SkillELECTRIC crowns best in Wales

The Wales national final of the SkillELECTRIC competition has named Jonathan Davies of Lloyd Morris Electrical as its winner after a challenging practical event at Yale College, Wrexham.

Davies, a student at Coleg Menai, beat eight other competitors to win first place in a task that involved the installation of several circuits with various components and equipment. Judges awarded Davies with the most points against strict assessment criteria including health and safety, accuracy, function, wiring and termination, quality and testing.

Second place was awarded to Alan Bevan, employed by Blues Electrical and a student with Barry College and Vale of Glamorgan Training Association, with the third place spot going to Steffan James of Carmarthenshire Construction Training Association and Coleg Sir Gar.

Speaking of his win, Davies said: "I was amazed to hear my name being announced, I'm very happy to have won. You are never quite sure how well you're doing so it's great to know that your work is of a high standard. I'm really grateful for the support of my employer to allow me to take part in the competition and I hope to progress even further after today."

The event is organised by SummitSkills and was supported by the Welsh Government. The highest scoring competitors may have the chance to go forward to the grand final in September where they could face competitors from England, Scotland and Northern Ireland and strive to be named the best in the UK.

Neil Collishaw, SummitSkills' head of skills competitions, said: "This is the fourth year that SkillELECTRIC has been held in Wales and the number and quality of competitors from Wales is getting better every year.

"It is clear from the standard of practice on display in Wrexham that building services engineering employers in Wales can be confident of a plentiful supply of talented young people entering their industries."

Pictured: SkillELECTRIC Wales champion Jonathan Davis (centre) with second place winner Alan Bevan (left) and third place winner Steffan James (right).