Bridgend College celebrates WorldSkills UK National Finals success

Bridgend College was incredibly proud to be one of only five venues selected to host the WorldSkills UK National Finals last week.

Following the excitement of hosting the grand finale of the WorldSkills UK Torch Relay, our Pencoed Campus was transformed into a hub of excellence during the week. We hosted the National Finals for nine disciplines, from Aircraft Maintenance to Landscaping, with students competing for Gold, Silver, and Bronze medals. 16 Bridgend College students and apprentices qualified and competed throughout the week:

• Izabell Jones: Foundation Skills Catering
• Jesse Owen: Foundation Skills Digital 
• Sophie Davis-Jones: Foundation Skills Enterprise
• Abi Thomas: Foundation Skills Enterprise
• Bethany Johns: Foundation Skills Enterprise
• Erin Taylor: Foundation Skills Restaurant Services
• Jack Jones: Foundation Skills Health & Social Care
• Dylan Jones (Apprentice with Renishaw): Industrial Robotics 
• Joe Ashton (Apprentice with Renishaw): Industrial Robotics 
• Ossian Thomas (Apprentice with Renishaw): Industrial Robotics 
• Liam Warren (Apprentice with Renishaw): Industrial Robotics 
• Luke Bodenham (Apprentice with SonyUK TEC): Industrial Robotics 
• Luke Evans (Apprentice with SonyUK TEC): Industrial Robotics 
• Roman Hrymalskyi: IT Support Technician
• Anton Alayev: IT Support Technician
• David Thomas: Landscaping

Following the awards ceremony hosted on Friday at the ICC in Newport, students secured medals in the following categories:

• Jesse Owen: Gold medal in Foundation Skills Digital
• Sophie Davis-Jones: Gold medal in Foundation Skills Enterprise
• Abi Thomas: Gold medal in Foundation Skills Enterprise
• Bethany Johns: Gold medal in Foundation Skills Enterprise
• Dylan Jones (Apprentice with Renishaw): Gold medal in Industrial Robotics 
• Joe Ashton (Apprentice with Renishaw): Gold medal in Industrial Robotics 
• Jack Jones: Silver medal in Foundation Skills Health & Social Care
• Luke Bodenham (Apprentice with SonyUK TEC): Silver medal in Industrial Robotics 
• Luke Evans (Apprentice with SonyUK TEC): Silver medal in Industrial Robotics 
• Ossian Thomas (Apprentice with Renishaw): Bronze medal in Industrial Robotics 
• Liam Warren (Apprentice with Renishaw): Bronze medal in Industrial Robotics 
• Anton Alayev: Highly Commended in IT Support Technician
• Izabell Jones: Highly Commended in Foundation Skills Catering

These results are a testament to our students’ exceptional hard work and dedication.

Beyond the competition floor, the event provided a unique opportunity to inspire future learners as we opened our doors to schools from across Bridgend County Borough and Neath Port Talbot County Borough. With hundreds of local students on campus each day, they enjoyed a tour of the competitions to witness the high standards of the finals before visiting our vocational pop-up stalls and to take part in interactive activities. These sessions were designed to engage minds and hands, featuring industry partners and immersive experiences ranging from F1 simulators to a simulated forensic crime scene.

“We are delighted to have provided a space where education, skills, industry and vocations meet to showcase the power of collaboration and excellence. To see this week culminate in having so many young people from local schools visiting us has been extraordinary. We have also been delighted to welcome and collaborate with local employers and sectors including the BBC and Renishaw. The buzz of the community engaging with our vocational ‘Have a Go’ sessions, demonstrates the real power of these events, inspiring the future right here in Bridgend.”

Hayley Thomas, Vice Principal Curriculum and Quality

We welcomed Rhun ap Iorwerth and members of Plaid Cymru, ColegauCymru, Welsh Government, Estyn and Bridgend County Borough Council as they toured the competition areas and the interactive sessions on offer.

Between the celebrations, we held an Employers Engagement Event with over 30 visitors from local and national businesses. Guests toured the competition areas before joining a discussion on the importance of partnerships between vocational education and industry, featuring insights from the CEO of WorldSkills UK, Ben Blackledge, Jessica Leigh Jones MBE, WorldSkills UK medallist Ruben Duggan, and Mark Staveley from Arc Plant and Civils Training, who was also the sponsor for the event.

“Our pupils had a fantastic day, they loved exploring such an impressive site, and the helicopter and its mechanics session drew lots of wide eyes and great questions. Most of all, your staff were friendly, engaging and super-supportive throughout; their energy made every activity accessible and exciting. Our pupils absolutely loved it.”

WorldSkills UK visitor from Maesteg School

To take a look back on the content from the event, watch our recap of the event below.