WorldSkills UK 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

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

And the WorldSkills UK 2010 'Oscar' Goes to...

The red carpet is rolled out for the 82nd Annual Academy Awards and Hollywood’s finest are preparing to gather and celebrate achievements in their field. As we read through the list of nomination categories, we can’t help but wonder who will win the WorldSkills UK 2010 ‘Oscars’ in a number of similar categories.

Great timing and the ability to create a believable character within a role are just some of the many attributes required to be a successful actor. Do you see yourself as a future Oscar winner for best actor or actress in a leading role? Then the WorldSkills UK Performing Arts: Acting competition is for you.

Last year, Charlotte Knowles and Pip Johnson, two students from Yale College, won the gold and silver medals in this competition, giving them a great start to their acting career. Take a look at this photo gallery to see others who have entered previous WorldSkills UK competitions in this area.

Maybe ‘costume design’ is more your thing? If so, then what about considering the WorldSkills UK competition in Fashion Design?

Or perhaps you’re interested in cinematography, film editing or directing? Have you thought about the WorldSkills UK competition in Video Moving Image?

All of these competitions and more are open. But hurry, you need to enter online by 19 March 2010 to be in with a chance of walking the ‘red carpet’ at the 2010 WorldSkills UK awards.

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

Up and Coming Welsh Music Talent

It’s March 1st and our day to celebrate all things Welsh! Wales has a reputation as the ‘land of song’; today BBC Radio Wales celebrates this by spending the whole day showcasing some of the best of Welsh musical talent.

We’ve all heard of the Stereophonics, Manic Street Preachers, Super Furry Animals, Lostprophets and Feeder, to name but a few. However, Wales Music Day will lend a focus on the latest up and coming Welsh bands, such as Kids in Glass Houses. The programme will also discuss the impact of the Welsh music industry on the wider economy.

WorldSkills UK already recognises the economic and social importance of the cultural and creative sectors, offering a number of competitions to promote and develop vocational skills in these areas.

In keeping with Wales Music Day, we’re focusing on the WorldSkills UK Popular Music competition. Known as the ‘Battle of the Bands’, this competition provides an opportunity for groups to pit their skills against others in the UK. The prize for finalists consists of a 4 hour Music Directors Workshop at Tech Music Schools in London.

We want to ensure that there is sufficient Welsh representation at this competition and are calling on Welsh bands to enter online by the deadline of 19 March 2010

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

Are you a world class MasterChef?

As the BBC’s new series of MasterChef kicked off this week, it’s a good time to remind you about the WorldSkills UK cooking competition.

We’re searching for the very best of our own talented chefs to compete in the 2010 WorldSkills UK national competition, called the Wessex Salon Culinaire. Competitors will be expected to prepare a range of dishes using specific ingredients and demonstrate their creative flair.

The final will be held at the Hotel and Catering Show at the Bournemouth International Centre, 16-17 March 2010. The deadline for entries is 9 March 2010.

Read what Steve Groves, BBC MasterChef winner and past Salon competitor, has to say about his competition experience.  Inspired? Enter the Wessex Salon Culinaire competition now!

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