North Hertfordshire College is proud to share that one of our Computing students and a recent Catering graduate are through to the national finals of World Skills UK! They’ll soon be going head-to-head with students and apprentices across the country as they compete to show their skills in their respective areas.
Emily Simkins, who recently completed her Level 3 Diploma in Professional Cookery, commented: “I am absolutely thrilled to have reached the national finals. I’m looking forward to meeting everyone who got through and seeing what’s to come!”
6,000 young people nationwide registered for WorldSkills UK 2023 to demonstrate their skills and learning, and the pair are amongst the 400 students selected to reach this next stage. This is a great achievement in itself – especially as this is the first year that our Catering and Computing department has reached the national stage of WorldSkills UK!
Reflecting on their achievement, North Hertfordshire College Deputy Principal Keith Turner told us: “It’s very rewarding to see the hard work of our students, and the staff who have supported them, be recognised through competitions on a national level. It has been several years since North Hertfordshire College last reached the finals of WorldSkills UK, and it is a testament to the learners’ skills, knowledge, and confidence that they have both succeeded in reaching this stage. I am very proud of their achievements and for representing the College’s values in their performance so far, and look forward to seeing the final outcome in November. I wish them both the best of luck with their training and the competition.”
Ben Blackledge, chief executive of WorldSkills UK, said: “I offer my congratulations to all of the national finalists. We know our competition-based training programmes deliver real value and benefits to the young person taking part, but the programmes also provide opportunities for the development of their educators and trainers in delivering training that meets the latest industry standards.
“The young people that take part in our national programme are a true inspiration and demonstrate the skills we have in the UK.”
What is WorldSkills UK?
WorldSkills UK is a competition-based development programme that will see 400 finalists compete for gold, silver, and bronze medals in stages relating to their studies, such as the Culinary Arts round and Network Infrastructure Technician. The National Finals of the competition will be hosted in Greater Manchester across a range of venues in November, with the medallists announced at an awards ceremony on November 17th.
The two students will now complete skill-specific training days to prepare them for the upcoming heats and will continue to work with NHC’s tutors Anthony Gascoigne and Robert Tattam to brush up their talents ahead of the big day. Check back in November to find out how they do in the finals!
If you’re interested in putting your own skills to the test, check out North Hertfordshire College’s courses for 16+ learners. At NHC, you can stay close to home and take part in amazing competitions that will see you go far in your future career!