NEWS
Belfast Met student Jack Fenton has scored highest in the plumbing category of the SkillBuild NI Regional Qualifier, held at the Downpatrick campus of South Eastern Regional College (SERC) on May 20. Hosted by the Construction Industry Training Board NI (CITB NI) in partnership with CITB GB and SERC, the heat saw second place go to Tristan McGrath from South West College (SWC) and third to Jake Elliot from Southern Regional College. Over 100 of the brightest recruits and top performers within construction apprenticeship programmes across NI competed against each other in the regional qualifier and may have the opportunity to represent the region in the SkillBuild UK National Finals in November. SWC plumbing apprentice David Bateman- Smith was named overall Young Apprentice of the Year. An ambassador for skills competitions and apprenticeships within SWC, David actively promotes the value of his trade and mentors peers, demonstrating leadership and a commitment to giving back within his college. www.goconstruct.org SKILLBUILD NI REGIONAL QUALIFIER NAMES TOP THREE IN PLUMBING
Andrew Martin, Group Director, Brett Martin.
BRETT MARTIN INVESTS £15M TO EXPAND PLUMBING DIVISION
Mallusk-headquartered manufacturer Brett Martin has announced a record £15m investment in its Mallusk site to drive future growth in its plumbing and drainage division. Over half of the company’s 1,000-employee workforce works at its Mallusk site, with the firm posting annual group sales of £220m. The expansion marks the largest single investment in the company’s history and reinforces Brett Martin’s long-term commitment to its local manufacturing base. The investment will nearly double the production footprint of its Plumbing and Drainage facility, adding 25,000sqft of advanced manufacturing space. To support
the expansion on the Mallusk site, an additional 70,000sqft of warehousing has also been constructed. Phase one,
commencing in 2025, includes new state-of-the-art injection moulding with specialist automated solutions, facilitating enhanced efficiency and output of drainage fittings, ensuring that the company remains competitive in its core markets across the UK and Ireland. Brett Martin’s plumbing and drainage systems, widely used in housebuilding and general construction, are distributed exclusively through builders’ merchants. www.brettmartin.com
Jack Fenton.
HICKEY PLUMBING CONTRACTORS SUPPORTS DIY SOS PROJECT
A DIY SOS: The Big Build Ireland project, transforming a family home in Mooncoin, Co Kilkenny, has been supported by Hickey Plumbing Contractors. The Kilkenny firm collaborated with Pipelife Ireland and other volunteers to provide plumbing and heating services including materials, technical support and labour during the renovaton. From April 29 to May 8, the team of volunteers helped complete a dream home for the O’Hanlon family comprising the parents and three children. The family had embarked on a self-build to create a home meeting the special needs of their daughter Aoibhínn, 9, who was born with a severe type of spina bifida and hydrocephalus. After many years struggling to secure the money to build the home, progress had been painfully slow with DIY SOS stepping in to complete the project. Both Hickey Plumbing Contractors and Pipelife Ireland have expressed their delight and pride to have supported the project. The TV show, which airs on RTÉ One, brings together communities, tradespeople and suppliers to deliver life-changing renovations for families in need. www.hickeyplumbingcontractors.com
Hickey Plumbing Contractors and Pipelife Ireland volunteers are pictured with Helena Ryan, H&S Officer.
PLUMBING & HEATING MAGAZINE | 5
www.plumbingmag.com FOLLOW US ON:
Made with FlippingBook - professional solution for displaying marketing and sales documents online