Ross Parkin has won the first UK semi-final of the 2013 SkillPIPE competition, after a challenging one-day event at Burnley College.
The 19-year-old is an apprentice with NG Bailey Engineering and is studying at Hartlepool College. On 30 April he came out on top after going head-to-head on two practical tasks - installing and pressure testing a pump set, and a difficult welding task. Judges awarded Ross with the most points against tough criteria including accuracy, quality of work and health and safety.

Second place went to Elliott Blakeley of T Clarke and Leeds College of Building, while the third place slot went to Robert Craw of FES Ltd and North Glasgow College.

Organised by SummitSkills, SkillPIPE is sponsored by the Building and Engineering Services Association (B&ES). The highest scoring competitors from the event have the chance to compete at a grand final in November, held at The Skills Show at the Birmingham NEC, where they will face competitors from across the UK as they bid to become SkillPIPE champion.

This year's semi-final was held alongside partner competitions SkillELECTRIC, SkillFRIDGE and SkillPLUMB. SkillBuild, organised by the CITB, was also held at Burnley College on the same date.

Neil Collishaw, head of competitions at SummitSkills, said: 'This is the first year that all competitions have been held at regional level at the same venue. With SkillBuild also running alongside us, we've held the biggest ever regional built environment skills competition event, which is a great achievement.'

For more information on SkillPIPE visit www.skillpipe.org.uk