An electrical installation student has made his way through to the national heats of an Apprentice of the Year competition.

Shane Greenway, 18, who is studying for the Level 3 Diploma in Electrical Installation at Uxbridge College, won his electrical installation heat to be crowned the South East Regional Champion. He now goes on to the Live Final in Birmingham on 19th and 20th May.

The College was also represented in the plumbing section of the competition by Charley Gilbert, 16, and Rinis Tahiri, 17.

During the heats, contestants had to complete a practical test covering core elements of their course syllabus. The heats were judged on quality of work and a point score system, and Shane was entered because he won an individual event at CNWL last year.

Neil Benjamin-Miller, Section Manager of Electrical Installation at Uxbridge College, said: “The students all performed extremely well under competition pressure and it’s a great result to see our Shane Greenway going through to the electrical installation national final. All three Uxbridge College students who took part demonstrated professional skills and attitude which would be welcomed by any employer.”

The HIP! National Apprentice of the Year competitions were launched by SNG Publishing Ltd, publishers of the apprentice magazines, HIP! and SPARKS, in 2009, giving students of electrical installation and plumbing the opportunity to be recognised for their hard work and skills. The event, involving around 60 colleges from around the country, is sponsored by Copper Initiative.

In the regional finals Uxbridge College competed against Basingstoke College, Cambridge Regional College, Farnborough College of Technology, Prospect College, West Herts College, City College Norwich, Chichester College and Mid Kent College.