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Students from Southern Regional College have delivered another impressive performance at the WorldSkills UK National Finals, securing second place on the national leaderboard for the second year running and maintaining their top two position amongst colleges and universities across the UK for the past four years.
The College's competitors particularly excelled in Mechatronics and Automotive Refinishing categories during the competition, which saw over 400 finalists compete in 40 different skills categories across four venues in Wales from 25-28 November.
Ross Graham, 22, from Banbridge and Carter McKnight, 22, from Moira claimed gold in Mechatronics, improving on their bronze medal from the previous year. Graham is currently studying the Engineering BEng level 6 degree at the College's Newry campus, while McKnight is furthering his knowledge on programmable logistics controllers at the College having completed his Engineering (Mechatronics) Level 5 Foundation Degree during the summer.
In Automotive Refinishing, apprentice Jack Harvison, 19, from Dungannon secured gold on his debut appearance at the national finals. Harvison is undertaking the Vehicle Accident Repair Paint Principles Level 3 Apprenticeship at the College's dedicated Portadown training facilities.
Bronze medals were secured by Matthew Conn, 21, from Waringstown and Phillip Fee, 28, from Dromore, both competing in Automation. The pair are currently in the second year of the Engineering (Mechatronics) Level 5 Foundation Degree at the Portadown campus. Body Repair apprentice Joseph Cullen, 20, from Portadown also claimed bronze in the Automotive Panel Repair category. All three were competing at the national finals for the first time.
Mrs Lee Campbell, Principal and Chief Executive of Southern Regional College, said: "For Southern Regional College to secure second place on the WorldSkills UK national leaderboard is an incredible achievement and a testament to the dedication, talent, and resilience of our students and staff. To be ranked in the top two for four consecutive years shows not only consistency in excellence but also a deep commitment to preparing our learners with the skills and confidence they need to thrive in a competitive world. I could not be prouder - this recognition reflects their hard work, creativity, and unwavering drive to succeed."
Ben Blackledge, Chief Executive of WorldSkills UK, said: "Congratulations to all those who participated in the WorldSkills UK national competitions. They have demonstrated their skills at the highest level and these exceptional young people represent the future of our economy. They are the new generation of highflyers that will give UK employers a competitive edge. Our competitions, based on global standards, play a vital role in developing the skills that will drive investment, create jobs, and fuel economic growth."
Medallists were announced at a glittering ceremony at the ICC Wales on Friday 28 November, bringing the four-day competition to a close and cementing Southern Regional College's position as one of the leading institutions for vocational skills training in the UK.
