South West College Celebrates Daniels Success at WorldSkills Lyon 2024

South West College (SWC) proudly hosted a special celebration event to honour the outstanding achievement of former electrical student Daniel Knox, who was awarded a prestigious Medallion for Excellence in Electrical Installation at the WorldSkills Lyon 2024 competition.

Daniel, a 22-year-old from Enniskillen, was one of five talented students from Northern Ireland who represented Team UK at this year’s international event, held in Lyon, France. Known as the ‘Skills Olympics,’ WorldSkills 2024 brought together over 1,500 young professionals from 69 countries to compete across 62 different skills over four intense days, with more than 250,000 spectators in attendance.

Competing against the best in the Electrical Installation category, Daniel’s remarkable achievement was announced during the closing ceremony at the OL Arena in Lyon on Sunday, 15th September 2024. His success places him among the top electricians in the world, an achievement he accomplished in just two years.

To recognise Daniels success, SWC hosted a celebration event attended by Daniel’s family and friends, members of the college’s Senior Leadership Team, and representatives from the Sustainability, Construction and Transport department, including his tutor, Rodney Hicks. Also in attendance were Daniel’s employer, Gary Phair from GP Electrical and Security Ltd, and Jake Keyworth, Regional Director for Edmundson Electrical, the UK’s largest electrical wholesaler. In recognition of Daniel’s achievements, Edmundson Electrical presented him with a selection of high-quality tools to support the next stage of his career.

John Moss Head of Department Sustainability Construction and Transport said:

Daniel’s triumph is a testament to his exceptional skill and dedication, as well as the unwavering support from our staff, his employer GP Electrical and Security, and the invaluable encouragement of his family and friends. We wish Daniel continued success in his future endeavours."

Ben Blackledge, Chief Executive, WorldSkills UK said: “This is a fantastic result for the team and the UK as a whole. High quality skills development is crucial to growing the economy, and Team UK’s medal-winning performance in front of a global audience sends a strong message that the UK is a world-class place to invest, develop talent and create jobs.”

Freya Thomas Monk, Managing Director of Vocational Qualifications and Training at Pearson, said: “My warmest congratulations to Team UK for their impressive performance. I have really enjoyed the incredible sense of community and collaboration here in Lyon - WorldSkills is not just about celebrating achievements, it’s about sending a powerful message to governments, educators, and industries about the critical role of skills in driving economic growth and personal success. As a leader in lifelong learning, Pearson is proud to partner with WorldSkills UK.”

WorldSkills Lyon 2024 took place from 10 -15 September. The next WorldSkills Competition will take in 2026 in Shanghai, China. WorldSkills UK is a four nations partnership between education, industry and UK governments. It is a world-class skills network acting as a catalyst for raising standards through international benchmarking and professional development, championing future skills through analysis of rapidly changing economic demand and empowering young people from all backgrounds through competitions-based training and careers advocacy.