WorldSkills is a fantastic competition that aims to improve the skills and development of young people across the world.  

It encourages our students to step outside their comfort zone and go against a range of different people to improve their confidence and ability and be a part of something they may have not previously considered. 

At Weston College, we encourage all our learners to apply for WorldSkills in order to compete in something they are passionate about, and this year, three of our students have passed the application process and made it to the National Finals of WorldSkills in November 2024 – Aidan, Amber and Jack.  

Aidan will be competing in the Welding category where he will show off his skills against the other finalists. He is currently completing a Level 3 Plate Welding Apprenticeship where he spends 16 hours a week preparing for WorldSkills. This preparation ties in well with his course but the welds he has been practising are more complex than those he needs to complete his course.  

Aidan says, “the facilities at Weston College are excellent! They supply me with everything I need to succeed and the welders they use are the same as the ones I’ll be using at WorldSkills. 

The staff are always there to keep me motivated for WorldSkills and my lecturer is very supportive and will always try his best to help me when I’m stuck. 

I hope I’m able to do well in the WorldSkills final so I can represent the college and my workplace.” 

Amber will be competing in the Foundation Skills Health and Social Care category, an area which was the closest to childcare and allows her to widen her knowledge base and learn more about different life skills.

She is currently on her 2nd year of the ‘Into Work’ course which allows her to prepare for work in a supported environment. Amber balances her studies with her WorldSkills preparations by having one call a week to practice for WorldSkills, discussing what the assessments will entail, and how she can prepare for it herself. After Weston College, Amber wants to work in Childcare with SEND students. 

WorldSkills has already helped Amber gain a better understanding of Health and Safety, quality of care, and preparing her for work. The competition will be testing her on risk assessments, how to deal with certain scenarios, and her main exam will be role playing a phone call as a care worker to ensure that she can communicate effectively and ask the appropriate questions. 

Amber is excited to be competing in WorldSkills and said, “the staff have been really supportive, whatever I need they’re on hand to help me.” 

Jack will be competing in the Foundation Skills Horticulture category, allowing him to deepen his love for gardening and prove his skills against others.  

Similarly to Amber, Jack completed the ‘Into Work’ course at Weston College and found his passion for gardening when he worked at both The Garden on South West Skills Campus, and at Butcombe Farm.  

He completed his work experience at Red Chilli Kitchen where he made chilli sauces and sold them to raise money for charity. Jack worked so hard that he secured a job at the end and now works at Uncle Paul’s Chilli Farm charity doing gardening. 

Jack balances his work with WorldSkills, ensuring he practices at least one day a week to prepare himself. He has found the staff at Weston College to be helpful in readying him and making sure he is fully aware of what to expect going into WorldSkills. 

Jack says, “I am feeling a bit nervous because I don’t want to mess anything up, but I know that I will give it my all no matter what the result is”. 

Good luck to all three of you in WorldSkills! 

Photo: courtesy of WorldSkills International