SPARKS Magazine Announces 2022 Learner of the Year Winner
Posted by: electime 4th May 2022
SPARKS Magazine has announced the winner of the SPARKS Learner of the Year 2022 competition.
Benjamin Fox from Exeter College won the competition beating five other regional finalists after completing a live 10-hour practical test, carried out across 2 days, at Schneider Electric’s Innovation Hub in Coventry.
Commenting on his win Benjamin said: “It’s surreal really, I still can’t really believe it to be honest. The level of competition was so high, everyone’s test literally looked the same. It’s such a well put together event. Waiting for the results was mega nerve-racking, I heard from the judges it was down to millimeters in the scoring”
Ben added: “It’s pretty amazing. I didn’t have a clue that you’d win any money, so a grand is quite a bonus, but even if I came away from here with nothing, it’s just the title that’s incredible to have really. The fact that it’s nationwide, it’s such a pleasure to have that [Learner of the Year] title”
This year’s five other finalists were Paige Morris from Coleg Y Cymoedd’s Ystrad Mynach Campus, Jack Matthews from Lincoln College, Luke Halsall-Hart from Clifford College, Ted Stamp from Darlington College, Thomas Adlam from Bridgwater and Taunton College
Runner-up Thomas Adlam from Bridgwater and Taunton College, who finished second overall in the competition, said: “It’s a great achievement, competing for two days was full on, and then at the end of it your name being announced I was over the moon. I think the best part is finishing up with a bit of time to spare and knowing it’s all completed.”
Tom added: “The prizes are cracking really. I got a cheque for £500, and a drill… for runner-up you can’t quibble with that! I reckon over the next few days, I’ll sit down and take it all in but I’ll be celebrating by having a chilled weekend and ready next week for my AM2!”
NAPIT’s Technical Team were the official judges of this year’s competition, including Trevor Milner, Geoff Brittain and Alan Redford.
Thousands of pounds worth of prizes were given to the competitors of this year’s competition. Schneider Electric awarded both the winner and their winning college with cheques for £1000 and presented cheques for £500 to both the runner-up and their college. Every competitor received tools, branded merchandise and a certificate for taking part.
Tom Gillam, Electrician Channel Manager at Schneider Electric, said: “The final has been fantastic, it’s been a pleasure to host it at our Coventry Innovation Hub. It’s been great to watch the standards of the installations that the finalists have been producing. It is always a pleasure working with SPARKS, and Schneider Electric is proud to be the Platinum sponsor of the Learner of the Year competition. We see it as invaluable to try and build relationships with apprentices and learners as early on in their careers as possible, and the Learner of the Year competition is a great way to do this.”
This year’s national competition was sponsored by Schneider Electric, Electric Center, Dewalt, Ideal Industries EMEA, The IET, Prysmian, Blaklader, NAPIT and VW Commercial Vehicles with an incredible selection of prizes donated by the sponsors.
For more information and details on how to enter next year’s SPARKS Learner of the Year competition, head to www.sparks-magazine.co.uk/events
