WorldSkills UK Wales

Seeking Top Tilers and other Construction Competitors

There are only 3 days to go before entry closes for SkillBuild 2010. So time is running out for top tilers and other construction trainees and workers to register for this year’s round.

Wales will host two regional heats and the SkillBuild final this year, so it is an excellent time to get involved; Coleg Sir Gâr hosts a heat in June with Coleg Menai hosting a heat in May and the final in September 2010.

SkillBuild competitions are feeder routes for WorldSkills UK and include:

Bricklaying, Cabinet Making, Carpentry, Joinery, Painting and Decorating, Plastering, Plastering and Dry Walling, Roof Slating and Tiling, Stonemasonry and
Wall and Floor Tiling.

Organised by ConstructionSkills, these competitions also offer the possibility of progressing to the international competition, WorldSkills London 2011. This round is the last chance to be considered for the Team UK that will compete in 2011.

What does competing at an international standard look like? Take a look at this short clip of the Wall and Floor Tiling competition at WorldSkills Calgary 2009.

If you think you are up for the challenge, don’t delay, register today! Entry closes at 5pm on Friday 19 March 2010.

(Acknowledgements for use of image and video: UK Skills)

Help raise the profile of vocational skills, WorldSkills and skills competitions in Wales

Spotlight on Beauty – Sign up to Compete Now!

Coleg Sir Gâr will host a regional heat of the WorldSkills UK Beauty Therapy competition on 6 May 2010. A perfect opportunity for beauty therapists across Wales to test their skills amongst the best in the country. Winners will go on to compete at the UK final in June.

If you haven’t yet registered for this competition, time is running out. Competitors must enter online by this Friday 19 March 2010. Book your place now!

The competition is open to intermediate and advanced levels. See our website for more information.

This photo gallery shows some of the 2009 finalists competing at the WorldSkills UK Beauty Therapy final. Wow, the clients in these pictures look pretty relaxed as the competitors are on top form!

Last year, the WorldSkills UK Beauty Therapy competition led to the international competition at WorldSkills Calgary 2009. Charlotte Burford, aged 19, from South Staffordshire College, competed for Team UK against the best in the world from over 50 countries.  Charlotte succeeded in bringing home a bronze medal.

Take a look at this short clip below to see Charlotte (number 16) and other competitors in action at WorldSkills Calgary 2009. Then, start your own journey and enter the WorldSkills UK competition now!

(Acknowledgements for use of photograph & video: UK Skills)

Help raise the profile of vocational skills, WorldSkills and skills competitions in Wales

Three Welsh Chefs Seeking Glory in WorldSkills UK Final

Three young chefs will display their culinary skills when they represent Wales in the WorldSkills UK Final in Bournemouth next week.

 
Pictured left to right are: Lewis Keane, aged 18 and Dylan Timperley, aged 19, both from Coleg Llandrillo Cymru, along with Kristian Fuchs, aged 19, from Pembrokeshire College.

All three will be up against chefs from England, Scotland and Northern Ireland in the final on Tuesday.

Staged at the Wessex Salon Culinaire at Bournemouth International Centre, this national competition provides an opportunity for trainee chefs to show off their cooking skills to a panel of judges.

Competitors are expected to prepare a range of dishes using specific ingredients, demonstrating their skills and creative flair. They will prepare two cold plated fish dishes for display before competing in live classes to cut a chicken for sauté and to produce two main course covers in 20 minutes using pork fillet, a carbohydrate and a vegetable garnish.

The winner of next week's competition may be invited to join the UK Squad for WorldSkills London 2011, where he or she will be up against the best in the world in their vocation.

The three Welsh chefs qualified for the final after competing in skillscompetition Wales at the Welsh Chefs Conference in Cross Hands last September. They are being mentored by award-winning chef Nick Davies, a director of Cambrian Training Company and WelshMeatOnline based in Welshpool.

Good luck to all. We will keep our fingers crossed!

(Acknowledgements: thanks to Cambrian Training Company for use of photographs)

Help raise the profile of vocational skills, WorldSkills and skills competitions in Wales

A Stroke of Success for Coleg Gwent Student Jess

This is Jess Brown, a 17 year old from Griffithstown, who is studying painting and decorating at Coleg Gwent’s Pontypool campus. Recently, she battled it out against other trainees at a  skillscompetition Wales heat, and took home the gold medal!

Although she was the only female taking part, Jess didn’t let that deter her and was over the moon to place first in the competition. We asked Jess what she thought of her experience…she said, “I’ve never entered a competition like this before as I’ve never really been interested in anything, so being able to benchmark my skills against other trainees was a great experience and winning was a very welcome bonus. It was pretty nerve-wracking but lots of fun”. Jess will now go on to compete at the skillscompetition Wales final which is being held at Bridgend College on 18 March. Keep a look out for our update on this exciting event!

We think that Jess is a great role model and news of her success comes at an opportune time with the advent of International Women’s Day this week.

As various events take place across the country, students at Swansea College are also marking the occasion as they step into each other’s shoes to try their hand at subjects they have never encountered before.

On this note, don’t forget that there will be plenty of opportunities at skillscymru 2010 to get hands on experience and try a skill. Make sure the 16-18 September 2010 is in your diary!

Help raise the profile of vocational skills, WorldSkills and skills competitions in Wales

Calling on Competitors for Challenge to Save Planet Earth!

This year it’s the 40th Anniversary of Earth Day which can often be a turning point to advance climate policy, energy efficiency, renewable energy and green jobs.

The world is in greater peril than ever and climate change is one of the greatest challenges of our time.

The WorldSkills UK Environmental Sciences competition has been designed to raise skills and awareness in the science and engineering disciplines, building talent capable of solving complex socio-economic issues.

This competition ran for the first time last year, where four teams of budding scientists, engineers and business students competed at the British Geological Survey in Nottingham.

Whilst competition tasks included the construction of a solar oven; take a look at this gallery to see teams in action; the winning team presented an energy plan for a mythical island. Their plan was based on progressively phasing in a tidal barrage and biomass generation and encouraging a programme of household energy efficiency measures.

This year, the competition final is being held at Pembrokeshire College. Teams of entrants need to register online by 19 March 2010. Competitors are urgently needed for this challenge to save planet earth. Spread the word now!

For more information see our website or contact Joanne O’Brien on 07595 201 588.

Help raise the profile of vocational skills, WorldSkills and skills competitions in Wales