WorldSkills UK Wales

Bursting with Energy?

Well you could be a candidate for this year’s SkillELECTRIC competition in the 2010 search for the best electrician.

In 2009, Richard Sagar (pictured), proved he was the best electrician in the world, winning the gold medal for Team UK at the WorldSkills Calgary competition!

The search starts with finding the best in the UK. If you are up for the challenge then you should apply by 31 March 2010.

SkillELECTRIC is one of four competitions that make up the suite of Skill M&E competitions:

• SkillELECTRIC for the electrical industry
• SkillPLUMB for the plumbing industry
• SkillFRIDGE for the refrigeration and air conditioning industry
• SkillPIPE for the heating and ventilating industry

All competitions are currently open. Enter now!

(Acknowledgements for use of photograph: UK Skills)

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

New Year, New Challenge?

If you think you are at the top of your game, then enter this year’s WorldSkills UK competitions.

Outstanding performers from this competition round will be considered for the team selected to represent the UK at WorldSkills London 2011.

Closing date for entries is 19 March 2010. Go on, get involved!

 

(Acknowledgements: UK Skills)

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

Celebrations for Golden Brush Strokes - and more!

We spent the day in London yesterday at the WorldSkills UK 2009 Competition Awards. The event celebrated the fantastic achievements of gold medal winners from this year’s WorldSkills UK Competition cycle.

Held at London’s IMAX Cinema, celebrity chef James Martin was on hand to congratulate the crème-de-la-crème of this year’s talent pool.

Wales’ celebrations included the winning brush strokes of Matthew Evans, (pictured here), who scooped the gold medal in the SkillBuild Painting & Decorating competition organised by ConstructionSkills in October 2009.   

Charlotte Cooke, (Advanced Floristry) and David Randles (CNC Milling) also accepted their trophies with their proud supporters cheering them on. 

Charlotte Knowles (Performing Arts: Acting) and Philip Foulkes (Plastering) completed Wales’ bank of 5 gold medal winners.

Around the venue there were some wonderful displays of work produced by WorldSkills UK competitors - all of such high standards that we felt we were truly in the presence of greatness!

(Acknowledgements for use of photograph: UK Skills)

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

What a Performance!

Wales upped its WorldSkills UK medals tally again recently with winning performances by Charlotte Knowles and Pip Johnson.

Both were students at Yale College and took part in a number of acting competitions, leading to the WorldSkills UK final. Charlotte won the gold medal and Pip took the silver, beating their competitors from across the UK.

Both have clear ideas about the direction of their immediate futures…. Congratulations both!

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