The prestigious annual SkillBuild NI Finals, organised by the Construction Industry Training Board NI (CITB NI) in partnership with North West Regional College (NWRC), recently showcased the outstanding talent and professionalism within Northern Ireland’s construction apprenticeship programs.
Held at the NWRC Greystone Campus in Limavady in May, this highly anticipated competition brought together over 90 of the region’s brightest recruits and top performers across various construction disciplines. The event featured intense competiton in categories such as Brickwork, Cabinet Making, Carpentry, Electrical Installation, Joinery, Painting & Decorating, Plastering Dry Wall Systems, Plastering, Plumbing and Wall & Floor Tiling.
There were 11 first place winners in the categories and Conor Dallas, Northern Regional College, was awarded Overall Young Apprentice of the Year alongside second place in the joinery category.
Supported by the Department for the Economy and local construction companies, the competition provides an opportunity to showcase the high level of skills and the impressive talent within the workforce, as well as raising the status and standards of professional and technical education and training. The SkillBuild NI Finals is part of a regional qualifier. Winners from the NI finals may have the opportunity to represent Northern Ireland in the SkillBuild UK National Finals, which will take place at the Marshall Arena in Milton Keynes on 21, 22 and 23 November, 2023
Barry Neilson, Chief Executive CITB NI, congratulated all apprentices who took part in the SkillBuild NI 2023 competitions, praising the incredible amount of talent on display. Adding, “It was great to see the enthusiasm and commitment from a new generation of construction industry leaders – the future of the industry is looking very bright! Apprentices at all levels are a vital component to helping the construction industry develop and grow.”
Dr. Catherine O’Mullan, Director of Curriculum and Academic Standards at North West Regional College said NWRC was honoured to host the competition, adding, “This competition demonstrates excellence in construction skills training at all Northern Ireland’s Further Education Colleges. The standard of work on display was exceptional and I wish all the winners every success as they progress to the next stage of the national competitions. I would also like to thank the teams at NWRC and CITB NI for their work in bringing this prestigious competition to the North West.”
For further details on SkillBuild NI and CITB NI support for apprenticeships and employers visit, www.citbni.org.uk Follow CITBNI on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn #SkillBuildNI2023.
