The annual World Plumbing Council scholarship has been increased from $7,500 to $10,000. Open to plumbing trainers, in any sector of education across the world, it demands a very high standard from entrants and offers the winner the opportunity to visit a country of his or her choice to study plumbing practice and standards.

One of the functions of the Trainers’ Scholarship is to allow the WPC to establish a database of plumbing skills and training practices. In this way, the council will be able to respond readily to requests for advice from trainers and training establishments across the world.

Winner of the 2006 scholarship was Phil Campbell from Las Vegas, a plumbing code instructor and training coordinator for the United Association of Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 525. He chose the United Kingdom for his study visit as he was curious about how products imported from there are designed, and under what parameters. A further consideration was the highly regarded reputation of the U.K.’s training and apprenticeship systems, which he wanted to compare with those in this country.

The next WPC scholarship will be awarded in August 2007; applications are due by June 30. Further details are available at www.worldplumbing.org.