Sk llFRIDGE


SkillFRIDGEi


SkillFRIDGE 2018:iSk llFRIDGE 20 18 : Finalists rei


Thomas food indus


that hewa Conditioni


Following a closely contested series of regional heats, the organisers of SkillFRIDGEare delighted to re eal the six apprentices that have topped the national table and qualified to compete in the2018final.


ollowing a closely contested series of regional heats, the organisers of SkillFRIDGE are delighted to reveal the six apprentices that have topped the national table and qualified to compete in the 2018 final.


Bath College is the only training provider in the 2018 competition to see two of its studentsmake the top six: ChandlerDavison and Kevin Ballantine. Chandler,who topped the national rankings andwill be the recipient of the SkillFRIDGENationalWinner accolade, is employed byThermocold Ltd - a family-run businessworking in and around the SouthWest region – and is set to complete his four year apprenticeship course in September. Speaking onwhat led himinto the refrigeration and air conditioning industry, Chandler says: “Itwas a great apprenticeship programme to enter at college andwas a subject that Iwas interested in, especially due to the fact thatmyDad hasworked in the industry his entire life.”


Kevin Ballantine spe place onNovember 1st will be invited to receiv platformto recognise t The Building Enginee


career in RACHP,


ring ServicesAssociation (BESA) has provided a he highest national scoring competitor and Chandler e his accolade at the BESANationalAwards, taking at the Park PlazaVictoria London.


nt fifteen years in other trades before pursuing a P, after his elder brother asked himto partnerwith himand start their own compa ny;TKBAir Conditioning .


Following a year on the tools, Kevin opted for a coursewith Bath College.He notes: “We decided itwould be beneficial forme to get a qualification in the industry to help us progress further.


“I signed up to a two year apprenticeshipwith a possibility of doing a third after. I’ve just completedmy first year and it’s all goingwell so far.” SamGills is employe independent industrial


refrigeration engineering company d and trained by Star Refrigeration


qualified to compete in the SkillFRIDGE final.


Samhas been an apprentice at Star Refrigeration’sNew three years, and aims to complete his apprenticeship by hi


torwhen it came to pursuing his ap oling different applications.


s fourth year. Prior castle branch for


to starting his apprent iceship, Samcompletedwork expe rience at Star Refrigeration and enjoyed learning on the job andworking refrigeration plants, co Varietywas a key fac


Samnotes: “Working on different sites and being involved l taskswas a big attraction tome.”


The diversity of a R A maintenance and instal


16 16 September 2018


in different service, prenticeship, as on various


CHP career also caught the eye of another SkillFRIDG E www.acr-news.com


o find out how your brand can benefit from sponsoring the SkillFRIDGE competition – fromwide industry exposure to a platformto reach the next generation of engineers at


on 01622 699 150 or at kcooper@datateam.co.uk.


To find out howyour brand can benefit fromsponsoring the SkillFRIDGE competition – from wide industry exposure to a platform to reach the next generation of engineers at WorldSkills UK – contact Karena Cooper on 01622 699 150 or at kcooper@datateam.co.uk.


orldSkillsUK – contact Karena Cooper


- theUK’s largest – and has also


Final sts revealed


notes: “Iwas drawn to the trade b e try.


industry offers a bit of everything.”


The sixth finalist for the SkillFRIDGE 2018 competition is EdwardDavis, who studies at Cardiff andVale College and is employed as an apprentice by Dunbia Foods, ameat processing factory inWestWales.He has just finished the second year of his two year apprenticeship,which hewas put forward for by an on-site refrigeration engineer after showing an interest in howthe ammonia plant operated.


SkillFRIDGE CompetitionOperating Partner (COP)Manager Karena Cooper comments: “This year the regional competitio talent, so qualifying for the final is a huge ach apprentices should be congratulated .


ievement forwhich our top si x nswere a showcase of real


“I’mlooking forward to seeing to seeing their developing skills, knowledge and passion on display inNovember!”


The six competitorswill nowundergo a series of intensive training days provided by industry experts in preparation for the final, taking place atWorldSkillsUK LIVE – theUK’s largest skills,


apprenticeships and careers eventwhich attracts over 73,000 young people annually – held at theNEC Birminghamfrom15-17 November. Formore information onWorldSkillsUK LIVE or to register to attend, visit www.worldskillsuk.org.


Formore information on the SkillFRID GE Competition Series, head towww.skillfridge.co.uk. ealed!!


finalist, ThomasThompson,who studies atGrimsby Institute and is employed by Refrigeration Lindum– experts in commercial and industrial refrigeration, much ofwhose business is associatedwith the expanding fresh and frozen


cause of the range of skills I


would be learning, for example both electrical andmechanical, aswell as brazing andwelding pipework.”


Thomas has just finished his Level 2 qualification and has been an apprentice for two years.The security of a career in this vital sectorwas also a key consideration forThomas,who continues: “Refrigeration is an industry thatwewill always need, andwill only improve in the future.”


Eastleigh College boasts a successful historywithin the SkillFRIDGE competition and this continues in 2018,with studentDominicDray qualifying for this year’s final.Dominicworks for Royale Refrigeration&Air ng, and is halfway through his two year apprenticeship.He notes s drawn to the industry because h e “wanted to get a trade, and thi s


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