Celebrations as Downpatrick man earns place in final of top apprentice awards

Celebrations as Downpatrick man earns place in final of top apprentice awards

25 March 2020

A DOWNPATRICK teenager proved he is a bit of a bright spark has won a place in the final of a prestigious competition to find the best apprentice electrician in the UK. 

Nineteen year-old Conal McCrissican, who is an apprentice with S J Savage Electrical in Ardglass, is through to the final of the Sparks UK Electrical Apprentice of the Year competition. 

Conal, a third year Level 3 electrical installation apprentice at South Eastern Regional College qualified for the UK final after beating off stiff competition in the regional final to finish seventh with a score of 112 out of a possible 115.

His employer, Steven Savage, said: “Conal is a very smart young man and is quick to learn.    

He said: “Conal has been working on some shop fit-out jobs in which he has gained brilliant experience.    

“Some of his work has been shift work and he has met the demands that come with this way of working as well as keeping up with his studies at college.    

“We are very proud of him and he deserves this win which is all down to his own hard work and dedication.”

SERC lecturer Steven Donnelly commended Conal on his performance.“I wish to congratulate Conal on his commitment to learning in the classroom and in the workplace, which is second to none,” he said.  

 “He has passed all the required examinations to date achieving excellent results each time. While in college he is attentive to his lecturer, supportive of his peers and a great example to others.   

He added: “In the SkillBuild competition last year, Conal took third place among experienced third and fourth year apprentices.   

“His role with SJ Savage Electrical means there is a lot of shift work and Conal has taken this in his stride balancing work commitments with his studies.  He is a credit to himself and the college.”