The ECA EDMUNDSON APPRENTICE OF THE YEAR AWARDS - 2008

These prestigious awards encourage, recognise and reward electrical apprentices who have demonstrated that they have attained the highest standards of academic and technical competence and personal qualities in their education and training as an electrical apprentice.

Each year, apprentices from all over England, Wales and Northern Ireland are entered for the competition. To be entered, each candidate must first gain high-grade results in the relevant underpinning knowledge, have achieved a relevant NVQ Level 3 and have passed the industry’s skill test.

Entry criteria

For employers to nominate apprentices for the ECA Edmundson Awards they must comply with the criteria below.

• applicants must be serving or have served a formal electrical installation apprenticeship
• employers must be ECA-registered member companies
• candidates must have passed the City & Guilds 2360 Part 2 examination with a minimum of 2 credits in the written components, or
• have passed the City & Guilds 2351 Knowledge of Electrical Installations with a minimum of 6 credits out of the 8 units, or
• have passed City & Guilds 2330 Level 3 Certificate in Electrotechnical Technology Installation (Buildings & Structures)
• candidates must have achieved an NVQ Level 3 in Installing and Commissioning Electrotechnical Systems
• candidates must have passed the industry skills test 
• candidates must be a maximum age of 25 years next birthday at the time of application.

These awards are given each year using the previous year's examination and skills test results, e.g. 2007 results used for 2008 awards.

Eligible candidates are required to face a regional interview panel where they are assessed on:

• technical Knowledge
• knowledge of the industry
• communication skills
• initiative
• personality
• ambition
• personal presentation

An employer’s assessment is also taken into account. Subsequently only a handful of candidates from all regions are nominated to attend the National Final in front of an Industry national judging panel in London.

Winner's and Finalists' Prizes

The national winner receives the following:

• a prize cheque for £1,000
• an electrical contractors’ tool kit
• a study tour of Europe, hosted by major companies in the electrical industry
• a certificate of commendation.

The winner’s employer is presented with a certificate in recognition of their contribution and commitment to the education and training of young people.

The other national finalists, who are their region’s winners, are also presented with an award of:

• a prize cheque for £500
• an electrical contractors’ tool kit
• a certificate of commendation.

The national winner receives his or her award at a special award luncheon in London, hosted by Edmundson Electrical, and attended by leading figures from the industry.

Regional winners are presented with their awards by the Regional Directors of Edmundson Electrical at a ceremony in their locality. The regional winner's employer is also presented with a certificate in recognition of their contribution.

Employers can nominate their top apprentices for the award and those apprentices who meet the specified criteria may be entered for the regional competition and, if successful, are nominated to appear in front of the national interview panel.

Registration

Employers must register their intention to enter an apprentice by completing the online form below. Application and information packs will be sent to the employer by return.

Application forms must be completed and returned by the end of February in preparation for the regional competitions, which are held in March and April.

You can find an online registration form here

Return to Application Forms to:
ECA Education and Training
The Electrical Contractors’ Association
ECA Court
24-26 South Park
Sevenoaks
Kent
TN13 1DU
Telephone: 01732 471715
Fax: 08450 343220
email: eandt@eca.co.uk

 

History

The ECA Edmundson Apprentice of the Year Awards have been in existence for over 30 years. Frank Aldred, former Managing Director of Edmundson Electrical, and the then President of the Electrical Contractors’ Association, David Pitts, inaugurated the Awards in 1975.