Former South West College electrical student Daniel Knox, a 22-year-old from Enniskillen has been awarded a Medallion for Excellence in Electrical Installation at the prestigious WorldSkills Lyon 2024 competition. Daniel was one of five students from Northern Ireland who represented Team UK at this year’s international event, held in Lyon, France. Known as the ‘Skills Olympics,’ WorldSkills saw over 1,500 young professionals from 69 countries compete across 62 different skills over four intense days, with more than 250,000 spectators in attendance.

Competing against highly skilled tradespeople in the Electrical Installation category, Daniel’s impressive achievement was announced during the closing ceremony at the OL Arena in Lyon on Sunday, 15th September 2024.

Daniel, who works for GP Electrical and Security Ltd and trained at South West College, Enniskillen, has risen from apprentice to one of the top electricians in the world in just two years. Encouraged by his lecturer to participate in Northern Ireland’s inter-college skills competitions, Daniel quickly discovered his talent for competing. His journey to WorldSkills Lyon began with his victory at the WorldSkills UK national competition, which secured him a place on Team UK. This opened the door for advanced training in Abu Dhabi and the chance to compete at EuroSkills Gdańsk 2023, where he was awarded a Medallion for Excellence, meeting the European standard in Electrical Installation a true testament to his exceptional skill and ability to perform at a world-class level.

Congratulating Daniel and Team UK, Christopher Robinson, Head of Work-Based Learning at South West College, said:

"Daniel's remarkable achievement, along with Team UK's success in securing multiple medals, highlights the immense value of participating in prestigious national and international events like WorldSkills.

These competitions not only enhance the quality of college education and practical training but also allow us to showcase the exceptional talents of students and apprentices from our region on the global stage. Their accomplishments elevate the standards of our apprenticeship system, while also instilling pride in us and in the wider industry.

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.

Electrical