Carpentry & Joinery student, Tom Robinson from Durness, came first in a recent SQA/SATT Carpentry & Joinery competition held in Dunkeld, notching up the sixth consecutive with for The North Highland College.

Tom, who works for Donald Morrison, a joiner based in Durness, was awarded 136 points for his model, with Aberdeen and Dundee coming joint second with 130 points.

Second year Carpentry & Joinery students are required to make a gallows bracket.  Students and staff then select the best model to enter into the competition. 

Kevin Sutherland, Curriculum Manager for Construction at The North Highland College said “We were placed in the top three for a number of years leading up to our six wins, it had never been won by the same college twice until we won in 2006 after our first win in 2005.  No one has got there hands on the trophy since.  Every year we take the trophy down the road to then take it back again!  I put the success down to the very good relationship between the staff, students, employers and Construction Skills Management team.  This is proof of the quality and comprehensive training received by the construction apprentices at college and reinforce on site with the employers.  For us to keep producing winners year after year from a small pool of candidates is an outstanding achievement for The North Highland College.”

Previous North Highland College winners of the SQA / SATTT Carpentry & Joinery Competition are:-

2005    Thomas Forbes                      Durness

2006    William Bremner                    John O Groats

2007    Jimmy Manson                       Gills

2008    Alan MacKay                          Thurso

2009    Alan Munro                             Thurso