Trevor Woods, a joinery apprentice from Co Fermanagh, has won a coveted bronze medal at the WorldSkills competition in Calgary.

Trevor, a City and Guilds qualified apprentice employed by McAleer and Teague, Dromore, beat some of the best young skilled people in the world to win the medal at the biggest global skills based competition.

He competed as part of the 26 strong UK WorldSkills team which won, in total, nine medals.

Employment and Learning Minister, Sir Reg Empey, who supported Trevor during the competition offered his congratulations.

"The standard of skills that I witnessed in Calgary was extremely high, and Trevor should feel very proud that his commitment and hard work have paid off to make him the best in the world."

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Bill McGinnis, attending the event in his role as the Northern Ireland Adviser on Employment and Skills said: "This excellent achievement will also have obvious benefits for Trevor's employers, McAleer and Teague, who should be commended for their support.

"I would encourage individuals and employers, across all sectors in Northern Ireland, to recognise the benefits that can be gained from upskilling and participating on the global stage."

David Cooper Chairman of Skillbuild NI said: "Trevor has worked extremely hard over the last twelve months to perfect his skills and has now been acknowledged by winning a Worldskills Bronze medal.

"We are thrilled that having demonstrated his skills on the local stage at the Skillbuild Northern Ireland Competition, Trevor has been able to achieve such success on a world stage."

WorldSkills takes place every two years, with nearly 1,000 competitors from 51 countries, competing in skills ranging from bricklaying to landscape gardening, cooking and floristry.

(PR/KMcA)