Skills for Security has announced the eight finalists for the WorldSkills UK 2025 Fire & Security competition. That’s a national showcase of the emerging talent in the industry, as a way of promoting the career opportunities in the sector.
Darrell Gilmour, Director of Technical Training at Skills for Security, is pictured during gthe apprentices’ challenge at The Security Event at the Birmingham NEC, in April. He says: “WorldSkills UK gives apprentices the chance to put their skills to the test in a real-world environment, where technical ability, attention to detail and professionalism are key. It is through experiences like this that we see confidence grow, standards rise, and future industry specialists emerge. This is all while showcasing just how rewarding a career in fire and security can be.”
This year’s journey began at the NEC, where apprentices took part in three days of technical challenges designed to test their wiring, installation skills and adherence to industry regulations. Judged by representatives from the National Security Inspectorate (NSI) and the Security Systems and Alarms Inspection Board (SSAIB), the qualifiers demanded precision and professionalism.
Among the eight finalists are two apprentices from Skills for Security: Matthew Cox (DCA Security Systems) and Joseph Jenkins (AGS Security Systems). The others are: Joe Meara (Hopwood Hall, Check Fire and Security), Toby Moulder (SGS College, APM Fire and Security Ltd), Zeki Kaya (South Eastern Regional College, Specialised Fire and Security), Luke Wilson (South Eastern Regional College, Atlas World), Alex Punyer (South Eastern Regional College, ADT), and Declan Oniell (Banham, ADT).
Darrell adds: “WorldSkills UK is about opening doors for finalists, from career advancement and international recognition to personal growth. We are proud to support initiatives that empower the next generation of fire and security professionals, and the calibre of this year’s finalists gives us real confidence in the future of the industry. We wish each and every one success and look forward to seeing them shine on the national stage.”
The competition sponsors include CSL Group, The Security Event and Texecom, alongside supporting partners Eaton, GS Yuasa Battery, Fenix Monitoring, Honeywell and Dahua. The judging panel comes from the NSI and SSAIB inspectorates.
About the event
The national finals will run at Trinity Saint David, Waterfront Campus in Swansea on November 26 and 27, with the awards ceremony at the International Convention Centre (ICC) in Newport on November 28. Visit https://www.worldskillsuk.org/skills/national-finals-2025/.
The Security Event runs next from April 28 to 30, 2026 at the NEC. Visit https://www.thesecurityevent.co.uk/.
