Fochabers UHI Moray and Moray Council apprentice crowned national champion at Scottish Plumbing Apprentice of the Year competition
A Moray Council apprentice has won first place in the City Plumbing Leadwork competition, one of the three prestigious categories in this year’s Scottish Plumbing Apprentice of the Year (SPAY) competition.
Frazer Graham, from Fochabers, who is also a student at UHI Moray, took home the prize at the event which took place on Friday, June 13.
He impressed the judges with his precision, craftsmanship and professionalism under pressure, securing the top spot in a highly competitive field.
His win highlights not only his personal dedication and talent, but also reflects the strength of support from his employer and training provider.
Moray Council and UHI Moray also enjoyed wider success, with two of the three Leadwork podium finishes going to their apprentices.
Sweyn MacAskill, from Elgin, secured third place.
Speaking after the win, Frazer Graham said: “It feels good to have won, having put in a lot of hours to get here, and it’s really paid off.
“I knew it would be close between me and another competitor, as he was also in the competition last year. It’s a great personal accomplishment for me.”
This year’s results mark another exceptional performance for Moray Council.
UHI Moray also demonstrated its continued strength in apprenticeship training, achieving three podium finishes across the SPAY 50 categories, Frazer Graham and Sweyn MacAskill in Leadwork, and Kai Gray, from Turriff, who claimed second place in the BPEC SkillPlumb Copper Category.
This success builds on the University of the Highlands and Islands’ remarkable showing at the 2024 competition, where apprentices from its Moray, Inverness and Perth campuses claimed six of the nine top prizes across all competition categories.
Dale Thomson, SNIPEF training services manager, said: “The University of the Highlands and Islands has consistently demonstrated its commitment to training the next generation of plumbing and heating professionals at its colleges in Moray, Perth, and Inverness.
“We celebrate their success and also recognise the vital support from employers who invest in these apprentices, nurturing remarkable talent.”
Now in its landmark 50th year, SPAY is Scotland’s premier apprenticeship competition for the plumbing and heating profession. Hosted this year at South Lanarkshire College, the event showcased the technical skills, creativity and commitment of 40 top plumbing and heating apprentices from across Scotland, competing in Copper, Leadwork and Renewable Technologies categories.
Stephanie Lowe, deputy chief executive of SNIPEF, said: “The achievements of this year’s winners highlight the true value of apprenticeships in our profession.
“They are not only learning a trade, they are building careers that will help drive innovation, sustainability and excellence across our profession.
“Apprenticeships remain one of the most effective ways to nurture talent and address skills shortages, while also contributing to economic growth, reducing unemployment and opening up life-changing opportunities for social mobility.
“The dedication shown by these young professionals proves just how vital they are to the future of plumbing and heating in Scotland.”
