Around 100 competitors from all over the Province tested their skills at Skillbuild 2013 which was held at Northern Regional College, Newtownabbey Campus on 20 & 21 March.

Skillbuild NI is held annually each spring, with the top local construction apprentices competing to win coveted titles in 12 different construction craft areas ranging from brickwork to wall and floor tiling. The winners may then go on to represent Northern Ireland in the UK Skillbuild Finals and potentially the UK at WorldSkills.

The Skillbuild NI competition not only encourages trainees to improve their own skills, but provides an example of the high quality work being produced in training organisations and colleges across NI. The Skillbuild test pieces are designed to challenge the ability of apprentices, testing skills within tight timeframes and the competitors are being continuously assessed throughout the 2 day competition.

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The competition has the support of local construction employers who sponsor each category and has the overall support from CITB-ConstructionSkills NI, Department for Employment and Learning, Construction Employers Federation, Haldane Fisher, Snickers Workwear and Colleges NI.

Presenting trophies to the winning competitors Dr Stephen Farry, Minister for Employment and Learning said: "Skills competitions are a very positive news story for Northern Ireland. They are a great way to showcase our vocational skills and demonstrate to employers and future investors the high standard of training provision which exists in our colleges and training organisations.

"We have a proud record of success at skills competitions not only on a local level but also on a regional, national and world level. Northern Ireland’s strong representation on Team UK is testament to the high standards of technical and professional training in our colleges. We look forward to building upon past successes, and hopefully bringing home more medals from WorldSkills in Leipzig, Germany this summer."

(CD)