‘Midas’ Medallists Strike Gold
EAL learners struck Gold at the nations biggest skills fiesta – The Skills Show in Birmingham this weekend.
Many will now continue their intensive training and represent their nation at The WorldSkills Finals to be held in Abu Dhabi in 2017.
More than 130 young people took part in the WorldSkills UK engineering competitions run by employer-led Enginuity at the Skills Show in Birmingham’s NEC on November 18-21, which attracted more than 100,000 visitors.
Gold, silver and bronze medals were handed out at the Big Celebration to mark their achievements after three days of intensive competition involving tasks ranging from concept and design through to manufacturing a working product.
Julia Chippendale, Managing Director of specialist industry awarding organization EAL (Excellence, Achievement, Learning) said: “All our learners that competed should be proud – and those that struck gold especially so.
“The competition was more intense than ever this year – and the fact that our learners featured so high in the medal table speaks volumes for the quality of our awards – and their training providers.”
The Skills Show, which ran from November 19 to 21 at Birmingham’s NEC, is organised by Find a Future - the educational organisation that brings together WorldSkills UK Skills Competitions, The Skills Show and The Skills Show Experience, providing young people across the UK with the chance to unlock their potential and get inspired about the world of work.
Through hands-on skills competitions and experiential careers events, it aims to develop their understanding of, and engagement with, further education, apprenticeships and skills.
Around 100,000 visitors had the opportunity to try over 45 skills for themselves in the interactive “Have a Go” experiences across the show in careers ranging from hairdressing to engineering, hospitality to plumbing.
AND THE EAL WINNERS WERE:
CNC Milling
Ethan Davies, 20, from Mynydd, Flintshire. Employed as an apprentice CNC machinist by Electroimpact, in Hawarden. Studies at Coleg Cambria and has been awarded EAL’s Level 3 engineering certificate.
“It has been a tough week with early morning competitions and late night practising but it has been all worth it in the end. I am an EAL learner and Coleg Cambria have got me through all my training and got me the apprenticeship with Electroimpact. They have supported me massively throughout the whole process. My EAL qualification has done me really well and helped me throughout my whole learning."
CNC Turning
Phillip Whiteside, 19, from Preston. Employed as an apprentice at Rolls-Royce with an EAL NVQ Level 3.
“I would like to thank everyone back at work and the trainers at WorldSkills for helping me achieve a Gold medal. The EAL qualification has given me the foundations and taught me the basics in engineering to get to where I needed to be.”
Construction MetalWork
Thomas Woodburn, 18, Darwen, Lancashire, WEC Group Ltd, working towards an EAL welding qualification.
“I thought I had done alright but not this good! It is a real shock to win Gold. My instructor Kris Mason gave me excellent training leading up to the event – WorldSkills is an amazing event and I hope to be working with the squad and get to Abu Dhabi.”
Sheet MetalWork (Advanced)
Thomas French, 18, of Stoke, employed by KMF Precision Ltd, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire, studying Level 2 EAL manual welding certificate.
“It feels good to be named best in Britain – I didn’t expect it. The distractions around it with the crowds made it difficult. I hope to aim for WorldSkills in Abu Dhabi and be the best I can be.”
Welding
Jamie Lee Robinson, 23, of Workington Cumbria, a welder at Tata Steel Projects, studying EAL Manual Welding Certificate at Lakes College, West Cumbria. He won a silver medal last year.
“My tutor Clive Bell has helped me immensely, as have my company and my family. The competition has opened so many doors for me for a career in engineering. Receiving the Gold medal shows that all my work has paid off.”
