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A group of twenty talented students from Southern Regional College are on their way to showcase their skills at WorldSkills UK, a prestigious technical skills competition that is often called the ‘Skills Olympics’. The students will face their peers from all over the UK in a variety of specialist skill areas, ranging from bricklaying to forensic science and joinery & cabinet making.
To make it to WorldSkills UK competition, fourteen of the selected students were successful in regional competitions held across Northern Ireland. These students will now head to Manchester from 14th - 17th November to compete in the national competition.
Six students competing in the SkillBuild National Final (construction areas) will instead compete in Milton Keynes from 21st to 23rd November. These students were also required to be top achievers in their chosen areas in the SkillBuild regional finals held earlier this year. Final results are expected to be announced on the last day of each competition.
SRC has high hopes for its students this year after being attributed with the title “Number One College in the UK” in 2022. Students have been in training for the past several months, often undertaking additional training to ensure their skills are sharpened going into the national competition.
Local students from the Newry area include Hannah Hillis from Poyntzpass, Jason McVerry from Belleeks and Marcus McKay from Newry City.
Hannah is competing with the Health and Social Care category. Despite only being 17 years old Hannah is mature beyond her years, having taken up a position in Brooklands Nursing Home in 2022. Hannah is taking what she has learnt from the regional competition and improving upon her skillset to be ready to take on competitors at the national competition. So why did Hannah choose to undertake a course in Health and Social Care? Hannah says;
“Just seeing the impact I can make in someone's life felt really fulfilling and rewarding and I knew instantly that health and social care was what I wanted to pursue.”
Mechatronics student Jason McVerry will team up with another student to build an automated process. The competition will test his understanding of logic circuits, design and fault-finding skills in a challenging environment. Jason previously participated in Worldskills UK back in 2022, winning a bronze medal. In this year’s competition he is hopeful that he will improve on his prior year performance.
Similarly, hospitality student Marcus McKay will be expected to showcase his talent focusing on all the essential requirements for embarking on a career within the hospitality industry.
Lindsay Bronte, Development Manager at Southern Regional College commented "The selection of numerous students from SRC for the WorldSkills UK competition is truly a remarkable feat. This competition serves as a platform for students to exhibit not only their technical prowess but also invaluable soft skills, ranging from critical thinking to effective time management. Undoubtedly, participating in this competition will significantly enhance their career prospects, as they have consistently showcased their competence and expertise to their tutors and judges during the regional competitions. I extend my best wishes to all our competitors; regardless of the outcome, they have brought immense pride to both themselves and SRC."
Raymond Sloan, Principal & Chief Executive of Southern Regional College commented “I am immensely proud of our exceptional students who will be representing Southern Regional College and Northern Ireland at the upcoming WorldSkills UK finals. These remarkable individuals have showcased their unwavering dedication, remarkable talent, and relentless pursuit of excellence. They exemplify the spirit of our College, embodying the values of innovation, perseverance, and collaboration. I have no doubt that they will achieve great results during the competition, showcasing the exceptional skills and knowledge they have acquired during their time with us. Their commitment to honing their craft and their ability to rise to the challenge is a testament to the transformative power of education. I wish them every success in this prestigious competition, and I am confident that they will not only make our college proud but also inspire others with their remarkable achievements”.
