TWELVE LEARNERS from Coleg Gwent — one of the UK’s largest further education colleges — won medals (1 gold, 6 silver, 3 bronze and 2 highly commended) at the WorldSkills UK competition last week (19 – 22 November), in Manchester.
Selected from hundreds of entrants, 16 talented Coleg Gwent students made it to the competition’s final — in recognition of their skills across a range of disciplines, from creative makeup and woodworking to catering, media production and hairdressing.
WorldSkills UK is a four nations partnership between education, industry and UK governments — which works to raise standards in apprenticeships and technical education to help transform the UK into a ‘skills economy’.
In support of this, the annual WorldSkills UK competition seeks to recognise and celebrate the exceptional work and skills being showcased at local colleges, training providers, workplaces and online education platforms across the country.
Over 400 competitors from across the UK battled to be crowned ‘skills champion’ in their specialist areas this year, with a total of 12 medals won by Coleg Gwent pupils. This huge success reaffirms Coleg Gwent’s position in the top ten colleges across the UK for skills training — finishing in 1st place out of those who entered from Wales and 5th place in the competition overall*.
Inspired by his Grandad to join the Woodworking course at Coleg Gwent, Max Seaborne was able to claim first place for his work in the ‘Inclusive Woodworking’ category, with his classmate Jayden Davies clinching the third-place spot.
Commenting on his win, Max said: “Winning this award has helped me feel proud of what I’ve achieved so far, and of what I might be able to do in the future. I hope to be self-employed as a carpenter one day, just like my Grandad.
“It’s with thanks to my family, but also my tutors and the support of the college that I’ve been able to develop my skills enough to win this award. To anyone who’s thinking about doing a similar course, go for it! And remember, don’t give up — keep trying, keep practicing, you will get there.”
Making a mark in the world of vehicle refinishing, Teagan Whiteman was also able to bag a bronze award in the Auto Paint category.
They said: “I have a great passion for cars and the refinishing process, plus doing my course with Coleg Gwent as part of my apprenticeship means that I’ve been able to get qualified, learn, meet new people and earn my own money at the same time.
“Entering the competition seemed like a great opportunity to give me more experience and provide me with more opportunities for my future career. I’m proud to be coming away with a bronze — it’s given me a chance to gain a bit of recognition for not only myself but the college which has gotten me to where I am today.”
Another learner named ‘skills champion’ in their respective field is Mozhdeh Zarrinderakht, who won a Highly Commended award in Hairdressing.
Mozhdeh said: “Winning an award makes me feel incredibly proud and accomplished. It’s such a rewarding feeling to see all my hard work, dedication, and passion recognised. It also validates the journey I’ve taken into hairdressing and reassures me that I made the right choice in pursuing this career.
“I was supported by so many wonderful people throughout my journey, but my tutor at Coleg Gwent played an especially important role. They went above and beyond to guide me, sharing their expertise and giving me the confidence to believe in my abilities.
“Their passion for teaching and dedication to my progress truly inspired me, and I couldn’t have achieved this without their support.”
Richard Wheeler, Skills Competition Manager at Coleg Gwent summarised: “I am so proud once again to see our learners succeed at the WorldSkills UK 2024 competition. Their dedication and hard work have truly paid off, as evidenced by their outstanding achievements.
“The skills they have developed through training and practice are not only impressive but also vital for their future careers. Our learners are a testament to the high standards of education and training we aim to provide, and I couldn’t be prouder of their accomplishments.”
