Two apprentices from Portadown have competed in the national qualifiers for WorldSkills UK, which took place in Coventry from 18 to 22 May. Zak Livingston, 18, and Joshua Kerr, 21, are students at Southern Regional College’s Portadown campus.

Livingston, a second-year Accident Repair Body Principles Level 2 apprentice, entered the Body Repair category. His employer is Porters Bodyshop in Portadown. Kerr is studying for a Level 3 Vehicle Accident Repair Paint Principles Apprenticeship and works with Wrights Accident Repair in Dunmurry. He competed in Automotive Refinishing.

The qualifiers at the Eyebox Training and Conference Centre involved the top 18 competitors from across the UK in these trades. Livingston completed five tasks, including metal panel repair, MAG welding, panel alignment, spot welding, and sealing. Kerr’s tasks included panel preparation, paint fault rectification, colour matching, plastic repair, and diagnosing a spray gun defect.

Results from the qualifiers are expected in mid-July. The top six in each category will progress to the WorldSkills UK National Finals, scheduled for the week of 16 November 2026 in Wales.

David Fairley, a lecturer in paint refinishing and body panel at Southern Regional College, said the students’ selection for the qualifiers was a significant achievement that reflected their hard work and commitment. He said such competitions give students the chance to test themselves against top talent from across the UK and gain valuable career experience.

The Portadown campus has a strong record at WorldSkills UK competitions. In 2025, Jack Harvison and Oisin McKerr won gold medals in automotive paint refinishing, with McKerr also taking gold in 2023. Ben Robertson earned a silver medal in the same category at the 2024 finals. Joe Cullen won a bronze medal in the Body Repair category at the 2025 national finals.

Following his gold medal, McKerr was selected for Squad UK and will represent the country at the global WorldSkills competition in Shanghai this September.