BRADFORD, U.K. - eTradeWire -- Supported by his Bradford employer, Abrahams & Carlisle, Ahmed now joins an intensive 18-month training programme with the end goal of competing against other young tradespeople at the 48th WorldSkills Competition in September 2026.

WorldSkills, also known as the 'Skills Olympics', is the largest and most prestigious skills competition in the world. The 2026 edition will bring together 1,500 competitors from across 80+ countries to compete in over 30 technical skill areas. These specialties range from engineering and digital technology to construction and hospitality.

Speaking about his latest achievement, Ahmed said: "I'm delighted to have made it into the Squad UK joinery category, alongside three other competitors! The training programme will be intense, but I know it will push me to be the best I can be. I'm excited for the challenge ahead!

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"Both Abrahams & Carlisle and Bradford College continue to be hugely supportive of my journey. Abrahams & Carlisle helped with preparation for the SkillBuild final back in 2024, even transporting all my tools to Milton Keynes, and are fully on board with my training and further opportunities. Training and competing means time away from work, but both my employer and the College are fully behind me, which is really nice!"

After already proving himself as one of the country's best young joiners, Ahmed Shakir will now have the chance to replicate this on a world stage. The WorldSkills event is an international platform for showcasing excellence and driving up standards in vocational education and training.

Jonathan Hemingway, Director at Abrahams & Carlisle, added: "Since beginning his journey at Bradford College and starting his apprenticeship with us, Ahmed has shown natural ability and outstanding dedication. We're incredibly proud and can't wait to support him with this next step. He's definitely got a bright future!"

The talented joiner's journey with Bradford College started back in 2021, enrolling onto a Carpentry & Joinery course and progressing through both Level 1 and 2. Following this, in 2023, he began his Bench Joinery apprenticeship at Abrahams & Carlisle. Throughout this period, his skills and confidence grew, leading to a mounting list of achievements.

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Bradford College is proud to support the continued success of apprentices like Ahmed. With strong partnerships and expert-led teaching, the College provides apprentices with the foundations to excel in their chosen careers across healthcare, professional services, construction, engineering, dental, pharmacy, early years, and teaching.

Learn more about how apprenticeships deliver real-world skills, hands-on experience, and direct industry connections via the Bradford College Apprenticeships page. (https://www.bradfordcollege.ac.uk/apprenticeships/) Read more about the full WorldSkills UK Squad shortlisting ahead of Shanghai 2026, here. (https://feweek.co.uk/worldskills-uk-names-squad-for-shanghai-2026/)