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 world's largest and most prestigious skills competition.

The 2026 edition will bring together 1,500 competitors from across 80+ countries to compete in over 30 technical skill areas. These specialities range from engineering and digital technology to construction and hospitality.

Ahmed said about his latest achievement: “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!

“Both Abrahams & Carlisle and Bradford College support my journey hugely. Abrahams & Carlisle helped prepare for the SkillBuild final in 2024, even transporting all my tools to Milton Keynes, and are entirely on board with my training and further opportunities.

“Training and competing mean time away from work, but my employer and the College are fully behind me, which is nice!”

After already proving himself to be 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 vocational education and training standards.

The talented joiner’s journey with Bradford College started in 2021, enrolling onto a Carpentry & Joinery course and progressing through Level 1 and 2.

In 2023, he began his Bench Joinery apprenticeship at Abrahams & Carlisle. His skills and confidence grew throughout this period, leading to a mounting list of achievements.