Hoping to be Apprentice Plumber of the Year 2012

Worcester College of Technology Apprentices, Silas Morphew and Sam Hodges, are hoping they have what it takes this month to become the UK Apprentice Plumber of the Year, having made it through to the regional heats of the prestigious HIP! Magazine UK Apprentice Plumber of the Year competition.

The duo are hoping to follow in the footsteps of their predecessors at the College, who have gained a place in the national finals twice in recent years, competing against the best trainee plumbersin the region.  Lecturer Mike Hencher commented on his decision to put Silas and Sam forward to represent the College, stating that “both students have put in a tremendous amount of effort and hard work. By entering them into national competitions, we hope to give them a sense of achievement and challenge them in a way which just can’t happen in class or in work. I know they will both make the College proud”.

The competition, which takes place at South Birmingham College on 21st February, will see Sam and Silas complete a plumbing project within the space of one day. Amongst other criteria,

they will be judged on the quality of their work, precision and accuracy. "This will be a really big challenge", says Sam, "and I’m quite nervous about what they are going to ask me to do. I feel I’ve progressed a lot since starting my course and I really want to win”.

Silas is currently working for his Dad’s company in Cheltenham, where he lives. Despite currently only being in his first year as an apprentice, his lecturers already feel he has what it takes to win UK Apprentice Plumber of the year. Silas states, “I choose to come to Worcester College of Technology because people in the industry told me it was the best College in the area for plumbing. I’ve learnt so much here already and I really enjoy it. It would be great if I could receive recognition for something I love doing”.

If, like Silas and Sam, you are interested in a career in plumbing please visit www.wortech.ac.uk or call the College directly on 01905 743456