News
Local construction apprentices excel at Skills Show UK
13 local construction apprentices travelled to NEC Birmingham last week to compete at the Skills Show UK and successfully brought home 5 medals.
The Skills Show is the UK’s largest skills and careers event and is designed to reward talent and drive up levels of expertise in further education.
Over 75,000 people attended the Skills Show and watched over 500 apprentices and learners battle it out in over 60 skills competitions, ranging from Forensic Science to Floristry, with the aim of being named ‘UK Champion’ in their chosen skill. Visitors to the Skills Show were also able to ‘Have a Go’ at different skills and meet with employers and advisors to receive the latest information on apprenticeships and other training opportunities.
Cameron Nutt, North West Regional College achieved Gold in carpentry with Dean O’Neill, South West College achieving bronze also in the carpentry trade. Donal Harkin achieved Gold in roof slating and tiling, Kieran Magee, Southern Regional College achieved gold in wall and floor tiling and Alex Rooney, South West College achieved silver in plumbing.
Highly commended in their categories of plumbing and joinery were Gavin Rice, Southern Regional College and Kyle Weir, South West College respectively.
Minister Farry said: “This is an excellent achievement for Northern Ireland. It 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. Northern Ireland should feel very proud of such an inspiring performance on the UK stage.
Barry Neilson, Chief Executive CITB NI said, “I would like to extend my congratulations to all of those who were competing at the Skills Show. The standard was extremely high and it is an achievement in itself to get to this level. The fact that Northern Ireland has excelled again especially in the construction trades is a testament to the hard work that occurs on a local level. All these competitors are already winners of local Skills competitions, many of whom have come through our own Skillbuild NI regional competition in order to qualify for this level. It takes hard work, determination and a high level of skill to compete against the UK’s most talented apprentices and learners. Northern Ireland enjoys an impressive track record at skills competitions at regional, national and world level, and our local competitors’ success at the Skills Show builds on this outstanding record of achievement.”
Also announced at the Show was the UK Squad for WorldSkills Abu Dhabi 2017, the biggest vocational education and skills excellence event in the world. Once again Northern Ireland competitors did extremely well with 22 NI competitors in 13 trade areas being selected for Squad UK. They will now undertake an intensive training programme ahead of Team selection for WorldSkills 2017.
The Minister concluded: “I would like to congratulate all the competitors on their great successes to date and wish them good luck for the selection for Team UK for WorldSkills Abu Dhabi 2017.”
Pictured is Cameron Nutt, NWRC winner of Gold Medal in Carpentry.