Johnstone apprentice wins award

A YOUNG tradesman working for a family-run firm has pipped his peers to be named a top apprentice.

Scott McPartlan finished his final year at North Glasgow College with both the qualification and the award for the most accomplished pupil.
The 22-year-old, from Johnstone, works for warm air heating sales and installations specialists Abercorn Heating.
A small, family-run firm, the company has been around for more than 30 years – employing 12 staff, including two apprentices at their base on Abercorn Street, Paisley.
Scott said: “Surprise doesn’t even come close to how I felt when I was declared the winner
“I was pleased to pass everything and get it over and done with after four years but this was the icing on the cake.”
Scott, who has now completed his training, has spent the past four years honing his skills at the Paisley firm.
Working with many of the experienced engineers, the apprentice has learned the skills needed to become a heating engineer.
Studying an SVQ in Heating and Ventilation at the Springburn-based college, everyone but Scott worked for a national company. However, the plucky young apprentice managed to outdo his classmates to take the prize.
And he believes working with the skilled workers at the Paisley firm helped him get to the top of the class.
He said: “I was the only person from a smaller company in my class and also the course. But all the engineers who’ve helped me over the past few years at Abercorn have helped me be successful. It is a great company to work for.
“Now I just can’t wait to get out there on my own and do the job I’m trained to do.”
Proud boss Paul Bryan, joint owner of Abercorn Heating with his brother-in-law Mark Brooks, was delighted with Scott’s achievements.
He said: “Scott has set the standards and I am very impressed he has passed his exams and also become the top man on his course.
“He has worked extremely hard over the past four years to get through his training and has come out the other side successfully.
“Scott is a part of our future plans to expand the company into renewable energies and the further expansion of the company.”

http://www.abercorn-heating.co.uk/

text and image taken from the Paisley Daily Express webpage http://www.paisleydailyexpress.co.uk/renfrewshire-news/local-news-in-renfrewshire/paisley-news/2010/07/13/johnstone-apprentice-wins-award-87085-26836734/