Gold and multiple honours for SWC students at WorldSkills UK National Finals

Students from South West College (SWC) have achieved outstanding success at the WorldSkills UK National Finals 2025, delivering exceptional performances across a range of competitive disciplines. Teagan Dorman, Odhran McCluskey, Tristan McGrath, Oudette Ferran, and Cathal Connolly secured top spots.

The event, held recently across five venues in South Wales, brought together more than four hundred learners and apprentices competing in 47 skills areas spanning engineering, construction, digital, hospitality, the creative industries, and more.

SWC competitors took part in a variety of disciplines, including Plumbing and Heating, Employment, Training and Personal Development, Automation, Mechatronics, and Restaurant Skills.

The College’s strongest result came in the Automation category, where Dungannon campus students Teagan Dorman and Odhran McCluskey secured gold. Both are second-year Engineering Foundation Degree students and apprentices with Mallaghan Engineering.

Success continued within the Plumbing competition, where Omagh apprentice Tristan McGrath, employed by DH Mechanical & Ventilation, was awarded Highly Commended for his impressive performance.

In the hospitality category, Oudette Ferran, who is studying for the Ulster University Foundation Degree in Science in Hospitality & Tourism Management at the Enniskillen Erne Campus, also achieved Highly Commended in the Restaurant Service competition.

Omagh student Cathal Connolly, from the Level 1 Diploma in Skills for Employment, Training and Personal Development, secured third place in Digital: Foundation Skills, further adding to the College’s strong representation across the finals.

Louise Higgins, Work-Based Learning Programmes Team Lead at SWC, added:

“Participating in these competitions not only highlights our students’ talents on a UK-wide platform, but also provides an invaluable opportunity to develop new and innovative methods of learning. This experience boosts their confidence and opens doors to a wide range of future pathways, whether progressing to higher education or entering the workforce.”

Higher Level Apprenticeship Programme Manager, Noreen McGirr, also expressed her congratulations:

“It is fantastic to see so many of our students excelling at this level. The apprenticeship and HLA provision at our College, where academic study and workplace training go hand in hand, has enabled our apprentices to progress at an exceptional pace. Their remarkable performance at the national competitions is a true testament to their dedication and the high-quality training delivered by both the College and their employers.”

Medallists were officially announced at a celebration ceremony at ICC Wales on Friday 28 November, marking the end of four days of competition and shining a spotlight on the importance of vocational skills training across the UK.