Construction Apprentices Join WorldSkills Squad For Germany

Seven of Northern Ireland’s topconstruction trainees have beenselected to join the UK Squad forthe next WorldSkills competition inLeipzig, Germany in 2013.

WorldSkills is the biggestinternational skills competition in the world. Held every two years in one of its 61 member countries/regions, the competition sees around 1000 young people aged 18 – 23 fromacross the globe come together tocompete for medals in more than 40 different trades and skills.

Squad UK WorldSkills Leipzig

2013 – Northern Ireland members:

• Mark Woods, South West

College – Wall and Floor Tiling

• Graham Burns, Southern

Regional College – Wall and

Floor Tiling

• Adrian Canning, North West

Regional College –

Electrical Installations

• Ken Wilson, Belfast Metropolitan College – Plastering and Dry Wall Systems
• Ryan O’Gorman, Southern

Regional College – Painting

And Decorating

• David Beattie, South West

College – Joinery

• Philip Glasgow, South West

College – Carpentry

Employment and LearningEmployment Minister, Dr StephenFarry, commending the trainees ontheir excellent achievement, said:“Northern Ireland’s strongrepresentation so far on Squad UKis testament to the high standardof vocational training in ourcolleges and training organisationsand the commitment to excellenceshown by our young people.Northern Ireland enjoys anexcellent track record atWorldSkills competitions and I amhopeful that this will continue.”

The Minister added: “All sevenNorthern Irish squad membersdeserve the highest of praise fortheir achievement in making it asfar as Squad UK to demonstratehow highly skilled they are. I wisheach squad member everysuccess in the training ahead andI look forward to following theirprogress in the lead up toWorldSkills Leipzig 2013.”

The members of Squad UK werechosen from among the UK’s mosttalented apprentices, employeesand learners after they competedin tough selection events heldthroughout the UK last month.They will now spend the next yearpreparing to take on the very bestfrom across the world, undergoinga specialised training programmesupported by a dedicated TrainingManager for each skill.

Squad UK competitors will compete for coveted places in Team UK at further selection events which will be held throughout the UK in 2013.

Team UK will then continueintensive training before competingon the world stage in Leipzig.Northern Ireland triumphed atWorldSkills London 2011, winninggold, silver and bronze medals aspart of Team UK. A gold medal inbricklaying was awarded to PhilipGreen, student at BelfastMetropolitan College and self-employed at DG Green and Sons,Lisburn. A silver medal inlandscape gardening went toJames Cuffey, while a Bronzemedal in refrigeration and air-conditioning was awarded to South Eastern Regional College student,Stuart Millar from Loughgall.