Northern Regional College student Charlie Fleck from Ballymena who secured a bronze medal in Joinery at the prestigious SkillBuild National Final 2024
Northern Regional College is proud to celebrate the success of Ballymena student Charlie Fleck, who secured a bronze medal in Joinery at the prestigious SkillBuild National Final 2024.
Held at the Marshall Arena in Milton Keynes, this renowned competition brings together the UK’s most talented construction apprentices to showcase their skills on a national stage.
Charlie, a Level 2 apprentice based at the College’s Ballymena campus, is employed by Mivan, a leading luxury fit-out and joinery specialist based in Antrim.
His dedication, technical skill, and professionalism earned him well-deserved recognition at this highly competitive event.
Organised by the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB), SkillBuild is the UK’s largest multi-trade skills competition. Participants faced intense challenges, completing intricate projects designed by an expert judging panel under tight timeframes and adhering to rigorous health and safety standards.
Helen Hampsey, Assistant Curriculum Director at Northern Regional College, who attended the competition, praised Charlie’s achievement:
"It was inspiring to witness Charlie’s incredible talent and determination firsthand. His success at the SkillBuild National Final is a testament to his hard work and the strength of the partnership between Northern Regional College, his employer Mivan, and the wider industry.
“Competitions like this highlight the vital role of education and industry collaboration in shaping the next generation of skilled professionals."
Barry Neilson OBE, Chief Executive of CITB NI, also commended the participants:
"Huge congratulations to all the competitors. It is a fantastic achievement to compete at this level and represent their colleges, employers, and trades. At a time when the industry is experiencing a skills shortage, supporting and celebrating this next generation of talent is more important than ever."
Charlie’s accomplishment underscores Northern Regional College’s commitment to excellence in vocational education and training, fostering skilled professionals to address the construction industry’s growing demands.
Looking ahead, Northern Regional College is preparing for the 2025 SkillBuild NI Inter-Campus Competitions in January/February and the Regional Final in Spring 2025, providing more opportunities for aspiring tradespeople to showcase their talents.