National Date For Local Apprentice
A painting and decorating apprentice with Derby College’s Construction Academy in Ilkeston has secured her place in the UK Skills finals and will be putting her skills to the test against other young people over the three-day competition in Leeds later this month (September).
Carly Jablonski (21) from Mickleover, Derby, works for Robert Cains Decorators based in West Bridgford, Nottingham, and is completing her apprenticeship through the College.
Having qualified through the county and regional UK Skills competitions, she will now compete against students and apprentices from Colleges throughout the UK for the national title at Leeds College from September 14 to 16. If successful she could potentially then have the chance to go onto the World Skills competitions the following year.
Carly, who is a former pupil at Murray Park School and then studied A levels at Derby College’s Joseph Wright Centre before opting for an apprenticeship, said: “I made some mistakes with timings in the regional finals so I am determined to learn from that and I hope to do well at the national finals.
“The skills I have gained at work have certainly helped with the competitions as you have to be very precise and tidy and those are some of the attributes that the judges are looking for.
“I have yet to find out exactly what skills we will have to demonstrate but it will no doubt involve different disciplines such as wallpapering, stencilling and detailed paint work.
“I am extremely nervous but all I can do is my best.”
Derby College Assistant Principal Dawn Kemp said: “We wish Carly the very best of luck in the UK Skills finals.
“We hope that she joins the elite group of previous learners and apprentices at Derby College who have excelled at this national level. They have included former construction apprentice Jason Stanley who went onto compete for places in the World Skills competitions but narrowly missed out on being selected for the final three to represent the UK in this year’s international competition.”
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Media enquiries:Sarah Jenkin-Jones, PR Officer, Derby College, Tel: 07951 945 665; sarah.jenkin-jones@derby-college.ac.uk