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Cream of Construction apprentices put their skills to the test at Skillbuild 2014
Just under one hundred competitors from across Northern Ireland tested their skills in 11 different construction trades at Skillbuild 2014, held at the Southern Regional College in Newry on 7 & 8 May 2014.
Skillbuild NI, run by CITB-ConstructionSkills 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.
Commending the competitors on their hard work and dedication shown in their area of expertise, Dr Stephen Farry, Minister for Employment and Learning said: “Skillbuild, as with all skills competitions, is about raising the status and standards of professional and technical education and training, and the benefits from having more skilful, highly motivated staff. 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. We look forward to building upon past successes, and getting a good Northern Ireland representation on the UK Team for the next WorldSkills competition in Sao Paulo, Brazil in 2015.”
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 two day 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, Haldane Fisher, Snickers Workwear and City and Guilds.
Raymond Whiteford, Chairman of the Skillbuild Advisory Group said: “We award all competitors taking part in Skillbuild NI 2014 finals. This competition provides the perfect platform to demonstrate the enormous talent we have in the industry, helping to showcase the professionalism of our brightest recruits and industry as a whole Over the past few years our construction apprentices have achieved great success on a local, regional and World stage.
“Skillbuild NI couldn’t happen without the support of CITB-ConstructionSkills NI and the local sponsors and in this economic climate we thank the local employers for investing in the future of the construction industry. The Skillbuild NI national competition is a superb event which enables participants to benchmark themselves against their fellow competitors in NI. The apprentices have been preparing hard for this event and credit must be given to them and the trainers involved.”
Mr Brian Doran, CEO of Southern Regional College said: “We at Southern Regional College are honoured to have been selected to host the prestigious National Finals of Skillbuild NI. I congratulate the competitors, many of who have travelled long distances to participate in the skills competition. For many this competition is an important stepping stone to future skills competition success through the UK Skills and World skills competitions. The commitment and professionalism shown by our competitors in tackling complex skills tasks over the last two days demonstrates that the quality of construction skills and training in Northern Ireland is second to none. I wish all the competitors every success in the future and have every confidence that those selected to go forward to UK and Worldskills competition will continue the proud tradition of success at a national and international level.”