JTL plumbing apprentice Callum Abberley from Stretton in Derbyshire has won the Screwfix Trade Apprentice 2019 award, winning a huge career boosting prize of a £10,000 trade bundle that includes a MacBook Air and accessories, Google Home, £5,000 worth of Screwfix products and £3,000 to go towards future training courses.
Callum follows in the footprints of a number of other JTL apprentices that have been successful in winning awards this year up and down the country.
Callum, 18, works for Boiler Repair Man – BRM – a business owned by Jon Hall, based near Burton-upon-Trent which installs, services and repairs gas boilers, flushes central heating systems, installs high efficiency radiators and installs and services gas fires. He also studies as part of his apprenticeship through JTL at Burton and South Derbyshire College one day a week.
Having qualified for the finals, Callum headed for London to meet with a panel of judges from Screwfix and key industry trade bodies. He clearly blew them away with his answers to their questions and they were impressed by his ambition to make a difference to dementia sufferers lives via his trade and his skill set; “I am a dementia ‘friend’ and I would love to learn more about appliances that can help save or improve lives, be it ones that turn off gas if someone has forgotten to do so, or even something as simple as helping someone to understand turning off the heating. Winning this competition will allow me to have the funds to help me achieve these dreams.”
The Screwfix Trade Apprentice final saw 10 of the UK’s brightest trade apprentices gather in London for two days, with the first day spent at the Global Academy where finalists were taught vital skills on how to take their business forward, including social media training and green screen filming. The final took place at Google HQ, where Callum inspired a panel of judges with his passion for his trade.
Currently working towards his NVQ Level 2 Diploma in plumbing and heating, Callum caught the judges’ attention with his desire to run his own business one day. He said: “I am so honoured to be crowned Screwfix Trade Apprentice 2019!
“The prize will help me to achieve my dream and specialise in helping dementia sufferers. I also want to become an ambassador to those coming into the trade. The skills I have learnt so far have helped make dementia sufferer’s lives easier and this prize will only help me develop that further. The Trade Apprentice competition has been a fantastic experience. I have met so many brilliant people, who I will remain in touch with for years to come. I would encourage anyone to take up an apprenticeship, it’s opened so many doors for me and means I can really make a difference.”
Caroline Welsh, Director of Brand and Marketing at Screwfix, said: “Screwfix Trade Apprentice is now in its fifth year and myself and all the judges were truly blown away by the attitude, commitment and passion shown by all of our finalists.
“Apprentices form a vital part of the trade and are invaluable to the UK economy, providing a pipeline of fresh talent and innovative ideas. Each year we see many exceptional entries and it was a privilege to be able to spend time with the finalists at this year’s final.
“Callum’s compassion and drive to give back selflessly, really set him apart in a very competitive final. The judges were impressed by what Callum has already achieved and his outlook on how his trade can make a difference to the lives of dementia sufferers. I look forward to watching him develop and wish him all the very best!”
Callum’s training officer at JTL Glenn Brough said: “Callum has all the right credentials for maturing into a very good plumber and he’s driven by his passion to help people with dementia. I’m proud of his achievement and delighted that a JTL apprentice has been selected for this prestigious award.”
His employer Jon Hall is delighted his apprentice has been selected but he’s not overly surprised: “He’s a special young man with a passion for his trade and a maturity beyond his years. I’m very proud of him and pleased for him. This will boost his confidence still further and be a further boost to building a huge career in the plumbing sector with BRM.”
