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Home / News / Northern Regional College apprentices bring home silver and two bronze at Skillbuild NI 2017

Northern Regional College apprentices bring home silver and two bronze at Skillbuild NI 2017

Tuesday

Northern Regional College apprentices were amongst over 75 local construction apprentices who gathered their tools to compete against each other in the annual Skillbuild NI National Finals held in Southern Regional College, Portadown on 24th March 2017. Skillbuild NI, which is now in its fortieth year, is supported by the Department for the Economy helping to assist with maintaining and raising the status and standards of professional and technical education and training. The competition, run and governed by CITB NI, is held annually each spring with many winners progressing further to represent Northern Ireland in the Skills Show UK and potentially at WorldSkills.

The Skillbuild NI competition is designed to test skills, technique and ability within tight timeframes in order to win coveted titles in 11 different trades ranging from brickwork to wall and floor tiling.

Brickwork trainee, Andrew McSorley collected silver and his fellow apprentice Cameron Waring picked up bronze.  Further success was attained in the Carpentry category where Patrick McCloskey was awarded bronze.

Matthew Murray, Head of Department for Engineering and the Built Environment congratulated each trainee on their achievement.  “We are delighted to have picked up three awards at the SkillbuildNI event.  The quality of work is always of the highest standard and to be awarded any medal is an excellent achievement for the students and their tutors.  All their hard work and dedication has paid off and encourages trainees to improve their skills for their career development.” 

The competition has the support of local construction employers who sponsor each category.

Maurice Johnston, Chairman CITB NI said: “CITB NI is proud to have been involved in construction skills competitions for 40 years.  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. Skillbuild NI gives all the competitors a chance to showcase their skills and we congratulate everyone who has taken part and those who have excelled in their trade. 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 at this competition.  We would also like to extend our best wishes to the Northern Ireland competitors who will be taking part in UK team selection for WorldSkills Abu Dhabi in October. Our young people are more ambitious now than ever and we hope that Skillbuild NI National Finals will be part of their journey and future careers within the construction industry.”