Latest news with #WorldSkillsUKNationalFinals
Business News Wales
5 days ago
- Business
- Business News Wales
UWTSD Students Named WorldSkills UK Finalists
University of Wales Trinity Saint David (UWTSD) computing students Luke Redmore, a Digital Degree Apprenticeship student in Software Engineering, and Rehan Joseph, a BSc Computer Networks and Cyber Security student, have been selected as finalists in the WorldSkills UK National Finals 2025. UWTSD's Tamzin Brewer, a junior technician at the University's Centre for Advanced Batch Manufacturing (CBM Wales) and Lloyd Thomas a trainee CNC machinist at Safran seats, who is being supported by the university's Advanced Manufacturing Skills Academy, have also been named as finalists in the CNC competition. Their selection comes as UWTSD prepares to act as one of the official host venues for the national finals of the competition this November. WorldSkills UK is a high-profile celebration of vocational and technical excellence. The competition brings together top-performing students and apprentices from across the country to compete in industry-specific challenges judged by leading professionals. 'Being selected is a huge honour and a testament to the talent, dedication, and support available here at UWTSD,' said Luke Redmore, who is currently completing his software engineering placement within the UK Civil Service. 'At first, I wasn't sure I belonged. I'm 'just' a software engineer, but my lecturer saw potential in me and encouraged me to go for it. The confidence I've gained through this process has been life-changing.' Luke, aged 21, from Neath, who joined UWTSD through a digital degree apprenticeship route, described his journey as one of personal and professional growth, overcoming imposter syndrome and pushing himself outside his comfort zone. 'UWTSD's blend of real-world experience with academic learning was exactly what I needed,' he said. Meanwhile, Rehan Joseph, aged 20, from Swansea, who has just completed his first year studying Computer Networks and Cyber Security, said the competition has helped sharpen his focus on career goals. 'I've always been curious about how networks and systems operate behind the scenes. Competing in the WorldSkills UK National Finals in the Network Infrastructure Technician category is a huge moment for me. It's confirmed I'm on the right path, and it's motivated me to aim even higher.' Rehan credits the University's supportive academic environment for helping him build confidence and technical ability at an early stage in his degree. 'Preparing for WorldSkills has made me think and work like a professional. I'm very grateful to my lecturers for pushing me to realise what I'm capable of,' he said. As part of the event, the university will welcome competitors, experts, and visitors from across the UK to its Swansea Waterfront campus, supporting the delivery of industry-relevant challenges and championing skills education. Dr Mark Cocks, Dean of the University's Wales Institute of Science and Art, said: 'This is a proud moment for UWTSD. To see our students named once again as finalists in the WorldSkills UK National Finals is a reflection of their talent, hard work, and the dedication of our academic and support teams. It also speaks volumes about the quality of education and real-world preparation we offer. 'Hosting the national finals further highlights our commitment not just to academic excellence, but to leading the way in skills development across the UK. It's an incredible opportunity for our students, our staff, and for the wider community to showcase the power and potential of vocational and technical education.'
Business News Wales
5 days ago
- Business
- Business News Wales
Cardiff and Vale College Sends Record Number of Competitors to the WorldSkills UK Finals
More learners and apprentices from Cardiff and Vale College (CAVC) than ever before will be taking part in this year's WorldSkills UK Finals. A record 16 learners and apprentices from the college will compete in a range of disciplines when the WorldSkills UK Finals come to Wales in November, and the college will be hosting some of the heats. CAVC will also compete in Beauty Therapist and Accounting Technician for the first time. The learners and apprentices will compete against regional winners of skills contests from across the UK in their discipline. Winners at the WorldSkills UK Finals then stand a chance of representing the UK at 'the Skills Olympics' – the international WorldSkills Finals 2028 in Japan. The CAVC Finalists are: Nicola Smith – Accounting Technician Alison Ling – Accounting Technician Ruby Edwards – Aircraft Maintenance David Morgan – Aircraft Maintenance David Morgan – Aircraft Maintenance Belal Al Haka – Automotive Body Repair Owen Thomas – Automotive Body Repair Logan Sweet – Automotive Refinishing Anisa Abdin – Beauty Therapist Dominic Walker – Foundation Skills: Restaurant Services Oliver Thomas – Heavy Vehicle Technology Austin Peacock – Heavy Vehicle technology Daniel Pitman – IT Support Technician Daniel James – Network Infrastructure Technician Travis Huntley – Wall and Floor Tiling Alex Ainley – Wall and Floor Tiling Joseph Burgess – Wall and Floor Tiling Cardiff and Vale College Principal Sharon James-Evans said: 'We wish the very best of luck to the 16 of our learners and apprentices who will be taking part in the WorldSkills UK National Finals in November. We are all extremely proud of you. 'At Cardiff and Vale College we passionately believe in the importance of skills competitions such as WorldSkills UK and the role they play in inspiring people to develop high level skills. Skills are vital for businesses of all sectors and sizes, and for economies across the world. High level skills make businesses better, more capable and efficient, attracting customers and contributing to more prosperous communities and economies. 'That is why WorldSkills UK is so important. It brings these messages together and highlights them on a UK-wide scale, showing employers and governments that investing in skills is investing in the future.'
Western Telegraph
17-07-2025
- Sport
- Western Telegraph
West Wales students ready for WorldSkills National Finals
Of the 120 strong Welsh students entering this year's WorldSkills national final, 20 are from west Wales, with 15 of these being from Pembrokeshire. Among them is 17-year-old Elara Jones from Cardigan who is competing in the Beauty Therapy Practitioner competition. Elara won a Gold Medal at the Skills Competition Wales competition in March this year in Beauty Therapy Practitioner level 3 category. The Coleg Ceredigion student also won bronze in the beauty therapy category in last year's national finals and has achieved silver medals at levels one and two in Skills Competition Wales. 'Winning gold at Skills Competition Wales and now being selected for the WorldSkills UK National Finals shows that all the hard work and effort I've put in has really paid off,' said Elara. 'I'm so pleased, it feels like everything I've done has been building up to this moment, and it means a lot to see it all lead to something so exciting.' This year's national final will be held in Wales for the very first time this November. The UK's flagship skills competition will come to several Welsh venues allowing the country shine on the national stage. With 417 competitors taking part from across the UK and 47 finals planned, this event is not just a contest but a nationwide celebration of world-class vocational and technical training. Wales will be strongly represented; a record breaking 120 young people from across the country have earned their place following standout performances in qualifier heats. This means 29 per cent of the national finalists will be Welsh competitors; an increase from last year's already impressive one in four. Competitors will demonstrate their abilities in a wide range of disciplines, including 3D Digital Game Art, Aircraft Maintenance, Health and Social Care and Culinary Arts. Those who impress under pressure might be selected to represent the UK on the international stage at the 'Skills Olympics' in Japan in 2028. Minister for culture, skills and social partnership Jack Sargeant said: 'These competitions show the real-world value and applications of apprenticeships and are invaluable in futureproofing our economy. 'I am proud Wales is hosting the WorldSkills Finals UK 2025. We have a beautiful country, and I hope all visitors will take some time to explore it. 'I wish this new cohort of competitors pob lwc – I know you'll do yourselves and us all proud.' For more information on WorldSkills UK and how to start your journey as a competitor, tutor or employer in Wales, visit
Business News Wales
10-07-2025
- Business
- Business News Wales
WorldSkills UK National Finals to Be Held in Wales for the First Time
The WorldSkills UK National Finals 2025 is set to be hosted in Wales for the first time in November. With 417 competitors taking part from across the UK and 47 finals planned, this event is a nationwide celebration of world-class vocational and technical training. A record breaking 120 young people from across Wales have earned their place following standout performances in qualifier heats. This means 29% of the national finalists will be made up of Welsh competitors – an increase from last year's one in four. Welsh Government confirmed its partnership to host the UK National Finals with Inspiring Skills Excellence and WorldSkills UK last September, following the successful WorldSkills finals in Lyon. That collaboration has paved the way for this year's National Finals to take place across five venues in Wales, from 26 to 28 November. Competitors will demonstrate their abilities in a wide range of disciplines, including 3D Digital Game Art, Aircraft Maintenance, Health and Social Care and Culinary Arts. Those who impress under pressure might be selected to represent the UK on the international stage at the 'Skills Olympics' in Japan in 2028. Minister for Culture, Skills and Social Partnership Jack Sargeant, said: 'These competitions show the real-world value and applications of apprenticeships and are invaluable in futureproofing our economy. 'I am proud Wales is hosting the WorldSkills Finals UK 2025. We have a beautiful country, and I hope all visitors will take some time to explore it. 'I wish this new cohort of competitors pob lwc – I know you'll do yourselves and us all proud.' An integral part of the post-16 education and training calendar, the WorldSkills UK Competitions attract over 6,000 registrations from across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland annually. The competition-based training programmes provide education institutions and employers with opportunities to develop and benchmark the abilities of their students and apprentices against international standards. Mark Wright, apprentice at International Crusher Solutions Ltd, is competing in the Metal Fabricator competition. He said: 'I started out in Construction Metalwork competitions last year and won gold in the Skills Competition Wales with the highest score in the region, and Silver in WorldSkills UK. 'I enjoyed them so much that I decided to go for the UK qualifiers this year in Metal Fabrication too, and I'm over the moon to be heading to the WorldSkills UK National Finals. It's a great experience, and I just focus, get stuck in, and enjoy it.' Elara Jones, who is competing in the Beauty Therapy Practitioner competition, said: 'Winning gold at Skills Competition Wales and now being selected for the WorldSkills UK National Finals shows that all the hard work and effort I've put in has really paid off. 'I'm so pleased, it feels like everything I've done has been building up to this moment, and it means a lot to see it all lead to something so exciting.' Bradley Claringbold, who is heading to WorldSkills UK to compete in the Industrial Electronics competition for the second time, added: 'I started with Skills Competition Wales and won gold – it was fun, something completely new, and I'd never done anything like it before. 'I got selected for the WorldSkills UK National Finals last year but didn't place in the top three, so this year I'm going back in to improve and show how far I've come. The additional training has helped me learn so much more, and I'm really excited to have another shot.'
Pembrokeshire Herald
23-05-2025
- Sport
- Pembrokeshire Herald
Haverfordwest Welding apprentice set to shine at EuroSkills
A TALENTED 18-year-old apprentice from Haverfordwest is set to represent Team UK at EuroSkills 2025, Europe's largest skills competition. Taking place in Denmark this September, Team UK consists of 19 competitors from across the UK, with Wales making up an impressive 37% of the team. Their participation highlights Wales' commitment to excellence in vocational skills and underscores the nation's ability to compete at the highest level on the European stage. Currently an apprentice at Haven Engineering and a student at Pembrokeshire College, Luke Roberts began his competition journey with Skills Competition Wales, where he claimed a silver medal in the Welding competition. His talents didn't go unnoticed, with him shortly after progressing to the WorldSkills UK National Finals in Manchester, earning a Highly Commended title and catching the attention of national trainers. Following an intense round of pressure tests where candidates were scored not just on their welding skills, but also technique, time, and finish, Luke was officially selected for EuroSkills. Luke said: 'It was such a tight decision between me and another really talented welder to go to EuroSkills. We were so close in skill, but I scored slightly higher on the pressure test. 'I was buzzing when I found out I was heading to Denmark. It'll be my first time on a plane, and I get to go with my training manager, Carl. It's amazing the places you get to travel with skills competitions. If I'm lucky enough to qualify for WorldSkills International competitions, I'll get to go to Shanghai!' Luke's journey has already taken him far, personally and professionally, by helping him believe in his abilities and develop in his industry. He continued: 'Competing has helped my confidence massively. You meet loads of new people, learn to weld using different processes like TIG, aluminum and stainless, and it's a huge boost to your CV. It makes you stand out.' Now preparing for EuroSkills in Herning, Denmark, Luke is training alongside his national teammates and forging friendships across the UK. He said: 'The networking opportunities throughout my skills competition journey have been endless. I'm currently working alongside a guy from Grimsby for EuroSkills who I'd never met before, but we get on like we've known each other for years. While he admits the reality of EuroSkills 'hasn't quite hit', Luke is excited to be part of something so big. He continued: 'In Manchester I put a lot of pressure on myself, but this time I just want to enjoy it, stay calm, and do my best. I've already learned so much about myself through this.' Luke credits his college lecturers and training mentors for helping him progress. 'My employer has been brilliant and allowed me to do additional training in work hours. College and work have been a huge support, and we've had such a laugh along the way.' 'I'd definitely encourage others to give it a go. It's been a great experience, I've got to travel, make new friends, be more qualified in my skill and also have boosted my CV too. It's so worthwhile.' Competitions in Wales are delivered by Inspiring Skills, a Welsh Government-funded initiative dedicated to promoting vocational excellence. Through Skills Competition Wales and international training support, it helps young people develop world-class skills, gain confidence, and represent Wales on a global stage. Looking ahead to the future, Luke is focused on giving his all at EuroSkills Herning 2025, with the ultimate goal of a place at the global WorldSkills Shanghai 2026, often dubbed the 'skills Olympics'. He hopes his journey will inspire more young people in Wales to believe in their capabilities and enroll in skills competitions. To start your skills competition in Wales and for more information on how you can get involved as a competitor, employer or skills champion, go to:
