Students On Their Marks For Skills Olympics

Image caption: World Skills UK Live logo

Students from North Warwickshire and South Leicestershire College are preparing to compete as part of the UK’s largest skills, apprenticeships and careers event from 21-23 November 2019 at the NEC in Birmingham.

WorldSkills UK LIVE is an inspirational showcase designed to highlight the latest training, education and job opportunities. As part of the three-day event, students from across the UK who have been successful in regional heats will compete with their peers in skills challenges with the hope of bringing home a medal.

Twenty-one students from the college are due to take part in competitions designed to test their skills in digital media, visual merchandising, and creative media make-up. Top catering student Chloe Lloyd-Hughes is hoping that success in the culinary arts competition will see her secure a place in Squad UK for a chance to represent the country on an international stage.

In addition, seven students will compete in cookery, media, and health and social care competitions as part of Inclusive Skills, designed for those with special educational needs and disabilities.

In 2019, WorldSkills UK LIVE is also hosting pilots for several new skill areas in response to the UK’s Industrial Strategies and emerging industries. North Warwickshire and South Leicestershire College students will be showcasing their motor vehicle skills in special demonstrations.

WorldSkills UK is designed to help young people go further, faster in their careers, gaining the skills that employers need most. Keynote speakers at the event, building on this year’s theme of mental strength, will include TV presenter and charity campaigner Katie Piper.

Delegates will be invited to follow a ‘yellow brick road’ through the show to discover skills and future career opportunities and to experience skills demonstrations, interactive activities, engaging talks and performances. They will also watch live as skilled young people compete in exacting three-day national final competitions.

Marion Plant, OBE FCGI, Principal and Chief Executive of North Warwickshire and South Leicestershire College, who is also deputy chair and trustee of WorldSkills, said: “We are delighted that so many of our students are competing this week and we wish them all the very best of luck. They have benefited from some fantastic support from their tutors who consistently go the extra mile to help them practice and prepare themselves as well as they can.

“Competitions are an excellent way of enabling students to practice real-world employability skills including performing under pressure, delivering to tight deadlines and being judged by employers against industry standards. Taking part in live activities inspires young people to get enthusiastic about their future career options.”

WorldSkills UK LIVE is expecting to see more than 85,000 visitors over three days with over 500 students competing across 70 skills disciplines.

To find out more about the skills on offer, the college will be open at its Hinckley Campus on Tuesday, 26 November, Nuneaton Campus on Thursday, 28 November, and Wigston Campus on Tuesday, 3 December. All events run from 5pm-8pm.

Register for one of our Open Evenings here.