Some of the country’s most talented mechanical and electrical engineering apprentices battled for honours at the 2017 Scottish Engineering Craft Competition in Aberdeen yesterday.
The annual challenge, involving a series of practical and written challenges, is open to first year engineering apprentices at every EAL-approved training centre in Scotland.
EAL stands for Excellence, Achievement and Learning, the awarding organisation for the engineering, manufacturing and building sectors.
Yesterday’s event, hosted by Tullos Training, was organised and sponsored by Peterhead-based Score Group and supported by Developing Young Workforce (DYW) North East.
The 16 competitors travelled from as far as Dounreay Site Restoration in the north and Melrose-based Border Engineering Training Association in the south.
About one-third of them are based in the north-east, showing companies in the region continue to offer valuable opportunities to develop and nurture engineering skills despite the oil and gas downturn.
Score Group director Conrad Ritchie said: “It is vital that we continue to engage with all training providers to motivate our youngsters to be the best they can be regardless of market conditions and to send a positive message to society regarding apprenticeships and the key role they play in the development of our future skill base.
“The standard of work shown by those taking part in this competition is a promising sign for the future of our industry.
“The participants are all winners and are displaying themselves as positive role models in the localities in which they live work and train.”
DYW North East director James Bream added: “We are all about inspiring young people and using real business people and employees to do that.
“An apprenticeship is a great way to start a career and the winners will have taken yet another step towards building a successful future”.
Winners will be announced in a few weeks’ time and an award ceremony in October will recognise the first and second-placed apprentices in both the mechanical and electrical categories.
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