Three heating and ventilating apprentices have won the top three awards at the UK final of the SkillPIPE competition.

SkillPIPE is one of four of the SummitSkills' Skill M&E competitions, organised by the Sector Skills Council for building services engineering and aimed at finding the UK sector's most talented employees.

For the finals, entrants had to install and test a large pipe header system consisting of pumps, valves, and controls to challenge their skills.

The first-place position was taken by Ross Fraser (pictured centre), employed by NG Bailey and trained by Bailey Engineering Academy. Fraser said: "I wasn't expecting to win. It was obviously tough for the judges because I've seen the standard of work, which is really high."

Fraser added: "I'd advise other people to enter; it's a great experience, something you can always take with you."

Matthew Moore – employed by Wessex Building Services and trained by Southampton City College and BEST – took second place, followed by Greg Clark, who was employed by SES and trained by the Leeds College of Building.