Top electrical apprentices are being sought for the 2016 regional heats of SkillElectric –  the skills competition for the UK’s electrotechnical industry.

The competition’s organisers are seeking entrants for SkillElectric’s regional heats in Chichester, Leeds, and Birmingham. Separate heats are held in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Those who enter will have to complete a series of practical tests based on workplace scenarios faced by electricians, and the winners of each regional heat will go through the UK final, part of the WorldSkills UK Competitions, held at the Skills Show in Birmingham in November.

Applications are welcome from Apprentice Electricians working towards completing their NVQ, SVQ or diploma level 3 qualification.

This year’s competition is being organised by industry charity NET and WorldSkills UK. Sponsors include: the Joint Industry Board, the Electrical Contractors Association (ECA), UNITE the Union, Scottish Electrical Charitable Training Trust (SECTT), Edmundsons Electrical Limited, Honeywell UK Heating Controls, Wiha Tools, CITB NI and EAL.

NET CEO Iain Macdonald said: “SkillElectric provides an opportunity for the best in our industry to showcase their abilities and to show people outside our industry the level of skill and technical excellence required to work as an electrician. It’s an excellent way of showing what life in our industry is all about and I urge anyone who feels they have an exceptional apprentice to encourage them to enter.”

Speaking on behalf of WorldSkills UK Competitions, Dr Neil Bentley, said: “WorldSkills UK Competitions are proven to enhance a person’s apprenticeship or training programme by enabling them to develop key character and employability skills.  By using knowledge gained from competing nationally and internationally, we know we are working to benchmarks that will equip more young people with the right skills to help UK businesses to compete better globally.”

Applications for SkillElectric 2016 can be made from 1 March until 7 April. Individual organisations can enter one competitor and those who are based across the UK can enter their best apprentice electrician from each nation/region. For more information, visit: www.worldskillsuk.org