Bridgend College Celebrates Student Success at Skills Competition Wales Awards

Bridgend College students celebrated outstanding success in Skills Competition Wales this week, taking home 27 medals across a wide range of competitions.

The College hosted a live watch party at its STEAM Academy, bringing together students, tutors, staff and families to watch the awards ceremony and celebrate the achievements of learners who had taken part in this year’s competitions.

Skills Competition Wales provides learners and apprentices with the opportunity to test their skills in a competitive environment that reflects real industry challenges, showcasing vocational excellence across Wales. Funded by the Welsh Government, the annual competition programme runs between January and March across a wide range of areas.

This year, Bridgend College learners achieved 20 Gold, 5 Silver and 2 Bronze medals, alongside 15 Highly Commended awards, marking the highest number of Gold medals the College has achieved in Skills Competition Wales to date.

Students competed in a variety of disciplines including Industrial Robotics, Fashion Design and Technology, Sustainable Agriculture and Photography, highlighting the breadth of talent across the College.

We would like to congratulate all students who took part in the Skills Competitions this year and we are incredibly proud of all our competitors and our award winners. Here are the 2026 winners from Bridgend College:

• Inclusive Skills (Child Care): Kamile Bartkeviciute, Bronze
• Fashion Design and Technology: Neve Williams, Bronze
• Sustainable Agriculture: Gwen Haines, Gold
• Sustainable Agriculture: Joel Harvey, Gold
• Sustainable Agriculture: Zachery Jackson, Gold
• Sustainable Agriculture: Evan Price, Gold
• Beauty Therapist: Mali Shilling, Gold
• Inclusive Skills (Life Skills): Rebecca Wykes, Gold
• Photography: Shay Crossfield, Gold
• Popular Music: Madeline Nash, Gold
• Popular Music: Samuel Price, Gold
• Popular Music: Lili Richards, Gold
• Popular Music: Rhys Thorne, Gold
• Performing Arts: Sommer Cann, Gold
• Performing Arts: Phoebe Davies, Gold
• Performing Arts: Isla Evans, Gold
• Performing Arts: Sophie James, Gold
• Performing Arts: Ffion Jones, Gold
• Performing Arts: Amelia Kelly , Gold
• Performing Arts: Grace Parkin, Gold
• Textiles and Surface Pattern Skills: Catrin Jones Barber, Gold
• Inclusive Skills (Child Care): Seren Nelson, Gold
• Industrial Robotics: Kian Bailey, Silver
• Industrial Robotics: Ryan Oaten, Silver
• Inclusive Skills (Restaurant Service): Wyatt Davies, Silver
• IT Support Technician: Elissa Milton, Silver
• Inclusive Skills (IT Software Solutions for Business): Daisy Chambers, Silver

Highly Commended

• Inclusive Skills (Horticulture): Harvey Rosser
• Brickwork: Nicholas Davies
• Brickwork: Samuel Elias
• Brickwork: Nathan Lewis-Parr
• Industrial Robotics: Poppy Cole
• Industrial Robotics: Dylan Williams
• Additive Manufacturing: Joe Ashton
• Health and Social Care: Jack Jones
• Inclusive Skills (Health and Social Care): Caylin Cook
• Inclusive Skills (Health and Social Care): Alicia Davies
• Inclusive Skills (Life Skills): James Davies
• IT Support Technician: Harrison Brown
• Photography: Tia Hurley
• Fashion Design and Technology: Elizabeth Bond
• Textiles and Surface Pattern Skills: Sofia Saunders

“It’s wonderful to see so many of our learners recognised for their hard work and dedication through their success at this year’s awards. Competitions like this provide a valuable opportunity for all learners to challenge themselves, develop their skills and gain confidence in a professional setting, while also showcasing their abilities and talents. Experiences like these help enhance their opportunities within their chosen sector. Competing at this level takes real commitment, and our students have demonstrated an exceptional standard of skill, creativity and professionalism. We are incredibly proud of every learner who took part and of the way they have represented themselves and the College.”
Hayley Thomas, Vice Principal – Curriculum and Quality

The competitions span four key sectors: Construction and Infrastructure; Engineering and Technology; Health, Hospitality and Lifestyle; and Digital, Business and Creative. Delivered through the Inspiring Skills Excellence in Wales project, Skills Competition Wales also offers participants the opportunity to progress to national and international competitions, including WorldSkills UK and WorldSkills International.