Skillbuild NI, which is organised by CITB NI and supported by the Department for the Economy, is an annual showcase competition for construction apprentices and apprentices from across Northern Ireland compete in different skills areas to qualify for the national Skillbuild finals and chance to compete against the top apprentices from all over the UK.
Ian began his career as a carpentry apprentice with Henry Bros in Magherafelt and worked his way up through the ranks to become general foreman. He stayed with the company for 17 years before establishing his own business in 1999. A few years later, when he started doing some part-time lecturing at Dungannon College, he got the taste for working in the FE sector. Although he says he really enjoyed working in the college environment and had the technical expertise and industrial experience to support his teaching in the workshop, without any formal academic qualifications, Ian was unable to apply for a full-time position.
He said: “I took the decision to go back to school myself and then spent the next four years studying to get the qualifications I needed to apply for a full-time post.”
The gamble paid off as when a full time lecturing post for Coleraine was advertised in 2006, Ian’s application was successful and he has been there ever since.
Last year, one of Ian’s protégés, second year carpentry apprentice Samuel Gilmore from Aghadowey, won the carpentry section at Skillbuild NI. Samuel was also named the Best Overall Skillbuild NI Young Apprentice of the Year 2018 and then went on win the gold medal at the UK National Finals of WorldSkills UK LIVE in Birmingham in November.
As a gold medal winner, Samuel, who is an apprentice with Mark Pollack, Kilrea, has now been invited back to this year’s World Skills UK LIVE finals in November to compete for a place in Squad UK and a chance to compete in the International WorldSkills competition in Shanghai in 2021.
Since 2016 Northern Regional College has been forging links with colleges in South Africa through an international skills initiative led by the British Council. The College is matched with Sekhukhune TVET College in South Africa and together the two colleges have worked together to establish a partnership focusing on carpentry and joinery. In February this year, Ian and Samuel were both invited to represent the College on a trip to South Africa to learn about the work of apprentices there.
Ian and Samuel, who were accompanied by Northern Regional College’s Assistant Head of Built Environment, David Russell, had the chance to observe at first hand the World Skills South Africa competition in Durban’s International Convention Centre and visit the Sekhukhune TVET College, as well as a number of training centres and busy local workshops.
Ian continued: “Opportunities like this to travel to far-flung countries are so beneficial for Northern Regional College. It was a real eye-opener for us and it is fantastic to be able to bring back firsthand knowledge to disseminate among other students and staff at the College. We were privileged to get such an insight into how colleges on the other side of the world operate.”