South West College (SWC) apprentices and trainees recently showcased their skills at the Construction Industry Training Board NI (CITB NI) annual SkillBuild NI Intercampus Competition 2026, hosted at the College’s Enniskillen Campus.

The competition brought together construction students from SWC’s Omagh, Dungannon and Enniskillen campuses, who competed across a range of construction disciplines in a highly competitive, skills-based environment.

Supported by the Department for the Economy and delivered by CITB NI, SkillBuild NI is the UK’s largest multi-trade construction competition, providing a prestigious platform to highlight the region’s emerging construction talent and future workforce.

Students competed across a range of trade categories including Brickwork, Cabinet Making, Plumbing, Electrical Installation, Plastering, Joinery Bench and Joinery Site. On the day, participants undertook a series of timed practical assessments designed to test technical ability, precision and industry-standard skills. All competitors received certificates in recognition of their achievement, with winners announced in each trade area.


In the Joinery Bench competition, Level 3 Joinery apprentices and trainees Peter McGowan (Enniskillen) secured first place, followed by Caleb Kerrigan (Omagh) in second and Cian Brogan (Enniskillen) in third.

The Plastering competition saw Level 3 apprentices Matthew Sloan (Enniskillen) claim first place, with Peter Bryant (Enniskillen) second and Matthew Reynolds (Enniskillen) third.

In the Cabinet Making category, Level 2 and 3 Joinery apprentices Daniel Irwin (Omagh) achieved first place, while Alex McGowan (Enniskillen) secured second.

The Brickwork competition was won by Level 3 Omagh campus apprentice Tiarnan McCusker, who achieved gold. Padraig Dillon secured silver and Nathan Hunter bronze, with all three apprentices employed by Kildrum Builders Ltd.

In Plumbing, Level 2 and 3 apprentices Tristan McGrath (Omagh) claimed first place, followed by Eoin Ferguson (Enniskillen) in second and Krystian Kazmierski (Omagh) in third.

The Joinery Site competition was won by Level 3 apprentice Luke Swift (Enniskillen), with Jason Allen (Dungannon) in second place and Sean Paul McKernan (Dungannon) in third.

In the Electrical Installation category, Level 3 apprentice Lorcan Meegan (Omagh) secured first place, followed by Jake Devlin (Dungannon) in second and Thomas O’Hagan (Omagh) in third.

Category winners may now have the opportunity to progress to the next stage of the competition, taking an important step on the pathway towards the prestigious WorldSkills arena. At this level, top-performing students are benchmarked against peers from Further Education colleges across Northern Ireland, with the opportunity to advance to national and potentially international competition.

John Moss, Head of Department, Sustainability, Construction and Transport at South West College, said:

“We are delighted to see so many of our students participating and competing at this level. Their exceptional performance is a testament to their hard work and dedication, as well as the high-quality training and support provided by both the College and their employers.

At South West College, we recognise that these competitions do more than showcase talent, they develop essential skills such as resilience, self-confidence and effective communication, all of which are vital for academic success and future careers.

Congratulations to all participants, and best wishes to those advancing to the next stage of the competition.”

SkillBuild NI continues to play a vital role in raising standards across the construction sector, inspiring excellence, and supporting the development of the next generation of skilled professionals.

Construction Trades