HIP Learner of the Year 2021

We’ve got a winner! It’s been an awesome journey and we’ve seen some incredible work.

LEARNER

OF THE YEAR 2021

Official Van Sponsor

Official Van Sponsor

In order to keep to social distancing guidelines, this year’s competition took a slightly different structure but was just as challenging for the learners!

ROUND ONE: Level 2 and Level 3 learners from across the country were chosen by their lecturers to represent their college in Round One, in which they completed an online written test to showcase their knowledge.

LIVE FINAL

ROUND TWO: The top two scorers from each of the six competition regions completed a series of fault-finding exercises and participated in a ‘Professional Discussion’ video call for the chance to represent their region at the live final. The six regional winners (listed below) undertook a 6-hour practical test with a technical expert judging their work for the chance to become the HIP Learner of the Year 2021.

Jacque Taylor-Vine The Grimsby Institute Alex Robinson Tyne Metropolitan College Tom Race Burnley College Peniel Kwakye Harrow College Joe Gubbins Petroc Barnstaple Josh Morales Coleg Llandrillo

Joe Gubbins Petroc Barnstaple

Jacque Taylor-Vine The Grimsby Institute

Josh Morales Coleg Llandrillo

Peniel Kwakye Harrow College HIP JUDGE: Our Head Judge was Jerry Whiteley, Technical Manager at the Chartered Institute of Plumbing and Heating Engineering, who assisted with the creation of the assessments for the learners, leading the Professional Discussions and scoring the learners’ work in all rounds. Sam Hayes Fernox Project Engineer – Physical Devices at Fernox.

Thomas Cook WIAPS Manager at Watersafe. Rob Edmonds Water Fittings Enforcement Team at Anglian Water.

HIP SPONSORS:

Official Tool Sponsor

Official Van Sponsor

Fernox Global Marketing Director Francine Wickham said: “Fernox is delighted to be the Platinum sponsor for HIP Learner of the Year 2021. Fernox has a long history of supporting education and training to promote best practice, and meet regulatory and efficiency requirements within the plumbing and heating industry. “In today’s challenging times, it is even more vital that this work continues so that the next generation of heating professionals are given the opportunity to develop their skills, be recognised for their achievements and be encouraged to pursue their chosen careers.”

PRIZES

£1,000 CASH!

We had some fantastic career-boosting prizes, including £1,000 cash for the winner and £500 for the runner-up from Fernox plus some awesome products donated by the sponsors.

MEET THE RUNNER UP

Joe Gubbins, Level 3 at Petroc Barnstaple, was the runner-up of this year’s competition. Here’s what he had to say.

“I feel like I’ve learnt a lot and my confidence has been really boosted”

JOE GUBBINS

PETROC COLLEGE, BARNSTAPLE HIP: Has taking part in the competition changed how you feel about your abilities? Joe: I feel really good. I’m really glad I came this far – I’m really happy with myself. I feel like I’ve learnt a lot and my confidence has been really boosted. HIP: What was the best thing about the competition? Joe: I’ve learnt so much, it’s boosted my capabilities and my confidence and it shows if you put your mind to something, you can do it.

HIP: What would you say to people considering entering in 2022?

Joe: I’d say don’t think twice about it. Just go for it and do it. Just go for it. On 21st May, after three rounds of competition and some incredible demonstrations of plumbing ability, Tom Race, a Level 2 apprentice at Burnley College, was announced as our HIP Learner of the Year 2021. We caught up with him to ask what winning the competition meant to him.

HIP: How does it feel to win the competition? Tom: I’m shocked! When I got the phone call this morning it was a surprise - I didn’t expect to get to the finals let alone win the competition, so it means a lot. I’m really proud and my boss is really proud of me too so it’s just amazing to win. HIP: How did you hear about the competition? Tom: While I was at college last year I saw the competition taking place. I asked my tutors what was going on and got some more information. Then I spoke to last year’s Burnley College contestant. He said he enjoyed it and that it was a good test, so I spoke to my tutor about doing it and it went from there really.

MEET THE WINNER

TOM RACE

“It was a tough challenge but I don’t like doing the same stuff over and over. I thoroughly enjoyed the experience and it was a really good test of our abilities”

HIP: What was the competition experience like? Tom: It was a tough challenge but I like a challenge, I don’t like doing the same stuff over and over. I thoroughly enjoyed the experience and it was a really good test of our abilities. I would recommend doing it. HIP: What made you choose plumbing as a career? Tom: Burnley College enticed me into plumbing when I went to do a taster day. I did all the different trades but the plumbing activities were the ones I enjoyed the most, so that’s the reason enrolled on plumbing to be honest. HIP: Why should people enter the 2022 competition? Tom: I think people should enter the HIP Learner of the Year competition next year because it’s a really good challenge and it helps you showcase all the skills that you’ve learnt from college and with your workplace. You get to win some great prizes from all the great sponsors. It’s a really good way of testing yourself and putting into practise what you’ve learnt already. HIP: What are you going to do with the prizes?! Tom: I’m thinking about buying a new drill because I wanted one for a few months now, so now I’ve got the money to do it and all the other ones will come in handy as and when. I need them so I’m really grateful!

STEP INTO THE VIRTUAL WILO-WORLD

Wilo’s latest digital innovation enables you to virtually experience Wilo’s products, systems, solutions and learn more about fitting scenarios.

Wilo-World provides a virtual ‘real life’ experience, allowing you to enter buildings and landscapes, as well as learn more about pumps and how they are installed.

Offering the perfect learning experience for apprentices, Wilo-World features a specific ‘Housing & Living Zone’ where the focus is on water supply and wastewater disposal, but also on heating, air conditioning and cooling. All references shown are real scenarios and the installed pump systems also correspond to real installation situations.

Realising the importance of digital support and resources for apprentices, the platform also offers a variety of product information videos as well as access to virtual pump rooms within different applications.

To find out more scan the QR code or visit:

wilo.com/gb/en/Wilo-World.html