Gold WorldSkillsUK Win for Alexander

A SERC Level 3 Fire and Security Apprentice has taken First Place at the WorldSkills UK National Finals first ever competition for Fire Detection & Alarm Systems. Alexander Wallace (27), from Saintfield, was announced winner at the Security and Fire Excellence Awards supported by ISFEC and FIREX at a glittering ceremony hosted at the London Hilton on Park Lane this week, followed by a WorldSkillsUK online Medal Ceremony hosted by Steph McGovern from her Channel 4 Packed Lunch studio.

Alexander put his skills to the test at the WorldSkills competition - often referred to as the ‘skills Olympics’ – in Essex, 14 - 18, November, when he was up against 8 other finalists from across the UK.  

Speaking about his win, the young man who is employed by BPS and tutored and mentored by Robin Hamill at SERC said, “I managed to get all the tasks necessary for installing and commissioning an alarm system completed but it was a very tight competition.   I am absolutely thrilled with the result.   It has been a brilliant experience taking part in WorldSkills - the mentoring, additional training and meeting other competitors and hearing different perspectives from people working in the industry has been fantastic."

Alexander added, “I want to thank Gavin Maskey, my Supervisor in BPS and the company for their support, and my lecturer Robin Hamill at SERC for all the mentoring and training which has proved invaluable.”

No stranger to competitions, Alexander was one of six apprentices from SERC who competed in the IFSEC and FIREX Engineers of Tomorrow competition in May at the annual IFSEC International 2022 at London’s ExCeL.  His podium place in the annual SkillBuild held at CITB in June secured his spot in the national finals for WorldSkills alongside fellow SERC apprentice Jonny Hamilton from Bangor, who was unfortunately was unable to compete due to illness.

Robin Hamill, SERC Lecturer in Fire & Security who travelled to England to support Alexander for the competitions and announcement of the Win said, “I am immensely proud of Alexander and all that he has achieved for himself.   He put in additional hours of training and pushed himself to be to be the best.   He is most deserving of this WorldSkillsUK title, and I am especially delighted that the first ever win for this competition went to an apprentice from SERC."     

He added, “SERC has worked hard to develop the fire and security systems apprenticeship.  Working in partnership with employers and leaders in the sector, together we ensure apprentices are equipped with the skills, knowledge and experience for flourishing careers and are ready to meet the demands for this growth industry.”  

Main picture: Alexander Wallace (27), from Saintfield, a SERC Level 3 Fire and Security Apprentice employed by BPS who took First Place at the WorldSkills UK National Finals first ever competition for Fire Detection & Alarm Systems.

Smaller Pictures: Alexander Wallace with Robin Hamill, SERC Fire & Security lecturer and mentor;  and Alexander Wallace winner of the Fire Detection and Alarm Systems with  Tomas Pavilonis, Electronic Security Systems Winner, of Trelawney Fire and Security and The Focus Training Group with Simon Banks, Founder of CSL and Chairman of Skills for Security at the Security and Fire Excellence Awards supported by ISFEC and FIREX in London.

Look out for a further article this week on our Confectionery and Patisserie students Marija and Eimear who took Gold and Silver respectively at WorldSkillsUK Finals.