This year’s Skills Test took place in our newly refurbished and extended Workshop Training area and was assessed by two independent, qualified Thermal Insulation assessors ensuring a completely transparent outcome.

First nominee Alexander Cook representing RDA Insulation said “I was very happy to have got to the final of the skills test, I am also proud of my efforts in all the time I have spent at the TICA training centre, I am looking to progress within the industry and this will go along way to helping me.”

Roger Doble Director of RDA insulation said “Thanks firstly to everyone at the TICA training centre for putting the time in with Aaron and Alex. As a company we are really pleased with the results of the education and training they have received, and we are very proud of the two lads with the progress and work that they have put in. Both Aaron and Alex will have very important roles to play within the company in the future and it is the perfect beginning to their respective careers.”

Marion Marsland, TICA Chief Executive “Our Skills Test creates an atmosphere of excitement and competition in the training centre, and it’s really interesting to see the effect of the two days on our finalists. A happy go lucky mood on arrival quickly disappears as the complexity of the tasks and the intensity of the two days ahead really sinks in. Our apprentices have to deal with being closely monitored by our judges and have the added pressure of being constantly filmed and interviewed. It’s a stressful couple of days for everyone involved, but we can be really sure at the end of this process, we have a genuine and worthy winner. I would like to congratulate all our finalists this year. It was a real pleasure spending time getting to know them, and I can assure all of the employers that they did them proud.”

Michael Tait one of the Judges said “It has been a real pleasure and honour to be a judge for this year’s apprentice of the year competition. With the standard of work on display at such an exceptional level, it has made our job choosing an overall winner such a hard decision. All participants have done themselves and their companies proud and I wish to congratulate all those involved.”

The winner will be announced at the TICA Annual Lunch on 20 September, places can be booked on our website.  Good Luck Alexander!