A carpentry trainee at South Eastern Regional College in Ballynahinch, Luke Hawthorne, was amongst 30 construction trainees commended for their hard work and dedication by Employment and Learning Minister Dr Stephen Farry at a construction training showcase open evening held at North West Regional College, Limavady.

Some 24 of the best young construction apprentices from across the UK, including five from Northern Ireland, travelled to Limavady to undergo four days of intensive training ahead of selection competitions for the Team which will represent the UK in WorldSkills in London in October.

This is the first time that a Worldskills Squad UK training camp has been held in Northern Ireland.

Speaking at the open evening, at which members of the public got the opportunity to watch the trainees at work and 'have a go' at taster sessions in a range of construction skills, Dr Farry said: "The selection of North West Regional College to showcase the best of UK Construction skills is an acknowledgement of the high quality within our education and training systems in professional and technical areas coupled with the state-of-the-art facilities in the FE sector in Northern Ireland."

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In total 14 young people from Northern Ireland are on the UK Squad for WorldSkills London, in disciplines ranging from cookery, engineering, car painting, and landscape gardening as well as the construction trades.

The Team which will eventually represent the UK at WorldSkills will be announced at the end of June. Dr Farry said: "Skills competitions are a key tool in raising standards of training, promoting skills, up-skilling the workforce, enhancing business performance in the economy and showcasing the opportunities that a vocational career route can offer. Northern Ireland has a proud record at WorldSkills and I look forward to building upon past successes at WorldSkills London in October."

North West Regional College Principal and Chief Executive Seamus Murphy, said: "I am delighted to welcome the members of Squad UK to the Limavady Campus, and for the opportunity to showcase the excellence there is within construction skills. North West Regional College is committed to providing the highest quality of education and training, and involvement in skills competitions has proven to be a great benefit for our students and staff. I wish all the competitors well in the contest to represent the UK at WorldSkills 2011."

(CD/BMcC)