UHI Moray construction students honoured at award ceremony as Craig Fairweather wins Top Craft Apprentice Award
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UHI Moray's students have been recognised for their achievements at UHI's Construction Prize Giving Ceremony on Thursday, September 29.
There were 30 awards up for grabs at the ceremony, which recognised all types of construction skills including electrical, plumbing and joinery.
The winner of the evening's overall award – the Top Craft Apprentice Award – was Craig Fairweather, a fourth year apprentice with McDonald and Munro.
The guest of honour at the event was Connor Cruden, a plumbing apprentice who has been nominated as a World Skills Plumbing Finalist.
David Patterson, principal and chief executive at UHI Moray, said: "It was fantastic to be able to hold our Construction Awards Ceremony for the first time in two years.
"We are especially proud of our apprentices and students and their achievements and are delighted to be able to celebrate their success with them.
"We have over 20 employer sponsors and through their ongoing support we are able to award 30 prizes covering built environment, joinery, electrical and plumbing.
"Good luck also to Connor Cruden, plumbing apprentice, from Cowie Plumbing and Heating at the World Skills Final in Germany next month."
Craig Fairweather was pleased with his award win – which has added to an array he has won in the last few years.
He was named First and Third Year Apprentice of the Year at UHI Moray and, having won a Scottish heat, is set to go on and compete at a UK-wide final in Middlesbrough.
Being awarded the Rotary Shield for winning the Top Craft Apprentice Award is the next feather in his cap.
"It was weird because we were told we were going to find out before the night but they kept it quiet until the awards ceremony itself," he said.
"So we didn't know until we got there, but when I realised I'd won I was quite surprised.
"I'd like to say thank you to everybody at McDonald and Munro who have given me experience and confidence to do well in this trade.
"I've been very lucky with the people that I've worked with, there's lots of variation with the work. One minute I'm doing houses, next it's big industrial sites. The variation is a bonus when it comes to college stuff.
"Thanks also to my lecturer, who was a major part in me being able to participate in things like this."
Awards in Full:
CITB Trophy, Best Student in Built Environment - Carissa Anderson, Buckie
The Woodcentre Ltd Shield, Best Practical Joiner -1st Year (J1A) - Andrew Young, Hopeman
Access Platforms Aberdeen Shield, Best Practical Joiner - 1st Year (J1E) - Harry Baikie, Carrbridge
Tulloch of Cummingston Ltd Shield, Best Theoretical Joiner -1st Year (J1A) - Leyton Boyd, Portsoy
Moray College UHI Shield, Best Theoretical Joiner - 1st Year (J1E) - Jade More, Auldearn
Craig Wright Shield, All Round Progress in Joinery - 1st Year - Mark McLauchlan, Elgin
Building Employers Association Shield, Best Practical Joiner - 2nd Year (J2D) - Lewis Mark, Rothiemay, Huntly
Moray College UHI Shield, Best Practical Joiner – 2nd Year (J2A) - Lewis Bowman, New Elgin
Darroch & Allan Joiners and Builders Ltd Shield, Best Theoretical Joiner – 2nd Year (J2D) - Rhys Jones, Elgin
Highland Industrial Supplies Shield, Best Theoretical Joiner – 2nd Year (J2A) - Reggie Coveney, Forres
Robertson Construction Shield, Top Advanced Certificate Joiner - Craig Strathdee, Lossiemouth
Moray College UHI Shield, Best student in HNC Construction Management – Sybil Mackie, Keith
Robertson Construction Shield, Best Practical Bricklayer - 1st Year - Glenn Downie, Banff
Ingram Building Ltd Shield, All Round Progress in Brickwork – 1st Year - Douglas Neary, Elgin
Highland Industrial Supplies Shield, Best Practical Bricklayer - 2nd Year - Marcus Sellars, Grantown on Spey
Travis Perkins Shield, All Round Progress in Brickwork – 2nd Year - Stephen Campbell, Lossiemouth
City Electrical Factors Ltd Shield, Top Electrical Apprentice – 1st Year - Kalum Low, Lossiemouth
Medlock Electrical Shield, Top Electrical Apprentice – 2nd Year - Danny McBean, Miltonduff, Elgin
Edmundson Electrical Ltd Shield, Top Electrical Apprentice – 3rd Year - Craig Fairweather, Elgin
SNIPEF Shield, Best Plumbing Apprentice – 1st Year - Aurimus Povilaitis, Dingwall
Banff & Moray Master Plumbers Association Shield, Best Practical Plumber – 1st Year - George Smith, Weisdale, Shetland
William Wilson Cup, Best Plumbing Apprentice – 2nd Year - Sean Esslemont, Forres
Moray Council Building Services Shield - Best Advanced Craft Plumber - Ben Middleton, Alford
Grampian Plumbing Services Ltd Shield - Best Adult Plumbing Apprentice - Paul Hill, Elgin
CIPHE (Chartered Institute of Plumbing & Heating Engineering) Scotland Design Guide - Best Plumbing Achievement - Sean Esslemont, Forres
LCL Shield - Best Gas, Oil and Renewables Apprentice - Ben Middleton, Alford
Speyside Plumbing Services Ltd Trophy, Best Lead Development - 1st Year - Aurimus Povilaitis, Dingwall
Speyside Plumbing Services Ltd Trophy, Best Lead Development - 2nd Year - Marion Stewart, Keith
Speyside Plumbing Services Ltd Trophy, Best Lead Development – 3rd Year - Connor Grant, Lerwick, Shetland
Robertson Construction/Rotary Club of Elgin Shield, Top Craft Apprentice Nominees - Final Year and Martin Birse Plumbing Nominee - Ben Middleton, Alford
Electrical Nominee - Craig Fairweather, Elgin
Joinery Nominee - Craig Strathdee, Lossiemouth
Overall award, the Top Craft Apprentice award - Craig Fairweather
