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Young scaffolders showcase their expertise as the trade is included in the prestigious competition for the first time
Scaffolding has been included in WorldSkills Ireland for the first time, marking a significant milestone for the construction trade at the prestigious vocational skills competition held at Dublin’s RDS last week.
The historic inclusion represents a major step forward in recognising scaffolding as a skilled profession worthy of international competition status, bringing Ireland in line with global efforts to promote construction trades among young people.
Global platform for skills
WorldSkills, founded in 1950, is a global organisation promoting vocational and technological education across 85 member countries on all continents. The competition has evolved into the world’s largest vocational education and skills excellence event, often described as the “Olympics of Skills.”
The Irish iteration attracts around 20,000 senior-level secondary students from over 300 schools nationwide during its three-day programme, making it a crucial recruitment ground for Ireland’s construction industry at a time when skilled trades workers are in high demand.
Teams from three leading access companies—PHD Access Ltd, Celtic Working Platforms Ltd, and JLD Access Limited—took up the challenge to demonstrate the full spectrum of scaffolding expertise required in modern construction.
The competition format required participants to demonstrate not just physical building skills, but also the critical planning and safety management that underpins professional scaffolding work. Teams had to produce comprehensive risk assessments and method statements (RAMS), detailed material lists, and deliver toolbox talks before beginning construction.
The structures themselves presented a complex technical challenge, incorporating an independent scaffold system, integrated staircase access, specialised beam work and a functional seating area, all of which had to meet strict safety standards and be erected within tight time constraints.
Industry collaboration
The successful debut was made possible through extensive collaboration between educational institutions and industry partners. Scaffold manufacturer Layher played a crucial role, supplying not only the materials but also technical drawings and engineering expertise essential for the competition structures.
This partnership model reflects the broader approach to skills development in Ireland, where industry leaders work closely with training providers to ensure apprenticeships meet real-world demands.
John Kelly, Manager of the National Construction Training Campus at Mount Lucas, acknowledged the tight timeline but praised the collaborative effort that made the event possible.
“We were absolutely thrilled to be offered the chance to include scaffolding at WorldSkills Ireland for the first time. We didn’t have a very long lead-in period prior to the event, however, our staff, the employers, the teams and Layher all pulled together to provide an excellent showcase to promote a career in scaffolding,” Kelly said.
The competition received high-level political support, with Minister James Lawless of Fianna Fáil launching WorldSkills Ireland 2025. As Minister of Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Lawless emphasised the event’s role in addressing Ireland’s skills needs.
“This event offers a valuable, hands-on opportunity for students, parents, and teachers to engage directly with employers and education providers from across the country. It showcases apprenticeships and traineeships in action and highlights clear pathways to internationally recognised qualifications and highly sought-after skills,” the Minister said.
The political endorsement reflects the growing recognition by the government of the construction industry’s importance to Ireland’s economic development, particularly as the country faces ongoing challenges in housing and infrastructure.
Expert validation
The competition’s credibility was enhanced by the presence of Dave Mosley, an international scaffolding competency and safety consultant who served as Chief Examiner.
Mosley has been instrumental in developing Ireland’s scaffolding apprenticeship programme, serving as both subject matter expert during development and External Authenticator since its launch.
His assessment of the participants was overwhelmingly positive, noting not just their technical competence but also their professional approach to health and safety—crucial factors in an industry where lives depend on proper procedures.
“It’s very pleasing to see scaffolding being considered a relevant and viable career option for young people in Ireland, which is now taking its rightful place at the WorldSkills event,” Mosley said.
“The knowledge, competence and work ethic displayed by all the teams highlighted that the introduction of the apprenticeship in Ireland has proven to be very positive. They took the event seriously, worked safely, were polite, easy-going and showed a good sense of humour, which was handy, considering the weather at times.”
Building for the future
The success of this inaugural scaffolding competition has already sparked ambitious plans for expansion. Mount Lucas is planning a significantly enhanced scaffolding element for WorldSkills 2026, with the ultimate goal of preparing Irish competitors for the international stage.
The international WorldSkills competition, set to take place in Japan in 2027, represents the pinnacle of vocational skills competition. Ireland’s participation in scaffolding would mark another milestone in the country’s commitment to excellence in construction trades.
“We will be looking to build on our success this year to provide a bigger and better scaffolding experience for all at future WorldSkills events,” Kelly confirmed, signalling the long-term commitment to developing this aspect of the competition.
