.
Robert Burgon added this warning to customers. “Unfortunately un-regulated trainers will often turn out cowboy plumbers, with all the risks to public health that entails. These individuals also have little experience in dealing with challenging plumbing or heating tasks. Make sure that when you use a plumber you ask to see his Industry Registration card, this will confirm if he has completed a proper plumbing apprenticeship”.
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