Last week six construction students from University College Isle of Man visited Jersey for the inaugural Pan-Island Skills Test, which saw students from across the IOM and Channel Islands compete against each other and the clock.
Students Luke Clayton, Connor Watson, Liam Wood, Scott Moffatt, Jacob Preston and Harrison Kirk competed in the event, with Luke taking second place in Carpentry and Joinery and Harrison taking second place in Plumbing.
The competition, which aimed to showcase and celebrate the diverse talents of young individuals pursuing vocational skills in carpentry and joinery, plumbing and electrical installation, was a collaborative initiative bringing together students from Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man.
Support from Construction Isle of Man (CIOM), which covered travel and accommodation costs, enabled the students to attend this year’s event in Jersey, with Channel Islands companies Cloc Romerils, Pentafix, CEF and Normans also sponsoring the event locally.
Sam Warren, Head of the Environment and Sustainability Faculty said: ‘We’re so proud of the hard work of our students; they’ve not only done themselves proud but they’ve also flown the flag for the Isle of Man’s construction industry. We would like to also thank CIOM for their kind sponsorship, which has meant the students could attend and the Isle of Man had a presence at this Pan-Island Skills test.
‘Before the Covid-19 pandemic, we held a skills test with students from Jersey visiting us so it’s fantastic to see this initiative growing. We’re already looking forward to next year’s event’.
Julie Edge MHK, Minister for Education, Sport and culture, said ‘A big well done to all of the students who travelled to Jersey to compete in the Pan-Island Skills Test. I have no doubt that this opportunity has been a valuable learning experience to develop skills and boost the confidence of our Island’s future construction force.
Events such as this support the Island Plan’s aim to develop apprenticeship opportunities which reflect the current and future needs of the Island’s economy and contribution to global sustainable development.’
The event was hosted by Highlands College in Jersey and culminated in an Awards Ceremony to celebrate the high level of craftsmanship displayed during the day.
Nick Rudkin, Head of the Construction Department at Highlands College, added: ‘The pan-island skills competition was a fantastic opportunity for all the students to showcase their abilities and learn from their peers. It is also an opportunity to demonstrate how our colleges are working together and nurturing talent. Thank you to our generous supporters for making this event possible.’