Longford apprentice is battling it out in London for a whopping prize of €10,000

Longford apprentice Dan O’Shea, aged 20, has been announced as one of the top ten finalists for this year’s Screwfix Trade Apprentice competition.

Aspiring electrician, Dan, who is currently completing an electrical apprenticeship at GRETB, will join nine other trade apprentices from across the UK and Ireland, in a bid to be crowned Screwfix Trade Apprentice 2025 winner at the final which will be held in Google’s offices in London next week (Wednesday, May 7 & Thursday, May 8). 

The winner will take home an incredible prize bundle of tools, training and technology worth €10,000 – while also scooping €2,000 worth of Screwfix vouchers for their college.

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Commenting on the announcement, Dan said: “I can’t believe I’ve made it through to the finals of this year’s Screwfix Trade Apprentice competition. When I submitted my application, I never dreamed I’d make it this far. It’s also so exciting to be representing Longford at the national final. 

“The electrical industry is highly rewarding to work in, and so to be recognised for my skills and dedication at this level is such a huge compliment. 

“The competition is an incredible opportunity to showcase what I’ve learned so far, while highlighting the importance of trade apprentices in shaping the future of the electrical industry – and I’m looking forward to the final where I can take my creativity and skills to a new level.”

Since starting his electrical apprentice journey, Dan has developed a keen interest in green energy and sustainability, hoping to incorporate this into his future career. He is currently studying Phase 2 of his apprenticeship and intends to complete a project management course to further develop his skills with a view to ultimately setting up his own business.

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A strong advocate for apprenticeships, he believes that work needs to be done to change the perception around apprenticeships and shift the stigma around vocational paths.

His passion, initiative and relentless work ethic saw him stand out in the semi-final heats, after being selected from more than 2,000 applications.