SNIPEF, the Scottish and Northern Ireland Plumbing Employers' Federation, has announced a new partnership agreement with City Plumbing aimed at strengthening the apprenticeship pathway and highlighting the significance of traditional skills within the Scottish Plumbing Apprentice of the Year (SPAY) competition.

Under the agreement, City Plumbing will become the sponsor of SPAY's Lead Category. This sponsorship underscores City Plumbing's commitment to supporting Scotland's plumbing and heating apprentices and reinforces the enduring importance of leadwork as a fundamental aspect of the profession.

Christopher Paxton, Regional Director at City Plumbing, stated: "Our partnership with SNIPEF provides an excellent opportunity to support the next generation of skilled plumbing and heating professionals in Scotland. We have long supported this competition, but by sponsoring the Lead Category we want to demonstrate our continued dedication to the plumbing and heating professionals of the future. This partnership also allows us to highlight the enduring importance of this traditional skill in the profession, ensuring a continued pathway for apprentices who wish to embrace this important discipline in their careers."

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Fiona Hodgson, SNIPEF Chief Executive, welcomed City Plumbing's sponsorship, emphasizing its value for apprentices and those specializing in leadwork. She added: "While our industry continues to transition into new technologies, leadwork still has a role to play in our profession, particularly in heritage and conservation work. Lead is still found, particularly in old buildings, up and down the country. As such, it remains vital that we have plumbers with the skills to work with lead safely and professionally."

The SPAY competition is scheduled to take place on Thursday, June 13, 2025, at South Lanarkshire College in East Kilbride. The event will bring together Scotland's most talented plumbing and heating apprentices to compete across three distinct categories: Lead, Copper, or Renewable Technologies.