Plumbing students compete for top spot at Chippenham

Plumbing students compete for top spot at Chippenham

LEVEL 1 Plumbing students at the Chippenham campus have been recognised for their skill, focus and determination at their annual Plumbing Competition prize giving at Wiltshire College & University Centre.

Each year, the competition provides our Level 1 Plumbing students the opportunity to test their skills in a realistic, industry-informed setting.

Sponsored by industry partner Frankland UK, the competition reflects the standards and expectations students will face as they progress into employment.

The competition takes place across two stages. In the knockout round, students are required to produce a series of complex copper pipe bends using a hand-operated pipe bender. This is followed by a short questionnaire exploring how taking part in an industry-sponsored competition supports progression into the plumbing trade. This stage is judged by our plumbing staff alongside selected Level 2 Plumbing students.

The final sees the top five students compete in a timed copper pipe fabrication challenge, building a soldered copper pipe frame through a wooden maze obstacle course. Students are judged on accuracy, tidiness and their ability to meet specification requirements.

This year’s prize winners were:

  • 1st place: Joshua Gheorghes
  • 2nd place: Joseph Welch
  • 3rd place: Hayden Williams
  • 4th place: Antonio Dobre
  • 5th place: Josh Lupson

All finalists received prizes provided by Frankland UK, including Amazon vouchers and a starter plumbing toolkit to support their next steps in the trade.

Annette Frankland MBE, CEO of Frankland UK, said: “Thank you to all Level 1 Plumbing students who took part in the Wiltshire College and University Centre Plumbing Competition. Your focus, effort and determination were clear throughout the event. Everyone who took part is a winner in their own way, as your involvement shows real commitment and a willingness to progress in the plumbing industry.

“Frankland UK is proud to support new talent, which is essential to the construction sector and the plumbing trade. Congratulations to all students who were placed in the competition.”

Interested in a career in plumbing?

Our construction and trades courses are developed with employment in mind to give you the skills and experience to start a career in a variety of trades.

Group of Level 1 Plumbing students wearing high-visibility vests standing in a workshop at the Chippenham campus following a plumbing competition.

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