Students showcase skills at career show

Music student Matthew Duly, 20, and plasterer Ian Magee, 17, were among the Northern Ireland competitors who won a total of 19 medals at the WorldSkills UK show, held in Birmingham from November 14 - 16.

Lipstik Lizards, a band created by Whitehead resident Matthew and fellow students Daniel Thornton, Eoghan Johnson and Dean Ward, won the regional heat of the WorldSkills Popular Music competition in April.

The band, formed whilst studying their Level 3 Extended Diploma in Music, were awarded bronze at the prestigious competition.

Meanwhile, Ian was awarded gold in the Plastering and Drywall Systems category after competing against trainee plasterers from all over the UK.

During the competition, he had to complete a number of tasks including producing neat and accurate work, following detailed drawing instructions, being economical with materials, effective time management and work safety.

Ian secured a place in the WorldSkills UK Competitions after competing in regional heats throughout the UK earlier this year.

The WorldSkills show is the UK’s largest skills and careers event, which celebrates the importance of skills to economic growth. Taking part enables competitors to build on their skills, test their knowledge against their peers and showcase their potential to current and future employers.

During the three days of the show, over 700 of the UK’s most talented apprentices and learners competed in front of 100,000 visitors to be the best in the UK in their skill area.

Congratulating the local medal winners was Employment and Learning Minister Dr Stephen Farry.

“This is a great opportunity to showcase and celebrate the high level of skills we possess and the impressive talent of our workforce; it reflects the high standards of training in our colleges and the commitment to excellence demonstrated by the competitors,” he said. “Northern Ireland should feel very proud of such an inspiring performance on the UK stage.”