AN apprentice electrician from Selby is competing to be crowned UK Electrical Installation Champion.

Michael White, who goes to York College has fought off tough competition to secure a place in the prestigious national finals at the NEC in Birmingham which starts today (November 14) and runs until Friday (November 16).

Michael, 30 from Selby, will compete against competitors from all over the UK, in front of 70,000 visitors, at WorldSkills UK LIVE; the longest running construction skills competition organised by the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB).

Michael is employed by JJ Electrical Solutions (Yorkshire) Ltd and is a Level 3 Electrotechnical (Installation/Maintenance) apprentice at the college.

He said: “In the regional round of the competition I completed the work in record time. This makes me a little nervous as I don’t quite know how this will compare with the national final. It’s amazing that I even stand a chance of being named the best in the country.”

York College Electrical Installation Tutor, Jonny Brown is very proud of Michael’s achievements: “From day one Michael was a stand-out apprentice and we are delighted his talents are being recognised. We wish him well in the national final - he is a wonderful role model for our full-time students.”

Thanks to support from the National Collaborative Outreach Programme (NCOP), 170 students from the Engineering and Construction areas of the College will visit WorldSkills UK LIVE in Birmingham. Katie McGee, Future HY Outreach Assistant says: “We are very proud that so many students are attending WorldSkills with the support of NCOP. Events like these raise the profile of the subjects and skills they are studying and puts them into context in the wider world and industry. It is no coincidence these events are often the catalyst for forging future plans.”

WorldSkills UK Competitions are run in over 60 skill areas and are proven to help people go further, faster in their training and chosen career. Dr Neil Bentley, Chief Executive, WorldSkills UK said: “I offer my congratulations to Michael on his selection for this competition. Our competitions equip apprentices and learners with the lifelong, world-class skills that will drive up training standards to the highest level to help boost UK productivity and competitiveness.”