News

Apprentice electrician Daniel Knox of GP Electrical & Security, Enniskillen and South West College, Northern Ireland, has been selected to represent the UK at the EuroSkills 2023 competition taking place in Gdansk, Poland this September.

Past-SkillELECTRIC competitor Daniel, will be part of a 20-strong ‘Team UK’ with fellow competitors from different skills and specialisms, from engineering to creative

EuroSkills, Europe’s largest vocational education and skills excellence event, will welcome 600 skilled young professionals under the age of 25 from 32 countries, to participate in competitions and demonstrations in 43 different skills and trades. Around 100,000 visitors from across Poland and Europe are expected to attend the event between 05-09 September.

Explaining more about the task Daniel will have to tackle during the competition, Geoff Shaw, WorldSkills UK Training Manager said: “So far we have covered a variety of activities including technical and time management, which are both crucial components of the competition. Currently our main focus is looking at control circuits and the interworkings of different building automation devices. Daniel has settled well into Squad UK and has embraced the challenges and opportunity this offers.”

Speaking about his involvement in the competition, Daniel said: “My training with Geoff has been very enjoyable so far and the amount I have learnt has without a doubt helped me improve in my career as an Electrician. Outside of the face-to-face and remote training sessions, I have been refreshing my memory by drawing and wiring control circuits at home and looking over paperwork from previous jobs completed in training weeks.

“I’d like to say thank you to my boss Gary Phair who has been very supportive in this venture, I have been very fortunate he has supported every step of my training to prepare for EuroSkills. As the competition becomes closer the realisation of what I am a part of is starting to sink in!”

“I’m delighted and proud that Daniel has been selected to represent the UK at EuroSkills Gdańsk 2023,” said Gary Phair, Managing Director of GP Electrical & Security. “This is a wonderful achievement for Daniel, and we are so pleased by the recognition of the effort he has put into both his studies and on-the-job training.

“GP Electrical & Security Ltd is very enthusiastic about the apprenticeship system, having trained and supported many apprentices over the years, and it’s always very rewarding to see our apprentices reaching the high professional standards required, not just by us as an employer, but the whole industry as a profession we can be proud of. Daniel thoroughly deserves his place in the team for his motivation, knowledge, and the meticulous installation work we have seen first-hand here at GP Electrical. The whole company is thrilled for him!

“National and international training and competition events such as this are a great way to support classroom and practical training. It’s great to see the skills of regional students and apprentices showcased on an international level, and we wish Daniel and Team UK all the very best of luck, and especially hope Daniel and the team have a great experience in Poland!”

Watch this space for more news as Daniel completes his training programme in preparation for EuroSkills. We wish him all the best!