Winners of security and fire competitions at WorldSkills UK revealed!

The highly regarded IFSEC Engineers of Tomorrow competition returned to the show floor at IFSEC and FIREX in May 2022, for the first time in three years. The finalists from Engineers of Tomorrow then went on to take on the WorldSkills UK competitions in November, and we can now reveal this year’s winners for the electronic security systems competition and fire detection and alarms competition! 

What’s Engineers of Tomorrow and WorldSkills UK all about?

Engineers of Tomorrow is an initiative that’s been running for several years at IFSEC International and FIREX – the longest running security and fire exhibitions in the UK, and is designed to raise the profile of engineering apprenticeships and the opportunities they represent within the sector. Taking place at the event each year, winners of regional heats compete in a live installation challenge at the show. The process involves two separate competitions – one for electronic security systems, and the other for fire systems.

The winners of Engineers of Tomorrow then proceed to the esteemed WorldSkills UK (WSUK) LIVE competition – the nation’s premier skills, apprenticeships and careers event. For the first time this year, both the electronic security and fire competitions were represented at WSUK – underlining the value of both competitions to the wider UK skills industry.

The competition aims to help tackle the growing engineering skills gap and attract and retain the next generation of security and fire systems installers. While the 2020 competition was unfortunately unable to go ahead, due to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, 2021’s competition saw a record number of entries take part, despite the challenges and restrictions of the global pandemic.

WorldSkills UK winners for 2022

Once again, the Engineers of Tomorrow finals returned to the IFSEC and FIREX show floor on 17-19 May at London’s ExCeL this year. Apprentice finalists revelled in the chance to show off their skills in front of thousands of peers and professionals from the security and fire sectors.

Winners of the Engineers of Tomorrow competition then went on to compete at the WorldSkills UK event, which took place in November.

David Scott, Managing Director of Skills for Security, said: “To have both security and fire competitions represented at WSUK this year is another fantastic result for the event and industry. WSUK gives opportunity to shine a positive light on the security and fire engineering sector as a career of choice, attracting new young talent into the industry. It puts the industry on a pedestal alongside the Navy, BAE, NHS and other major sectors and showcases the industry as a fun, technology-driven industry where learning never stops.”

Winners were announced on a special broadcast by Channel 4 Presenter and Broadcaster, Steph McGovern on Friday 25 November.

Electronic Security Systems WorldSkills UK winners

1. Tomas Pavilonis (The Focus Training Group)
2. Cody Moody (Belfast Metropolitan College | ViS)
3. Gianluca Mori (Banham Academy | Banham Security)

Fire Detection and Alarm Systems WorldSkills UK winners

1. Alexander Wallace (South Eastern Regional College | Building Protection Services)
2. Owen Nelson (Skills for Security | EFT Systems)
3. Callen Logan (Skills for Security | Connelly’s Security Systems)

Well done also to those who were highly commended across the two competitions, who were: Bradley Stevens, Harry Dickson, Nathan Portman and Josh Young.

View the full list of winners at this year’s WorldSkills UK across all competitions, here. 

Engineers of Tomorrow winners (WorldSkills UK finalists)

Electronic Security EoT competition winners (Training providers | employer are in brackets)

• Bradley Stevens (Skills for Security | Macaw Security Solutions)
• Cody Moody (Belfast Met | ViS)
• Gianluca Mori (Banham | Banham)
• Harry Dickson (Skills for Security | EFT Systems)
• James Mcgeough (Belfast Met | McElwaine Security)
• Paul Mcelroy (Belfast Met | McElwaine Security)
• Thomas Pavilonis (Focus Training | Trelawney Fire & Security)
• Tom Sixsmith (Skills for Security | EFT Systems)

Fire Detection and Alarm EoT competition winners

• Alexander Wallace (SERCS | Building Protection Services)
• Callen Logan (Skills for Security | Connelly Security Systems)
• Jonny Hamilton (SERCS | Atlas World)
• Jordan Moon (Skills for Security | Sentinel Security)
• Josh Young (Skills for Security | Sentinel Security)
• Nathan Portman (JTL Training | Bryland Fire Protection)
• Owen Nelson (Skills for Security | EFT Systems)
• William Graham (NCL | Fortress Security)

Congratulations to all the other finalists – the full list can be found here.

The Engineers of Tomorrow & WorldSkills UK process for 2022:

• February-April: Registration opened
• 4-29 April: Knowledge-based online assessments took place
• 29 April-24 June: Qualifiers
• 17-19 May: Engineers of Tomorrow finals at IFSEC and FIREX (ExCeL, London)
• 26 May: National finalists for WorldSkills UK announced
• W/C 10 October: Bootcamp
• W/C 14 November: WorldSkills UK National Finals
• November – Winners announced at the Security & Fire Excellence Awards (Hilton Park Lane, London) and on Steph’s Packed Lunch

Regional heats this year took the form of a knowledge-based assessment which was completed online and invigilated by an employer or tutor. This year’s WorldSkills UK Finals for security and fire took place at Barking & Dagenham College in Romford.

Engineers of Tomorrow in full flow at IFSEC International and FIREX 2022

Find out the winners of 2021’s competition, here >>

Stakeholders involved in supporting and contributing to the IFSEC & FIREX Engineers of Tomorrow competition are Skills for Security, CSL, NSI, SSAIB, and Texecom Academy, while additional support comes from the BSIA and BAFE.

In addition, several manufacturers have demonstrated their own commitment to the event. As part of a three-year commitment, Hikvision, Texecom and CSL all donate equipment to be used in the heats.

Entries to the 2023 competition will open once more in the New Year, so keep your eyes peeled!