News
Southern Regional College to Host Skillbuild NI Regional Final
Southern Regional College in partnership with CITB-Construction Skills NI will host the prestigious SkillbuildNI 2014 National Finals at the College’s Greenbank campus in Newry on 7th and 8th of May, to find the best young talent in the construction industries in Northern Ireland.
The launch of the event was held at the College’s Portadown campus and hosted speakers such as Mr John Quinn, Director of Southern Regional College and Mr Raymond Whiteford, Chairman of the Skillbuild Advisory Group who spoke of the importance of these competitions for the trainees and apprentices in completing their chosen course of study, preparing them for the world of work and encouraging excellence among young craftspeople.
Speaking ahead of the launch, Employment and Learning Minister, Dr Stephen Farry said: "Skills competitions are an excellent way to showcase our vocational skills and demonstrate to employers and future investors the high standard of training provision which exists in our colleges and training organisations. They provide an opportunity for local young people to demonstrate to the world that Northern Ireland has a workforce with the high levels of skills and training required to compete in the global economy and meet the economic challenges which lie ahead. I wish all the competitors at Skillbuild every success in the competition.”
Welcoming the news the Chief Executive of Southern Regional College, Mr Brian Doran said: “Southern Regional College is delighted to host this prestigious event in the construction calendar, where the cream of Northern Ireland’s construction trainees and apprentices will compete over an intensive two-days of competition. For many of the competitors this competition is an important stepping stone to future skills competition success through the UK Skills competition and hopefully participation in the future World skills competitions. I wish all the competitors every success and look forward to welcoming trainees and apprentices from across Northern Ireland to the College’s Greenbank Campus.”
Intercampus competitions have already taken place across the six regional colleges and 94 finalists have been selected to compete in the two days of competitions on 7th & 8th May at SRC’s Greenbank building, Newry. Under the spotlight will be 12 construction craft areas including brickwork, floor and wall tiling, carpentry and joinery and electrical installation. The best will be selected to go forward to compete at National and Worldskills level.
Barry Neilson, Chief Executive, CITB-ConstructionSkills NI said: “We are delighted to be working with Southern Regional College for this years Skillbuild NI National 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 and the best of luck in Skillbuild 2014.”
The SkillBuildNI Finals produce many inspirational stories of student achievement. Last year Shane Branagan from SRC went on to win gold at UK Skills in the Plumbing category with Gary Doyle picking up the silver medal. In total seven students from SRC competed at UK level with many achieving medals or highly commended.
Attending the launch at Portadown campus were representatives from SkillbuildNI, CITB-Construction Skills NI, the Department for Employment and Learning, construction industry, and local schools.
Photo Caption:
Lindsay Bronte, Head of School for Construction at SRC is joined by Deputy Mayor of Craigavon Borough Council, Colin McCusker and Raymond Whiteford, Chairman of Skillbuild Advisory Group to celebrate the launch of Skillbuild NI National Finals which will be held at the Greenbank Campus of SRC on 7 and 8 May 2014, where the best young craftspeople from Northern Ireland will be crowned.