Five skilled young professionals from Southern Regional College (SRC) have been selected to represent the UK at WorldSkills Shanghai 2026, known as the “Skills Olympics,” where the world’s most talented apprentices and young professionals go head-to-head in a high-stakes battle of skill, precision and innovation.
The announcement also confirmed that SRC is sending more competitors to the event than any other university or college across the UK, highlighting the College’s strength in developing world-class talent.
Those competing as part of Team UK at WorldSkills Shanghai 2026 this September from SRC include:
- Oisin McKerr, aged 22, from Lurgan, will compete in the category Car Painting. Oisin undertook his Vehicle Accident Paint Repair Level 3 Apprenticeship qualification with the College and is currently employed with Porters Body Shop;
- Ruth Douglas, aged 21, from Banbridge, will compete in the category Chemical Laboratory Technician. Ruth has an Applied Industrial Sciences – Chemical Foundation Degree from the College having completed her studies last August. Ruth is currently employed by the Almac Group;
- Jonathan Gough, aged 22, from Waringstown, will compete in the category Electrical Installation. Jonathan, who is currently self-employed, has undertaken the Electrotechnical (Electrical Installation) Apprenticeship;
- Caolan McCartan, aged 24, from Camlough who is training with employer Pronto Engineering and currently studying for his Engineering (Technical Design & Manufacture) Foundation Degree. Caolan will compete in the category Industry 4.0 alongside teammate Patrick Sheerin;
- Patrick Sheerin, aged 24, who has graduated with an Engineering BEng (Hons) degree and will compete in the category Industry 4.0 with teammate Caolan. Patrick is currently employed with AJ Power.
WorldSkills Shanghai 2026 takes place from 22-27 September and will feature around 1500 young people taking part from over 80 countries.
These competitors will be joined by SRC lecturers Dr Deidre Murray and Mr Stephen Chapman who are joining Team UK as Training Managers. Dr Murray will continue to train competitor Ruth in the Chemical Laboratory Technician specialism, while Mr Chapman will train Team UK’s selected representative in bricklaying.
Each individual competitor’s journey to this moment has been years in the making. They have progressed through rigorous WorldSkills UK regional and national competitions, followed by intensive specialist training both in the UK and internationally. In the final months before Shanghai, all competitors will undergo further high-performance preparation to ensure they are ready to compete at the highest possible level, amongst the best competitors from over 80 countries.
WorldSkills is globally recognised as the ultimate benchmark of skills excellence, where nations go head-to-head to prove their ability to power future industries and economic growth. This year’s event in Shanghai is expected to attract more than 250,000 visitors, alongside government leaders, global employers and education experts.
Ben Blackledge, Chief Executive, WorldSkills UK said:
“Congratulations to Oisin, Ruth, Jonathan, Caolan and Patrick on being selected for Team UK, it is a huge achievement and a proud moment for Northern Ireland.
“At a time when employers are sceptical about employing young people Team UK show just how important it is to have young professionals in the workforce. These young technicians have an incredibly valuable mix of world-class technical skills, impressive employability skills and a mindset to succeed. If we are serious about tackling the NEET challenge, we need to get more young people ready for work, and skills competitions are a proven way to improve engagement in training and work readiness.”
Mrs Lee Campbell, Principal & Chief Executive of Southern Regional College added:
“We are incredibly proud of each of these outstanding individuals and their achievement in reaching the global stage. Their selection, as Team UK’s representative in their area of specialism is an indication not only of their dedication, resilience and talent, but also of the high-quality training and support provided by our staff and industry partners.
At Southern Regional College, we are committed to equipping our students with the skills, confidence and ambition needed to succeed in a competitive global economy. To have the highest number of competitors representing the UK is a remarkable accomplishment for the College and highlights the strength of our educational provision. We wish them every success as they take on the world in Shanghai and showcase the very best of Northern Ireland’s talent.”
