Other Northern Regional College medal winners at the NI Finals were Derek Mc Mullan from Glenarm, Andrew McSorley from Carrickfergus and Abigail Reilly from Ballymoney.
Derek and Andrew, who are both second year apprentices, were awarded gold and bronze medals respectively in brickwork. Abigail, who was the College’s only female representative in the finals, won a bronze medal in plumbing and was the only first year apprentice across all the skills areas to get among the medals.
Congratulating all the participants at the NI Finals and in particular the College medal winners, Matt Murray, Head of Engineering and Built Environment at Northern Regional College, said:
“Competitions like Skillbuild are an excellent way for our students to enhance their skills and knowledge and we encourage them to participate. They contribute to the learners’ experience and improves their confidence, while providing the students with an opportunity to test their skills against their peers from other Colleges.”
Skillbuild NI is an annual showcase competition, organised by CITB NI and supported by the Department for the Economy, to help assist with maintaining and raising the status and standards of professional and technical education and training. Regional winners now progress to represent Northern Ireland at Skills Show UK later this year and a chance of secure a coveted place at the WorldSkills finals in Russia.
Maurice Johnston, Chairman CITB NI said: “Skills competitions are a very positive news story for Northern Ireland. They are a great 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.”
Northern Regional College Carpentry Apprentice is NI’s Top Apprentice
Wednesday
28th March 2018
Northern Regional College Apprentices excelled at Skillbuild NI National Finals collecting two gold and two bronze medals, as well as the accolade of Best Overall Apprentice. Samuel Gilmore, who is a second year carpentry apprentice with Mark Pollock, won gold in the carpentry and, beating off the challenge from over 70 construction apprentices in ten different trades including carpentry, joinery, brickwork, plumbing, electrical installation, wall and floor tiling, lifted the Haldene Fisher Cup for the Best Overall Skillbuild NI Young Apprentice of the Year.
