A student apprentice employed by Fife Council has won the coveted Plastering Student of the Year award at the annual Plaisterers’ Livery Company Training Awards. The Student of the Year was revealed at the Plaisterers’ Training Awards alongside 10 other awards that recognise achievement in training skilled craftsmen of the future. Contenders include colleges, independent training providers and specialist contractors.

Thomas Morgan, who won the Student of the Year, is in the third year of his Modern Apprenticeship. In the last two years he has won the Edinburgh College Best Plastering Student of the Year for 2016, and also undertaken the role of Class Representative supporting and helping his fellow students.

The runners-up were Daniel McAteer from County Antrim, Northern Ireland Edinburgh and Haralds Jonans from Derby.

The Master of the Plaisterers’ Company, Mr Terence Wright, said: “After over 30 years in the plastering industry I know first-hand how important the quality of training is.  It is not good enough to just go through the motions it needs committed teachers and assessors who want to deliver excellence not just tick boxes. Well today we have seen some of the best in our sector and I congratulate all the prize winners for their performances that have been recognised and rewarded.”

The Lifetime Contribution to Training for 2016 was presented to James Martin. In a career spanning more than 40 years Mr Martin is now the Associate Principal for the construction faculty at Jordanhill College.

The Awards were presented by The Rt. Hon. the Lord Mayor of the City of London, Alderman The Lord Mountevans. and The Master of the Plaisterers’ Company, Mr Terry Wright.

Coleg Menai won the coveted John G Robinson Trophy for the best overall performing plastering department at a college. The Judges said: ‘Coleg Menai is a true centre of excellence and a teaching powerhouse of professional plastering and drylining skills’.

The British Gypsum Trophy that recognises the training of dryliners of all ages to become fully qualified and fully skilled was won by Now Get Qualified Limited.

The Plaisterers’ Training Awards, established in 1998, are organised by the Plaisterers’ Livery Company in the City of London as part of its commitment to help develop plastering skills for the UK construction industry and recognise the training achievement of colleges, independent training providers and specialist contractors.

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Photograph caption: (l-r) Lord Mayor of the City of London, Alderman Lord Mountevans, Thomas Morgan, Student of the Year, and Terry Wright, Master of the Plaisterers’ Livery Company.