• • • EDITOR’S CHOICE • • •


SPARKS launches its first-ever national Female Skills Competition


The Female Skills Competition is aimed at raising the profile of female electrical learners


SPARKS Learner of the Year is back for 2023


Now in its 13th year, the SPARKS Learner of the Year competition provides a platform for apprentice and student electricians to show off their skills, build confidence and win an array of prizes to support them at the very start of their careers. Level 2 and 3 students will compete in six


regional heats across England and Wales, between January and February. The winner of each regional heat will go on


to compete against one another in the grand final, which will take place at Schneider Electric’s Innovation Hub in Coventry on April 26-27. The competitors will be judged on a number


of practical tasks by the official judges of the competition, NAPIT’s technical team. Last year’s winner was Benjamin Fox, from


Exeter College. Commenting on why students should enter


the 2023 competition, Mr Fox said: “You will be nervous, but it’s 100% worth a shot. Even if you come away with just being a participant it’s an experience that you will learn so much from. It’s good practice for your AM2S as well. Just


the experience of being under pressure – it’s a good set up.” Ms Tanner said: “We’re thrilled to see


A


ccording to the Office of National Statistics, as little as 1% of the UK construction industry are currently female. That


represents only a 0.7% increase during the last decade. SPARKS, the organisers of the SPARKS Learner


of the Year competition, is on a mission to provide competitions with the goal to build confidence and advocate skills development along with getting the very best people into the industry regardless of gender. Level 2 and 3 students of all ages, from colleges


nationwide, will be able to compete in a live practical installation for the chance to win a place in the grand Final. The two regional heats will take place during


February and March and the top three from each heat will go on to compete in the grand Final, which will take place at Loughborough College on March 30, 2023. Along with the prestige for the student and


college for winning a national competition, there are fantastic prizes up for grabs. The competitors will be judged on a number of


practical tasks by competition head judge Darren Oates, technical development manager from NET.


Professional electricians, Amy Barratt-Singh


(@amythesparky) and Danny Webb (@sparkymilan) will also be joining Darren on the judging panel. Ms Barratt-Singh said, “Competitions are a great


way to boost your confidence. You won’t know how good you really are until you put your skills to the test. If you get the chance to enter a competition, do it! You’ve got nothing to lose, and everything to gain!” Zoe Tanner, managing director at SPARKS, said:


“We’re thrilled to see the SPARKS Female Skills Competition launch this year, and it’s been immensely encouraging to see the competition being supported by so many big names from the industry. “It’s a fantastic way for learners to build their


confidence and take pride in their work. Now more than ever is the time to support the next generation of talent and we can’t wait to see what the competition brings.” Running alongside SPARKS Female Skills


Competition will be the Meet the Manufacturer series, which gives manufacturers the chance to update lecturers on the latest industry and product innovations.


12 ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING • DECEMBER 2022/JANUARY 2023 electricalengineeringmagazine.co.uk


SPARKS Learner of the Year grow year-on-year, and enormously encouraging to see the competition being supported by so many big names from the industry. It’s a fantastic way for young installers to build their confidence and take pride in their work. “Now more than ever is the time to support


the next generation of talent and we can’t wait to see what the competition brings.” Tom Gillam, electrician channel manager at


Schneider Electric, SPARKS Learner of the Year Platinum sponsor, said: “We are delighted to be supporting the next generation of electricians, and fully support the work SPARKS is doing with students and apprentices across the UK.”


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