Write a commentPlumbing apprentices Shane Branagan and Gary Doyle from Southern Regional College have started the final stage in getting a dream trip to Brazil.
Gary from Ballyward and Shane from Hilltown are the final two competitors in the selection process to be the UK Worldskills Plumbing representative at the World Skills competition, which will take place in Sao Paulo, Brazil in August. Worldskills is held every two years and in 2015 it will be held in Brazil. Worldskills showcase the skills of young people and over one-thousand 18-25 year olds across the globe compete in over 40 skills events ranging from Aircraft Maintenance and Beauty Therapy to Web Design and Welding.
Gary, who is employed by Kieran Trainor Plumbing and Heating, and Shane who works for Martin Johnston Plumbing and Heating, have defeated competitors from across England, Scotland and Wales and now go head-to-head to see who will go forward to Brazil.
This is the first time that two competitors from Northern Ireland have made it through to this stage of the selection process for Plumbing and what makes it more unique, is that both are from the same College. Tutor Ronnie Ferris stated “This is a credit to the hard work and dedication that both Gary and Shane have put in over the past three years since joining the College. They also require the help of their employers Kieran and Martin for their support and understanding, as quite a lot of time is involved training and travelling.”
Gary and Shane have won numerous competitions and awards at both local and national level since they commenced their apprenticeships and they now go to Brazil and Germany for two-weeks intensive training with the Brazilian and German squads as this is part of the final elimination process. There will be further training events over the coming months one of which will take place at the SRC Greenbank campus in March, before a decision is reached in May.
