Waterford apprentice is WorldSkills winner
Amy Lowe won a silver medal at the WorldSkills Ireland competition
Waterford and Wexford Education and Training Board (WWETB) was showcased in exemplary manner at this year's WorldSkills Ireland competition in Dublin.
Amy Lowe, a Stage 2 Hairdressing Apprentice at Waterford College of Further Education (WCFE), won the Silver Medal Award at the event which was held in the RDS. Amy will now be considered to compete in EuroSkills 2025, in Denmark.
Amy began her hairdressing journey with the WCFE PLC Hairdressing course that progressed onto the National Hairdressing Apprenticeship programme. She is employed by Colm Morrissey Hair Studio, Tramore, where she is supported in her training by an experienced and dedicated team.
Amy was one of six apprentices from around the country who competed in the hairdressing competition, which was organised by WCFE NHA teacher Annette Heffernan, with the assistance of Marina Walshe Tynan. Commenting on Amy's successs, Noreen Reilly, Principal of Waterford College of Further Education, offered her congratulations commenting: "I would like to congratulate the WCFE staff and teachers, plus Amy’s mentors from her salon ‘Colm Morrissey Hair Studio’, who helped Amy on her pathway to success.”
"It is fantastic to see both industry and education work together to help individuals reach their potential," she said. She also highlighted how everyone in WCFE was delighted for Amy and wish her the best going forward.
WCFE, the first college in the southeast to implement a National Hairdressing Apprenticeship (NHA) is a PLC College offering a wide range of courses, apprenticeships and traineeships. The college is run by Waterford and Wexford Education and Training Board (WWETB) which provides a comprehensive range of education and training services throughout Waterford and Wexford and is the largest education and training provider in counties Waterford and Wexford.
On Day 2 of the event, Radley Engineering's Rory Gallagher and Aidan McKenna stepped onto the Heroes Stage at the Apprentice of the Year showcase. The pair are nominated for the upcoming national Apprentice of the Year awards, which is due to take place later this month at Mansion House, Dublin.
Radley Engineering have also just announced nine new apprentices, including the first (and only) female pipe fitter in the South East region.
WorldSkills Ireland is a partnership between enterprise, industry, education, training and Government that raises the profile and recognition of skills and apprenticeships and prepares the talent of today for the careers of the future.
Through the Department of Further and Higher Education Research and Innovation, WorldSkills Ireland have organised and run the national competitions, each year since 1956 providing thousands of apprentices and the skilled youth of Ireland the chance to compete for the prestigious Silver Medal Award.
