John’s Carpentry Skills Recognised Nationally

Issued 18-05-16

18 year old John Knox returned to Shetland this weekend having come second in the Scottish Association of Timber Trade Teacher’s annual carpentry competition. John is in the second year of his apprenticeship with ML Watt Builders and is studying for his SVQ Level 3 Carpentry and Joinery at Shetland College UHI.

There were sixteen apprentices from throughout Scotland who competed in a time restricted time challenge which saw them all having to construct a panel. This was designed to test the apprentices’ skills in mitres, joint work as well as overall carpentry skills with everything completed by hand. John said “things were really close and the standard was pretty good with only minor peerie things being the difference.”

The competition, which was held in South Lanarkshire College, provided John with the opportunity to meet other apprentices which he’d found really useful and enjoyable. For coming second overall John won a router, drill and a gift token for a tool shop.

John wanted to thank his employer Mark Watt for funding his travel down, accompanying him to the competition and for allowing him time out from work to practice his skills in preparation for the competition.

Anthony McLeod, head of the construction department at Shetland College UHI, said that John had performed really well and that he had been selected for the competition because of his natural talent for joinery. He said “John obtains a high quality finish and achieves that in a tight deadline which for this competition was important. He’s done really well.”