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Construction apprentices strike gold, silver and bronze at Skillbuild 2016
Over 70 construction apprentices competed against each other and tested their skills in 9 different construction trades at the Skillbuild NI Finals held at South West College, Technology and Skills Centre Enniskillen on 4th March 2016.
Skillbuild NI, run and governed by CITB NI, is held annually each spring with the top local construction apprentices competing to win coveted titles ranging from brickwork to wall and floor tiling. The winners may then go on to represent Northern Ireland in the Skills Show UK and potentially at WorldSkills.
Department for Employment and Learning Deputy Secretary Catherine Bell said: “Skillbuild NI is a great opportunity to showcase and celebrate the high level of skills we possess and the impressive talent of our workforce. It reflects the high standards of training in our Colleges and the commitment to excellence demonstrated by the competitors. As with all skills competitions, Skillbuild NI is about raising the status and standards of professional and technical education and training. We have a proud record of success at skills competitions not only on a local level but also on a regional, national and world level. I congratulate the ten young competitors who have been selected to represent the UK Squad, and I look forward to seeing how many progress to the prestigious Worldskills competition in Abu Dhabi in 2017.”
This competition not only encourages trainees to improve their own skills, but provides an example of the high quality work being produced in training organisations and colleges across NI. The Skillbuild test pieces are designed to challenge the ability of apprentices, testing skills within tight timeframes and the competitors are being continuously assessed throughout the competition.
The competition has the support of local construction employers who sponsor each category, and has the overall support from the Department for Employment and Learning, Construction Employers Federation, Colleges NI, Federation of Master Builders, Haldane Fisher, City and Guilds, and Subway.
Maurice Johnston, Chairman CITB NI said: “CITB NI is proud to have been involved in construction competitions for almost 40 years. During this time we have witnessed many construction apprentices take their first steps on a journey that has led to success at UK National, International or even World Skills Competitions. Skillbuild is an amazing showcase for the wide variety of skills and talent we have in this country and we congratulate not only the medal winners but all of those who have taken part in this prestigious competition. Skillbuild NI couldn’t happen without the support of the local sponsors and the training network and we extend our thanks to all who have helped the apprentices to be able to compete here today. Our young people are more ambitious now than ever and we wish all the competitors luck in their future careers within the construction industry.”
Malachy McAleer, Chief Executive, South West College said, “We at SWC and the Enniskillen Technology & Skills Centre were delighted to welcome the Skillbuild NI Finals to the Region. This Skills Competition is a tremendous opportunity to exhibit the quality of our future workforce. The contestants from across NI, always provide an outstanding spectacle. In global, European, and UK Skills competitions over recent years, NI participants have excelled; so it is likely that future World Skills winners will have participated in this NI event. The range of technical areas of display, the intensity of the competition and the quality of the skills exhibited always makes for an Olympic – style event.”
Photo Caption – Best Overall Skillbuild NI Young Apprentice and Gold award winner in Brickwork, Jemual Chamos from SERC, photographed with Department for Employment and Learning Deputy Secretary Catherine Bell and Sarah Travers at Skillbuild NI Finals 2016.