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Design & MarketingWe were honoured to receive an official letter of commendation from Fiona Hodgson, Chief Executive of the Scottish and Northern Ireland Plumbing Employers’ Federation (SNIPEF).
The letter celebrates the remarkable success of our apprentices Blake Lockhart and Aiden Docherty at the 2026 Scottish Plumbing Apprentice of the Year (SPAY) competition. Following the 51st annual SPAY competition held at West College Scotland, SNIPEF formally reached out to members of our Mechanical Division to congratulate the us on a standout performance in the Renewable category. SPAY 2026 Renewable Category Results
🥇 1st Place: Blake Lockhart (South Lanarkshire College)
🥉 3rd Place: Aiden Docherty (South Lanarkshire College)
SNIPEF Leadership Praises Mentorship at HF
In her official letter, SNIPEF Chief Executive Fiona Hodgson highlighted that the apprentices’ achievements reflect not only their individual dedication, but also the strong culture of support and guidance across HF:
“I am writing to offer my congratulations on Blake Lockhart winning 1st place and Aiden Docherty winning 3rd Place in the Renewable category at the Scottish Plumbing Apprentice of the Year (SPAY) 2026 competition. As their employer I am sure that you are extremely proud of both their achievements. Their success reflects not only both Blake and Aiden’s hard work and skill, but also the support, encouragement and guidance they received from their colleagues at HF Group. Thank you for your continued support in developing the next generation of skilled plumbing and heating professionals. Employers like you play a vital role in the future of our industry, and we greatly appreciate the investment you make in helping apprentices develop the skills and confidence to excel.”
Fiona Hodgson, Chief Executive, SNIPEF
A Shared Commitment to Quality and Innovation
Receiving formal recognition from SNIPEF underscores our commitment to delivering top-tier apprenticeship pathways and investing in green, future-focused technologies. As renewable heating solutions become central to modern mechanical engineering, seeing Blake and Aiden perform so strongly at a national level demonstrates the effectiveness of our hands-on mentorship program. We would like to extend our thanks to SNIPEF for the letter, to South Lanarkshire College for their educational support, and above all, to Blake and Aiden for representing the business with exceptional technical skill and professionalism.
