Delight in Dunblane: The APSE Scottish Building and Housing Awards 2018.

APSE is delighted to announce the winners of the prestigious Scottish Building and Housing Apprentice Awards 2018, as well as the winner of the first annual Margo Blair Award.

The Apprentice Awards celebrated the hard work and exceptional accomplishments of Scotland’s apprentices in the housing and building sector. There were categories for each year of the apprenticeship programme and a separate category for non-trade apprentices. Our inaugural Margo Blair Award was designed to celebrate outstanding local councils that use innovation to tackle the current challenges facing their building and housing services.

In one of the most competitive years so far, there was very little between the finalists in each category. The winners were chosen after careful deliberation, and presented with their awards at the annual Scottish Building, Housing & Renewables Seminar in Dunblane, which took place on Thursday 22 and Friday 23 February 2018.

Commenting on the Awards, APSE National Chair, Cllr Archie Dryburgh said, “The Apprentice Awards demonstrate that Scotland has no shortage of ambitious individuals who are dedicated to developing their skills.  It is also really encouraging to see apprentices supported by forward looking and innovative councils who truly value workforce development.”

APSE Chief Executive, Paul O’Brien said, “The Apprentice Awards underline just how vital apprenticeships are to ensuring excellence in the delivery of frontline services; they remain a highly rewarding and mutually beneficial investment for local authorities. We have also been delighted with the entries for the first ever Margo Blair Award. Margo was a true champion of local government best practice and would have been thrilled with the exceptionally high standard of submissions.”

Congratulations to the winners and finalists!

Margo Blair Awards 2018

APSE Scotland Building and Housing Apprentice of the Year Awards 2018
Sponsored by Jordan Electrics Limited

First Year Trade Category   Chris Jardine, Dumfries & Galloway Council Alan Smith, East Lothian Council Reiss Geary, Falkirk Council Mathew Fleming, Fife Council   Winner: Alan Smith, East Lothian Council
Second Year Trade Category   Daniel McTaggart, Dumfries & Galloway Council Calum Love, Fife Council Craig Barrett, South Ayrshire Council Grant Stewart, West Lothian Council   Winner: Calum Love, Fife Council
Third Year Trade Category   David Hutcheon, Aberdeen City Council David Henderson, Dumfries & Galloway Council Ryan Fair, Fife Council Michael Morrison, North Ayrshire Council Darren McLeod, West Dunbartonshire Council Alan Webster, West Lothian Council   Winner: Alan Webster, West Lothian Council
Fourth Year Trade Category   Graeme Baird, Aberdeen City Council Craig Paterson, Aberdeen City Council Ryan Love, Dumfries & Galloway Council Lewis McKerchar, Fife Council   Winner: Graeme Baird, Aberdeen City Council
Non-Trade Category   Jamie Flucker, Fife Council Rhona Tait, Shetland Islands Council Lauren Agnew, West Lothian Council   Winner: Rhona Tait, Shetland Islands Council