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L-R: Johnny Gough and Conor McDonnell.
CONOR MCDONNELL AND JOHNNY GOUGH ARE THE ONLY TWO MEMBERS IN CONTENTION TO REPRESENT TEAM UK IN ELECTRICAL INSTALLATION AT THE INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION… NI electricians aim for WorldSkills Shanghai
Two former Southern Regional College (SRC) students are vying for the chance to represent the UK at WorldSkills Shanghai. Conor McDonnell from Armagh and Johnny Gough from Waringstown are in the running for the 48th biennial international competition, which is set to run from September 22 to 27. Conor and Johnny undertook their Electrical Installation apprenticeships at the Armagh and Portadown campuses of SRC. Their journey to the international stage began through the UK national competition series, where both achieved bronze medals; Conor in 2023 and Johnny in 2024. The duo was selected for Squad UK in March 2025, working with UK Electrical Installation Training Manager Mitchell Smith. The past 12 months have involved non-stop training, including weekly online and monthly in-person training sessions. As well as technical ability, WorldSkills involves commitment, drive, mindset
and problem-solving abilities. The pair has just completed their last selection event, an in-person competition simulation event, overseen by Mitchell Smith, Team UK Assistant Training Manager Tom Williamson and Aaron McDonald, a guest judge from Electrical Training Trust, at the CITB NI headquarters in Crumlin. Conor and Johnny are the only two members of Team UK in contention for Shanghai under Electrical Installation, with one representative expected to go forward. The Electrical Installation category at Shanghai is expected to have a total of 36 competitors, including Germany, Italy, Switzerland, Holland, China, Korea, USA, Canada and Brazil. The UK team is hoping for a top 10 placing, having finished just outside it at European EuroSkills Herning in 2025 with Johnny Gough representing Team UK. After WorldSkills UK reveals its squad members for WorldSkills Shanghai, Team UK will undergo another five months of
intense training until September. Lindsay Bronte, Development Manager at Southern Regional College, said, “Both Johnny and Conor have had a tremendous journey, undergoing a year- long training and selection process, with the hopes of making it to Shanghai, China representing their families, college and country on the world stage. “While only one can go forward and compete, they both have undergone significant growth, developing in skills and confidence. Whatever the result, their journey will continue beyond this final selection event as they have gained recognition in the electrical industry for their professionalism and ability. We are proud that their journey began at Southern Regional College and hope their achievements encourage other apprentices to aim just as high.”
Want to know more?
www.src.ac.uk www.worldskillsuk.org
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