TRAINEE plumbers are being given a head start at Riverside College.

Their tutor, Shaun O’Malley, has just published the only gas textbook to cover and support the NVQ level three qualification in plumbing and heating.

Before training as a teacher, Shaun worked as a plumbing and heating engineer and technician in the industry for more than 10 years.

He is now sharing his expertise with apprentices all over the country.

This is his second text book.

Shaun, head of construction and building services at Riverside College, said: “Pearson, publishers of the book were pleased with my contribution in the production of training materials for the level 2 NVQ text book and approached me to write the level 3 text books.

“Both of these books will be used in classrooms and training centres across the UK.

“I feel very privileged to be able to pass on my knowledge and skills to help to train the next generation of plumbers and heating engineers.”

The college has just opened a new gas centre at its Kingsway campus in Widnes and launched the level 3 plumbing qualification for the first time.

Shaun added: “This means that students can not only complete their whole training with us but they can also keep up to date with their ACS qualifications on site.”

“The new level 3 plumbing students have settled in well and are now busy designing the bays for our new facilities.

“Their next project will be to install the plumbing systems into the bays themselves, giving them some fantastic industry experience.”

An open evening at Riverside College on Wednesday, November 20, from 5pm to 7pm will giveanyone interested in training to be a plumber or any trade in the construction industry the chance to look around the new facilities and see the range of courses on offer.