Fenland students are celebrating after scooping awards at the annual World Skills UK competition.
College of West Anglia won silver and bronze medals as well as other awards at the competition’s national final hosted at the NEC in Birmingham and featured over 600 finalists from across the United Kingdom who were competing across 45 skills areas for recognition as being amongst the very best in their chosen vocation in the country.
Robert Carter secured a silver medal in advanced plumbing; Michelle Brett secured a bronze medal in media makeup, Rebecca Youngs was Highly Commended in media makeup while Sophie Girton was Commended in the hairdressing competition and James Simpson was Commended in the welding competition.
College Principal David Pomfret said: “This is our best year so far in the World Skills competition with 38 student entries in the regional qualifying round earlier this year helping us to secure places for Robert, Michelle, Rebecca, Sophie and James at the National Finals.
“As a passionate advocate of skills competitions in general and of World Skills in particular I have committed the college to support our students throughout their learning and the national recognition earned by these five young people is a source of great pride for the college teaching staff and for myself.”
He went on: “Whilst competing in the World Skills National Finals represents a significant achievement in its own right the accolade of Silver, Bronze and Highly Commended Awards means that our students have now secured second, third and fourth places in a skills competition which represents vocational excellence in an international context.
“I’m looking forward to congratulating all our student participants and our prize-winning competitors in person and would like to thank the college staff for leading our engagement and supporting our growing achievement in the World Skills National Competition.”
The competition was hosted at the Skills Show, which is nation’s largest skills and careers event. Attracting over 75,000 visitors over the three days, the show provides hands-on experiences that inspire young people to explore further education, skills and apprenticeships.
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