SEVEN talented young people from Northern Ireland have started their journey to Brazil to compete as members of the UK team for WorldSkills 2015.
The seven are first travelling to London for a reception for the UK team, before jetting off to Sao Paulo for the competition which takes place from August 11-16.
Held every two years, WorldSkills, the skills equivalent of the Olympics, is the largest international vocational skills competition in the world and sees around 1,000 young people aged 18-25 compete for medals in more than 45 different skills such as aircraft maintenance, IT network administration, welding, web design and mechanical engineering.
At a reception hosted for the Northern Ireland participants, Derek Baker, Permanent Secretary at the Department for Employment and Learning, said: “I know that you have all worked very hard over the last year and a half through the various selection stages. I would like to congratulate you on your dedication and commitment. I know it will stand you in very good stead in your future career.”
The Northern Ireland members of the UK team are Rebecca Wilson, Adrian Canning, Balint Bogdan, Jonathan Gill, Gary Doyle, Chris Bailie and Martin McLaughlin — and they will be competing in industrial electronics, electrical installation, car painting, landscape gardening, plumbing, refrigeration and wall and floor tiling.
Meanwhile, a 12-week public consultation on proposed new rules and procedures for industrial tribunals and the Fair Employment Tribunal is under way. These tribunals provide a legal means of dealing with disputes at work.
Minister for Employment and Learning Stephen Farry said: “The purpose of this consultation is to seek views on proposals to update rules, procedures and guidance to ensure that the tribunals continue to provide a fair, accessible and efficient service to those who need it.”