Apprentice skills showcased at Regional Finals

A local apprentice from SERC’s Lisburn campus has taken part in the prestigious SPARKS UK Electrical Apprentice of the Year Competition Regional Finals.  

Ryan Adamson is currently studying Level 3 Apprenticeship in Electrical Installation and was put forward for the SPARKS UK Electrical Apprentice of the Year Competition by his lecturers.  

The SPARKS UK Electrical Apprentice of the Year competitions gives participants the chance to be recognised for their hard work and skills. It’s a great opportunity for lecturers, employers, industry leaders and manufacturers to get involved and support the next generation of electricians.  

Ryan took part in regional heats where he competed against apprentices from across Northern Ireland and was competing for a place in the Grand Final which will be held at 3M Customer Innovation Centre in Bracknell.  

The UK competition is organised every year by SPARKS Magazine for level 2 or 3 students.  

The competition required the apprentices to perform an install in a similar environment which reflects on-site conditions by placing them in a confined space with the minimum amount of materials required and a time limit of six hours. This challenged the ability of the apprentices to follow detailed instructions and produce neat and accurate work – all essential requirements for today’s construction environment.   

John Nixon SERC Head of school for Construction and Engineering services said: “Students get a lot out of competitions. They make new friends, gain confidence in their abilities and enjoy the challenge of the competition.  

“It also provides a unique stage for trainees to showcase their skills and expertise and motivates them to reach the highest standards in trade careers. Well done to all the students who took part.”  

Apart from the prestige of being crowned the SPARKS UK Electrical Apprentice of the Year, the winner is set to walk away with prizes worth over £8000 from the competition’s sponsors and contributing manufacturers who are all major industry names, including Platinum sponsor Schneider Electric.