WorldSkills UK Wales

Gold Medal for Welsh Engineering Champion

Dave Randels took the top prize recently at the WorldSkills UK CNC Milling competition, held at Yale College, Wrexham.

His route to the top included victory at our SkillsCompetition Wales regional event, before beating his UK-wide competitors at this final.

Dave’s success may take him to the next WorldSkills International competition when it comes to London in 2011. His tutor at Yale College, Paul Green, should have some worthwhile tips to give him as he has been out in WorldSkills Calgary participating as a technical observer!

Wales secured two other medals via Yale College, with Paul Howard taking the silver, and Harry Morgan taking the bronze, in CNC turning. These students too will have their eyes on WorldSkills London 2011.

For those of you who don’t know, CNC milling and turning requires individuals to use computer numerical control (CNC) machines to cut and shape metal into components used in manufacturing. Operators control the automated tools digitally using numerical codes, and they need to understand the manufacturing process in order to programme the machines accurately. 

As our supporting picture shows, whilst the skills required are highly technical, the result is quite a work of art!

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

Floristry in Focus

Team UK’s Joe Massie won the bronze medal in floristry at WorldSkills Calgary 2009. Whilst our eyes were focused on the ultimate competition, a little closer to home Wales’ own budding floristry stars were showing their skills recently.

Charlotte Cooke, from Abergavenny and a Coleg Gwent student, won the gold medal at the final of the UK Skills Floristry competition. She competed in the over two years’ experience category.

Another Welsh competitor, Amy Doyle from Kinmel Bay in Conwy, won the bronze medal in the under two years’ experience category.

Competitors are required to work with a previously unseen selection of flowers, foliage and sundries to create a variety of floral designs, including wired pieces, bouquets, body adornments and room decorations.

We’ll be keeping our eyes on these talented individuals as their skills blossom further!

 

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

Welsh colleges are urged to back Worldskills

COLLEGES and training providers are being urged to enter a major competition to promote the region's skills around the world. 

Dr Haydn Edwards has been appointed as the first WorldSkills Champion for Wales and says he is confident Wales will be well represented in the UK team to compete in the WorldSkills competitions when they come to London in 2011 – if colleges and training providers pledge their support. Dr Edwards, principal of Coleg Menai in Bangor, was appointed WorldSkills Champion for Wales last summer after being nominated by fforwm, the organisation representing further education colleges and institutions in Wales. 

Colleges, training providers and sector skills councils will be holding competitions in a wide range of skill categories this year. 

Following regional heats, winners of the Welsh finals in each category may also be invited to compete again at the WorldSkills UK finals for the chance to represent the UK at the world's largest skills competition. 

WorldSkills is held every two years, with 51 countries competing in over 40 different vocational skills. WorldSkills 2009 is being held in Calgary, Canada, in September and WorldSkills 2011 will be held in London. "

Wales really must get its act together to ensure we punch above our weight at UK level and in the forthcoming WorldSkills competitions," said Dr Edwards.