Welsh apprentice plumber turns the heat up on national rivals

Staff and apprentices at Coleg y Cymoedd’s plumbing department are celebrating, as one of their own battles for the title of the UK’s top plumbing apprentice for the third year running.

Scott Fuller, a third year plumbing apprentice studying at Coleg y Cymoedd’s Ystrad Mynach campus, fended off rivals from across the country to become one of only two Welsh representatives at Heating Engineers Installers & Plumbers magazine’s Apprentice of the Year UK final. 

The Welsh final saw Scott, 20, from New Tredegar, competing against apprentices from eleven other colleges. During an intense six-hour contest each competitor tackled the challenge of installing a combination boiler and two radiators against the clock; Ultimately Scott’s technical skills and attention to detail earned him a place to fight for the title of the UK’s top plumbing apprentice.   

Following his success at the event, held at Coleg y Cymoedd, Scott will now go on to represent his country at the two-day UK grand final, at ADEY’s state of the art training facilities in Cheltenham on 27^th and 28^th of April 2016.  

Speaking of his victory and the upcoming finals, Scott said: “It was fantastic to win the Welsh for the last two years, but to make the UK final for a third year running is amazing. I feel confident for the national finals this year as I know what to expect and the level of work that is required.

My tutors have been brilliant, they have continually built my confidence and improved my skills significantly over the last year, and even offered me an apprenticeship. The UK finals will, of course, be a challenge again but I hope it will lead me to gaining further skills and experience I need for a successful future in the plumbing industry.”

Scott’s Plumbing tutor Lee Perry said: “For Scott to win the regional event for the last two years was an excellent achievement, but for him make it to the UK final for a third year running shows Scott’s commitment, enthusiasm and determination to become an excellent engineer. Scott throughout the year has improved in all aspects of the trade.”

As a Level 3 learner and apprentice, Scott’s time is split between college based learning at Coleg y Cymoedd’s Ystrad Mynach campus, and his apprenticeship with Perry Plumbing Solutions.

Commenting on Scott’s success, Judith Evans, principal of Coleg y Cymoedd, said: “Scott is a credit to our college; he exemplifies how hard work and dedicated tuition provide learners with excellent vocational opportunities and real jobs in a diverse range of industries and recognised trades. We wish him every success at the nationals”.

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