Local college trio scoop top awards

THREE trainee apprentices from South West College (SWC) have scooped top awards at the SkillBuild NI national finals, held at the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) at Nutts Corner Training Centre.

Supported by the Department for the Economy, SkillBuild NI, run and governed by CITB, is the largest multi-trade competition in the UK and brings together the top and brightest local talent within construction apprenticeship programmes across Northern Ireland.

The SkillBuild NI competitions held annually are designed to test skills, techniques and ability within specified timeframes and specialist areas ranging from wall and floor tiling to electrical.

SWC had competitors in bench joinery, site carpentry, plumbing, electrical, brickwork and plastering.

After an intense day of competition, SWC had great success with Andrew McCann and Daniel Knox scooping top awards in Plumbing and Electrical, respectively, winning the accolade of NI Apprentice of the year in both trade areas.

More success followed in site carpentry, with Darragh Donnelly scooping second place in the site carpentry competition.

The three winners may now have the opportunity to represent Northern Ireland in the Skillbuild UK and/or Skill M&E UK National Finals leading potentially to represent Team UK at WorldSkills international finals in France in 2024.

Chris Robinson, of the Work-Based Learning Centre for Excellence at the College, said, “The annual SkillBuild NI competitions are a terrific opportunity for SWC apprentices to showcase their skills and knowledge against the best of the best across the whole of Northern Ireland and their success is testament to the support and expert tutelage of their employers and tutors at South West College.”