SRC Apprentices Achieve Strong Results at Northern Ireland SkillBuild Regional Competition
21st May 2026
Twenty-three students from Southern Regional College (SRC) competed in the Northern Ireland SkillBuild Regional Competition on Tuesday 19 May 2026, joining more than 100 construction apprentices from across Northern Ireland in twelve specialist competition categories.
The awards, announced by journalist and presenter Sarah Travers, seen seven students from SRC placing in their respective categories. They were:
| Skill Category | Place | Name | Course | Campus |
| Wall & Floor Tiling | 1st | Alan Holubowicz | Wall & Floor Tiling Level 2 Diploma Apprenticeship | Greenbank |
| Electrical Installation | 2nd | Thomas Parks | ElectroTechnical (Electrical Installation) Level 3 Diploma Apprenticeship | Portadown |
| Plumbing | 2nd | Jake Elliott | Domestic Plumbing & Heating Level 3 Diploma Apprenticeship | Greenbank |
| Bricklaying | 3rd | Ruairi McAvoy | Bricklaying (Construction) Level 3 Diploma Apprenticeship | Greenbank |
| Electrical Installation | 3rd | Jack Sterritt | ElectroTechnical (Electrical Installation) Level 3 Diploma Apprenticeship | Armagh |
| Joinery | 3rd | Taylor Crooks | Bench Joinery (Construction) Level 3 Diploma Apprenticeship | Armagh |
| Wall & Floor Tiling | 3rd | Kristopher McIlrath | Wall & Floor Tiling Level 2 Diploma Apprenticeship | Greenbank |
This year’s regional competition was held in SRC’s Greenbank campus. Organised by the Construction Industry Training Board NI (CITB NI) and supported by the Department for the Economy, the competition is designed to test skills, technique and ability to work within tight timeframes, as well as raising the status and standards of professional and technical education and training.
The competition identifies the top performers in 12 different trade areas being; Brickwork, Furniture & Cabinet Making, Carpentry, Electrical Installation, Fire Installation, Painting & Decorating, Security Installation, Joinery, Plastering, Drylining, Plumbing, Wall & Floor Tiling.
Those placing at the competition may have the opportunity to represent Northern Ireland in the SkillBuild UK national final held 17-19 November 2026 in Milton Keynes.
Gary Mackin, Head of Faculty for Building Technology & Engineering at Southern Regional College commented:
“SkillBuild gives students the opportunity to test their skills in a competitive environment and measure themselves against some of the best apprentices from across Northern Ireland. To have seven SRC students place in their categories is a strong achievement and reflects the hard work, commitment and professionalism they bring to their trade. We are proud of every student who represented the College and grateful to our staff and industry partners who continue to support and develop the next generation of skilled professionals.”
Barry Neilson OBE, Chief Executive CITB NI, said:
“Congratulations to all the apprentices who took part in the SkillBuild NI Regional Qualifier Competition 2026. The competition is a fantastic opportunity for apprentices to showcase their skills, connect with other like-minded individuals and demonstrate their commitment to building a career in the construction industry.”
“Events like this play an important role in encouraging and developing the next generation of talent, which is vital for supporting industry growth and shaping the future workforce. I would like to thank our partners CITB (GB) and SRC for their continued support, the Department for Economy and industry sponsors and we look forward to the SkillBuild UK National Finals in November.”
