Shane Carpenter (pictured), who is in his third year of a four-year apprenticeship with BAE Systems’ Naval Ships Combat Systems business, has been selected to compete in the IT network systems administration skill category.
The WorldSkills Competition, to be held from 14-19 October 2017, is a showcase for vocational talents with teams from 77 countries and regions competing in 51 skill competitions.
At a four-day selection competition last week, Carpenter beat the UK’s top three network infrastructure technicians in a challenge to set up and operate a specified network using a range of operating systems. He will now head to Abu Dhabi to build on his silver medal success from the competition’s national finals in Birmingham last year.
He said: “I’m delighted to have been selected to represent Team UK. Competing for my country in Abu Dhabi this October is the realisation of a dream I have been working towards for the last five years. I’m now looking forward to training hard and doing my very best on the international stage.
“Five years ago I didn’t know how to build a computer – now I am able to successfully create a network, implement security protocols, and much more. I have come a very long way thanks to the help of my colleagues and I am very grateful for everyone’s support.”
