Southern Regional College Students Announced as Finalists for WorldSkills UK

Two students from Southern Regional College (SRC) have been announced as finalists within the lineup for the WorldSkills UK National Finals 2026. They are Ruby Elliott (20) and Kate Mooney (19).

Ruby who is currently completing the first year of her Applied Science – Analytical Foundation Degree Higher Level Apprenticeship will compete in the Laboratory Technician category, while Katie, a Beauty Therapy Level 2 Trainee will compete in the Beauty Therapy category. Both undertake their courses at the College’s Newry campus.

The national finals will be held across venues in South Wales from 17-20 November 2026. The finalists earned their place in the National Finals after successfully progressing through entry stage and regional qualifiers earlier this year. Both are one of eight finalists within their categories, beating off stiff competition from across the UK and will now undertake further training in advance of the National Finals.

The WorldSkills UK competitions are competitions designed by industry experts to help young people grow personally and professionally by developing technical and employability skills and drive forward investment, jobs and economic growth.

Mrs Lee Campbell, Principal & Chief Executive of Southern Regional College commented:

“Congratulations to both Ruby and Katie for reaching the National Finals of WorldSkills UK. It is a significant milestone to have reached this stage of such a prestigious competition, and I look forward to seeing them demonstrate their exceptional skills in November.”

“Their success reflects not only their own hard work and commitment, but also the high-quality teaching, training and support provided by our staff. We wish them every success as they prepare to compete against the very best young talent from across the UK.”

Mark Smallman, Operations Director, WorldSkills UK said:

“Congratulations to everyone who has secured a place in this year’s WorldSkills UK National Finals. Reaching this stage is a fantastic achievement and recognition that you are among the UK’s most talented apprentices and students. Every finalist should be incredibly proud of what they’ve accomplished.

“Our competitions recreate the pace, pressures and standards of the workplace, challenging competitors to solve problems, think critically and perform at their very best. It’s encouraging to see the diversity of learners taking part continue to increase, reflecting the growing reach of skills excellence across the UK. That’s why organisations are embracing skills competitions as part of their teaching practices, they see first-hand how the experience builds confidence, resilience and the skills people need to be truly work ready.”