When John first signed up for a WorldSkills UK competition while studying for his Higher-Level Apprenticeship at Southern Regional College, he had no idea it would be the turning point in his career. What began as a personal challenge soon became a launchpad — helping him secure his latest role as a Graduate Automation Engineer at Norbrook Laboratories in Northern Ireland.
“I’m buzzing to be taking part in EuroSkills Herning 2025. I first started competing in the WorldSkills UK Automation competition three years ago, which enabled me to progress to my current skill in Mechatronics. The new skills I’ve picked up through competing opened doors for me and helped me land my current job at Norbrook.”
Participating in competitions is something John enjoys, and he draws parallels with his experiences of playing for his local Gaelic football team, where the pressure of competing can help produce the best results. Like any successful sporting team, John and his teammate Jason have strong support around them, including their WorldSkills UK Training Manager Calum Knott, who works for Didactic Services Ltd and is a former Team UK member himself. John is also keen to highlight Sean mac Diarmada, a lecturer at Southern Regional College who has guided them from their first involvement in WorldSkills UK Competitions.
“I first started taking part in WorldSkills UK competitions three years ago and making Squad and now Team was always the dream. Sean’s been there day and night, pushing me to stay focused and supporting me when it’s been tough.”
This support has been invaluable as John balances training with WorldSkills UK, his full-time role at Norbrook Laboratories, and studying for his bachelor’s degree in engineering. He also credits his girlfriend Marina for being a huge part of his journey: “The support from Marina has also been crucial to my success so far in competitions — I couldn’t have done any of this without the network around me. Having people who believe in you makes all the difference.”
John is a passionate advocate of apprenticeships and WorldSkills UK competitions and the opportunities they can lead to. “My Higher-Level apprenticeship and competing in WorldSkills UK kick-started my engineering career. The hands-on experience, industry skills, and debt-free start gave me a solid foundation and WorldSkills UK pushed me to aim higher and believe in myself. Now I’m hoping to prove I’m one of Europe’s best young engineers — and maybe the world, if I’m selected for WorldSkills Shanghai 2026 next year.”
Follow John’s journey @WorldSkills UK
Pearson is the official partner of Team UK for EuroSkills Herning 2025 and WorldSkills Shanghai 2026.
Find out how the WorldSkills UK Learning Lab can support apprentices and learners.
