HVAC
HIP UK Heating Apprentice of the Year unveiled
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inner of BBC’s The Apprentice and owner of ImpraGas, Joseph Valente was on hand to help crown the winner of the HIP UK Heating Apprentice of the Year competition at ADEY Professional Heating Solutions’ Head Office. The two-day grand final of the nationwide competition, now in its eighth year, was hosted by the event’s main sponsor ADEY, at its state-of-theart Training and Conference Centre. Organised by Heating Installers and Plumbers (HIP), the annual competition supports heating and plumbing apprentices entering the trade. The seven regional finalists had to complete an assignment to install a hot water cylinder, bar shower, system boiler, radiators, pipework and an ADEY MagnaClean Professional2 magnetic filter within the allotted 15 hours. An extremely high standard of work saw judges Tony Kite, Competition Judge, Glenn Schofield from Pegler Yorkshire, Glenn Stonehouse, Technical Sales and Training Support at ADEY Professional Heating Solutions and HIP Magazine Managing Editor and event organiser, Celia Matthews deliberate long and hard. The winner was eventually crowned as Jack Miller from Hull College. Ewan
McGregor from Chichester College was chosen as a well deserved runner up. A packed programme of speakers ran alongside the main competition which included a talk from special guest, Joseph Valente, followed by a question and answer session for visiting students who were able to gain valuable insight from The Apprentice winner’s experience in the HVAC sector. “When I heard my name announced, I was shocked but over the moon,” said Jack Miller. “It was a really tough two days but it’s been a fantastic competition to be involved in as it’s really tested the skills I’ve learnt so far at college.” “This is the third year we’ve been involved with the HIP UK Heating Apprentice of the Year competition, and it’s now well established as an excellent platform to showcase talent. The competition is getting tougher and tougher each year so it was a very difficult job for the judges to pick a winner,” said ADEY’s Chairman, Kelvin Stevens. “We were delighted Joseph was able to join us to announce the winner. He’s a fantastic role model for the students, and his support for apprenticeships within our industry has got to be a good thing.” Celia Matthews adds: “To have the
Joseph Valente, winner of The Apprentice 2015, Jack Miller, HIP UK Heating Apprentice of the Year and Kelvin Stevens, ADEY Chairman.
continued support of sponsors like ADEY has allowed us to grow the competition in the nine years it’s been running. “The improved standard is testament to the hard work the colleges put in to ensure their apprentices receive the very best training. All the finalists and their lecturers must be congratulated for even getting this far but a special mention must go to this year’s winner, Jack Miller.” www.adey.com
New biomass engineer appointment fuels re:heat growth
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apidly growing Northumberland biomass energy specialist re:heat has made a key appointment to lead the servicing arm of its business. Terry Harvey is the firm’s new biomass engineer, having previously worked closely with re:heat while running his own heating business from Morpeth. re:heat helps customers identify and buy the right biomass boilers for their needs and also works in designing systems, fuel supply logistics, faultfinding and problem resolution. Terry’s appointment is part of the Alnwick-based company’s overall expansion plans and recruitment drive over the next 12 months – a move that will see additional biomass heating experts join the existing team of six. He will cover an area across the North of England and throughout Scotland. “Part of my portfolio is to expand the servicing area of the business,” said Terry, who lives in Morpeth.
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“I’m looking forward to building our new customer base, as well as developing the servicing side for both domestic and commercial customers who find themselves with a biomass boiler but without an experienced engineer who can provide servicing support. “re:heat has a strong track record of providing the service that renewable heating users need, ensuring they continue to see the benefits of switching from fossil fuels. I really want to focus on helping customers by making their boilers run as efficiently as possible.” Terry has over 10 years of experience in the construction industry, having run a successful heating business specialising in the installation, service and maintenance of energy efficient boiler systems. re:heat was founded in 2011 by Neil Harrison and Ben Tansey to assist businesses of all sizes to convert from fossil fuels to sustainable, low
carbon wood fuel heating systems. The firm has grown considerably in five years and in 2015 reported a turnover in excess of £3.8m. “We are dedicated specialists, committed to building long term relationships in a sector where there’s a general lack of expertise and a growing demand for the specific advantages renewable heating sources provide,” said Mr Harrison. For more information about re:heat go to www.reheat.uk.com
Building & Facilities Management – May 2016