Gyproc wins 'Have-a-go' Sponsor award at Emirates Skills 2015

Drywall specialist, Gyproc Middle East, has been voted the best ‘Have-a-go’ Sponsor at the 2015 Emirates Skills National Competition and event, held annually to celebrate exceptional home-grown talent and inspire young Emiratis to embrace new skills and career opportunities in technical and vocational trades.

The competition, which took place on 28-29 April, saw around 425 Emirati pupils, university students and employees pitting their skills in a total of 19 different trade category competitions, in order to win prestigious prizes and awards. The event was supported by more than 30 local companies, who helped to promote their trades through presentations, workshops and career advice.

As a member of one of the world’s leading international construction materials groups and a major local employer, Gyproc organised a programme of activities to support its sponsorship of the event, including demonstrations, hands-on activities and specialist interactive learning modules.

Gary Condon, Gyproc’s Site Systems Demonstrator and London WorldSkills Competition Gold Medallist in 2008, led the programme with live Drywall building and plastering demonstrations. On another stand, students were invited to join in a specialist series of hands-on ‘Have-a-go’ experiences with many of the company’s systems – an opportunity that proved to be one of the most popular features of the show.

Attendees also had the opportunity to try their hand on the world’s first Drywall Simulator, GypSim, an interactive modular learning aid specially designed to replicate many of the design and installation aspects of drywall systems.

Gyproc Marketing Manager, Peter Robinson, who helped to organise the presentations, was delighted with the response from competitors and visitors alike.

“Although relatively new to the Middle East, Drywall techniques are rapidly growing in popularity, particularly in key areas like Hotels, Education and Healthcare. Identifying and developing the skills we need, and providing the impetus for young Emiratis to take up drywall as a career, are essential to the future growth of our industry”, he said.

“Skills Competitions, such as Emirates Skills are recognised worldwide and provide an ideal platform to promote our industry – winning the ‘Have-a-go’ sponsor award is the icing on the cake for us, it shows that out efforts have been recognised.”