Building up to be a winner!

The historic City of York set the scene for the APSE Building and Construction Apprentice Awards 2011 which recognised the winners from a competition of local authority apprentices from across trades  throughout the UK.

Speaking about the awards, APSE National Chair, Cllr Jim Docherty said ‘Apprenticeships  are  so important to both local councils and their communities. Skilling local people with good trades sustains both local employment and high standards in building and construction’ .

The APSE  awards also recognise the development of women in construction by encouraging and rewarding those councils that have strived to ensure there are new women apprentices across different trades.

Cllr Docherty added “When we see increasing unemployment  that blights our communities I would encourage all local councils to see what they can offer in terms of apprenticeship places to both young people and older workers who may need to consider a change in career”.

The winners in each category are as follows:-

Male Building Skills kindly sponsored by UCATT

Billy Adams, a joiner from Kirklees Council.

Female Building Skills kindly sponsored by Trukrax Vehicle Racking Systems

Katie Redden, a joiner from Dumfries and Galloway Council

Male Mechanical and electrical kindly sponsored APSE

Matthew Derbyshire, an electrician from Nottingham City Homes.

Female Mechanical and electrical kindly sponsored by Consilium Technologies

Lynne Fox, an electrician from Fife Council

The full list of finalists are as follows:-

Female Mechanical and Electrical Category

• Lindsay Brooksbank, East Riding of Yorkshire                      
• Helen Cort, Nottingham City Homes
• Stacey Redmond, East Ayrshire Council
• Lynne Fox, Fife Council

Female Building Skills

• Joanna Robertson, Aberdeen City Council                               
• Leann Bell, South Lanarkshire Council        
• Katie Redden, Dumfries and Galloway Council
• Hannah Douglas,  Clackmannanshire Council

Male Building Skills

• Lewis Russel, Kingstown Works Ltd              
• Rhodri John,  Neath Port Talbot Homes                     
• Billy Adams,  Kirklees Council                           
• Robert Morrison,  North Ayrshire Council

Male Mechanical and Electrical

• Matthew Derbyshire,  Nottingham City Homes
• Glenn Sullivan, Swansea City and County                 
• Terence Maddison,  Newcastle City Council
• Jordan Black , South Lanarkshire Council                 

Ends

• APSE is the Association for public service excellence and is a not for profit organisation
• APSE works with over 250 local authorities throughout the UK promoting excellence in frontline service delivery
• Many UK councils have apprenticeships schemes which encourage skills in building and construction such as carpenters, plumbers, electrical engineers, gas-fitters, heating engineers, blacksmiths, painters  and decorators and associated trades.
• For more details or for interviews please contact  Mo Baines on [email protected]