Elgin's Craig Fairweather UK's best apprentice electrician
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AN Elgin apprentice electrician has been crowned top of his trade.
Craig Fairweather (23) triumphed at SkillELECTRIC 2022, a national contest to find the UK's best apprentice electrician.
Beating out opponents from across the country during a challenging two-day final, the McDonald and Munro employee was assessed in areas like measuring accuracy within 2mm, horizontal and vertical alignment, electrical terminations, functionality, containment symmetry, inspection and testing and safe working practices.
Mr Fairweather, who lives in Elgin and trained at Moray College, said his gold medal victory still had not sank in.
He said: "When I got back to work, I went straight to meet my college lecturer to watch the results.
"I was a bit shocked at the fact I had won the gold medal.
"Really I had quite a subdued reaction. I think my lecturer and my employer Miguel were happier than I was.
"I was confident I could do it, but when it actually came through I still thought: 'Oh, god'.
"Honestly it hasn't really sank in any more since."
The event took place at Middlesborough College on November 16 and 17, with winners announced on Friday, November 24 during a live WorldSkills UK broadcast with TV presenter Steph McGovern.
All finalists received a range of prizes including equipment from CK Tools and SELECT Associate Members Megger and Scolmore, with Craig also receiving a Megger multi-function tester, an iPad, a 10-piece electrician’s tool kit, MightyRod PRO Cable Rod Kit, automatic wire stripper, voltage detector and trimming knife.
Organised by registered charity National Electrotechnical Training (NET), SkillELECTRIC sees the UK’s best electrical students and apprentices compete for the chance to represent their country at EuroSkills and WorldSkills events around the globe.
Mr Fairweather was keen to underplay his triumph, however, as he said the competition was very different to his normal working environment.
He said: "I would like to say I am quite humble and. to honest, doing that sort of stuff is totally different to what you do on-site day to day.
"It is a great achievement, don't get me wrong, but it is easy to do stuff on a board when it's right in front of you.
"But when you are working on a big industrial site or in a house, it is very different."
Anne Galbraith, CEO of SECTT, which manages high-quality training on behalf of the SJIB, said: “Craig should be extremely proud of his achievement as he had to overcome some extremely tough competition to win.
“Scottish apprentices previously won silver and gold at SkillELECTRIC in 2018 and 2019, so Craig are continuing the fine tradition of apprentices being produced by Scotland.
“This victory also reinforces the importance of the excellent SJIB Modern Apprenticeship in Electrical Installation and demonstrates the ongoing commitment from employers, apprentices, colleges and the SJIB and SECTT teams.”
Fiona Harper, The Secretary of the SJIB, said: “This is a stunning victory and testament to the strength and quality of electrical apprenticeships in Scotland, which saw record numbers recruited in 2022 for the second year in a row.
“It is vital that we now keep investing in our apprentices and adult trainees to ensure we have a pipeline of talent who can follow in the footsteps of Craig.
“We wish both lads the very best of luck in the future and hope they go on to enjoy long and prosperous careers."
Alan Wilson, Managing Director of SELECT, added: “We are delighted to see apprentices from two SELECT member firms come home with gold and silver. Many congratulations to Craig, who is a credit to his companies and his colleges.”
