Stelrad sponsors National HIP student plumbing competition as it returns for 2022

HIP has begun the search for the UK’s best plumbing & heating talent with next year’s competition seeing a return to a live format in January. Stelrad has been involved in previous years and is delighted this coming year to be a product sponsor. In the regional competitions the apprentices have been installing a Stelrad Compact radiator. In the finals, the finalists will be installing a Stelrad Slimline towel rail.

Now in its 14^th year, the competition provides a platform for apprentice and student plumbers to show off their skills at the very start of their career. Level 2 and 3 students will compete across six regions between January and February – South West, Wales, North East, North West, South East and Midlands.

The winner of each heat will go on to compete against one another in the grand final, which takes place at the head offices of Worcester Bosch on 20^th – 21^st April. 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 Jerry Whiteley, Technical Manager from the Chartered Institute of Plumbing and Heating Engineering.

Last year’s winner was Tom Race, a 19-year-old apprentice from Burnley College. Commenting on why students should enter the 2022 competition, Tom said: “I think people should enter the HIP Learner of the Year competition because it’s a really good challenge and it helps you showcase all the skills that you’ve learnt from college and with your workplace, if you have an apprenticeship.

“You get to win some great prizes from all the great sponsors. It’s a really good way of testing yourself and showcasing what you’ve learnt already.”

Running alongside HIP Learner of the Year will be the Meet the Manufacturer series, which gives manufacturers like Stelrad the chance to update lecturers from colleges up and down the country on the latest industry and product innovations.

Zoë Tanner, Managing Director at HIP, said: “We’re thrilled that HIP Learner of the Year is returning in its original live format for 2022. Now more than ever is the time to support the next generation of plumbing and heating talent and we can’t wait to see what the competition brings.”

Stelrad’s head of marketing is Chris Harvey: “We strongly believe that this competition is good for the up-and-coming apprentices and trainees in the sector and we’re happy to be able to contribute to the competition by providing the radiators the entrants have to install as part of the tasks they are set. We recognise the issues we have in the heating sector with the average age of installers being far too high and the need for new blood to come into the industry vital to its ongoing strength in the years ahead. We wish all entrants the best of luck as they strive to take the top prize in what has become a highly prestigious competition for the individuals taking part and their colleges.”

For more information or to enter the competition, head to https://www.hip-magazine.co.uk/learner-of-the-year/