As part of NI Apprenticeship Week taking place across the province, David Bateman Smith from Lisbellaw, a Level 3 Plumbing and Heating apprentice at South West College, shares how the apprenticeship route is setting him on the pathway to success.
Led by the Department of the Economy, NI Apprenticeship Week is an annual week-long celebration, running from 3-7 February 2025, which aims to raise the profile of apprenticeships across Northern Ireland by bringing together partners including local councils, employers, universities, further education colleges, and private training providers.
David began his journey into plumbing at Fivemiletown College, where he enrolled as an Entitlement Framework student, studying Level 1 Plumbing. His passion for the trade quickly became evident, enabling him to progress seamlessly to Level 2 at the SWC Enniskillen Technology and Skills Centre. Currently, David is in the final year of his Level 3 qualification at SWC.
Over the past three years, he has successfully balanced his studies with his role as an apprentice at Ashley McFarland Plumbing. David’s dedication, hard work, and exceptional skill in the trade were recognised when he won the Gold Medal in the plumbing category at the prestigious SkillBuild NI competition as well as a Gold Medal from the recent WorldSkills UK finals, held in Manchester.
This achievement came after months of local and regional qualifiers, culminating in a week of intense competition at the national finals. David's outstanding performance has also opened the possibility of selection for the WorldSkills UK international training and development programme. This opportunity could see him join Squad UK and potentially represent Team UK at WorldSkills Shanghai 2026.