Coleg Cambria among top five UK colleges and number one in Wales at Worldskills competition

Coleg Cambria is on top of the world after achieving Wales’ best results at a national skills ceremony.

The college won nine medals, was highly commended in two categories and achieved a staggering 25 points at the Worldskills UK LIVE competition in Birmingham – the biggest skills, apprenticeships and careers event in the country.

Cambria finished fourth in the overall league table and number one in Wales, to the delight of Chief Executive David Jones.

“What an unbelievable effort, a remarkable result that shows how talented and determined the students and staff are here at Coleg Cambria,” said Mr Jones.

“If you take into account the medals achieved by the learners who were entered into the competition via their employers then we would be third in the table, which is testament to the partnerships we have with industry leaders here in North Wales.”

He added: “I would like to thank everyone who worked so hard for this resounding success. It’s amazing but not surprising because you are all truly exceptional.”

The students demonstrated the ability and experience they’ve gained at the college and with leading organisations in myriad sectors, from Airbus, Raytheon Systems and JCB Transmissions to Magellan Aerospace and Thomas Cook Airlines.

Cambria has a burgeoning reputation at WorldSkills and that was further reinforced at the weekend, where winners included:

Gold: George Sears (Customer Service), Karolina Witkowska (Beauty Therapy – Body) and Oscar Jackson (Aeronautical Engineering – Mechanical – Thomas Cook Airlines)

Silver: Kai Taylor (IT Support Technician), Sian Plant (Nail Technician), and Alfie Beeson, Tomas Davies and Cameron Pemberton (Manufacturing Team Challenge – JCB)

Bronze: Oliver Artell-Bolland (Sheet Metalwork Technology – Fabrication and Welding)

Highly Commended: Sarah Timperton (Aeronautical Engineering – Mechanical – Thomas Cook Airlines) and David Davies (Aeronautical Engineering – Mechanical – Raytheon)

“On top of this success we were the Competition Organising Partner for the five beauty therapy categories and were involved as judges in the Manufacturing Team Challenge and Construction Metalwork contest,” said Mr Jones.

“This shows how far we’ve come in just five years of entering WorldSkills, so well done again to our 19 competitors – you’re all winners in our eyes.”

Rona Griffiths, Deputy Director for Learner Experience and Enterprise, added: “These are remarkable young apprentices and learners with a variety of different skills. Getting to the WorldSkillsUK means each of them was among the top eight people in their skill category, which is incredible.

“Together we have shined a light on north east Wales and shown – with our industry partners – that Coleg Cambria’s talented learners and apprentices belong on the global stage.”

For more on WorldSkillsUK, visit www.worldskillsuk.org.

Visit www.wrexham.com/worldskills for information on the college’s participation in the competition.