Four apprentices from SERC recently showcased their technical expertise at the WorldSkills UK Automation Northern Ireland Heat.
The competition, hosted at SERC, saw two teams of SERC students take part, with no other colleges represented in this year’s heat.
The competitors, all Level 2/Level 3 Mechatronic Engineering Apprentices, were James King (from Donaghadee) and Christy Mallon from (Groomsport), both Bangor Campus, with (pictured above) Shane Travers (Lisburn) and Mark Sutherland (Newtownbreda) from Lisburn Campus.
Jonathan McEwan, Engineering Lecturer at SERC said, “During the practical competition, the teams were challenged on their understanding of logic circuits, design principles and fault-finding skills associated with industrial automation. Working in pairs, competitors were required to apply their knowledge and problem-solving abilities in a demanding but enjoyable environment designed to develop their technical skills further.”
He added, “The WorldSkills UK Automation competition provides a valuable opportunity for apprentices to test their abilities against industry standards while gaining hands-on experience in advanced engineering technologies. Participants are also encouraged to progress to related competitions such as Mechatronics and Industry 4.0, helping them further develop their skills and potentially access international competition opportunities.”
The SERC teams are now awaiting the results of the Northern Ireland heat. If successful, they will progress to the WorldSkills UK National Finals in Swansea, where they will compete against some of the most talented young engineers from across the UK.
Good luck to all participants from everyone at SERC.
