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Two students from the SRC Newry campus have been named as finalists in the WorldSkills UK National Finals 2026. Ruby Elliott (20) and Kate Mooney (19) will compete in the Laboratory Technician and Beauty Therapy categories respectively after progressing through entry stage and regional qualifiers earlier this year.
Elliott is currently in the first year of her Applied Science, Analytical Foundation Degree Higher Level Apprenticeship, and will compete in the Laboratory Technician category. Mooney, a Beauty Therapy Level 2 Trainee, will compete in the Beauty Therapy category. Both are one of eight finalists in their respective categories, having seen off competition from around the UK, and will now undertake further training ahead of the National Finals, which will be held in venues in South Wales from 17 to 20 November 2026.
The WorldSkills UK competitions are designed by industry experts to help young people develop technical and employability skills, and to support investment, jobs and economic growth.
Mrs Lee Campbell, Principal and Chief Executive of Southern Regional College, congratulated the pair on reaching the finals. "Congratulations to both Ruby and Katie for reaching the National Finals of WorldSkills UK. It is a significant milestone to have reached this stage of such a prestigious competition, and I look forward to seeing them demonstrate their exceptional skills in November." She added: "Their success reflects not only their own hard work and commitment, but also the high-quality teaching, training and support provided by our staff. We wish them every success as they prepare to compete against the very best young talent from around the UK."
Mark Smallman, Operations Director at WorldSkills UK, also congratulated this year's finalists. "Congratulations to everyone who has secured a place in this year's WorldSkills UK National Finals. Reaching this stage is a fantastic achievement and recognition that you are among the UK's most talented apprentices and students. Every finalist should be incredibly proud of what they've accomplished." He added: "Our competitions recreate the pace, pressures and standards of the workplace, challenging competitors to solve problems, think critically and perform at their very best. It's encouraging to see the diversity of learners taking part continue to increase, reflecting the growing reach of skills excellence around the UK. That's why organisations are embracing skills competitions as part of their teaching practices, they see first-hand how the experience builds confidence, resilience and the skills people need to be truly work ready."
