TALENTED Pembrokeshire College students have proved they are among some of the best young trainees in the UK bringing home four medals from a national competition.
A total of ten Pembrokeshire College learners secured places in the WorldSkills UK Finals held at the NEC, Birmingham after scoring highly in the national qualifiers.
They joined over 500 competitors from across the UK competing for medals in this prestigious competition.
Their medal haul included a silver medal for Ephiny Matchwick in the Inclusive Skills Horticulture competition, bronze medals for Adam Noke in Inclusive Skills Horticulture, Charlotte Phillips-Poupard in Beauty Therapy and Jay Blair in Welding as well as a highly commended award for Zara Morgan in Beauty Therapy.
Although one of the smallest colleges in Wales, this impressive medal haul placed Pembrokeshire College in joint 13th position in the UK.
In addition to this recent success, two of the College’s former WorldSkills UK competitors are currently training as part of the Squad UK training programme, which could see them representing the UK at the international WorldSkills competition due to take place in Russia in 2019.
With over 85,000 people visiting WorldSkills UK Live over the three days, Skills and Apprenticeships Minister Anne Milton MP, hailed WorldSkills UK LIVE as ‘critical to the future of this nation’.
Taking part in skills competitions is an important part of many courses at the College and allows learners to test their skills against the best of the best, learning how to work under pressure and giving them a real point of difference as they progress to employment or further study.
Dr Barry Walters, Interim Principal at Pembrokeshire College commented: "We are incredibly proud of the ten learners who made it through to the UK Finals. Competing at this level is proven to enhance a young person’s skills as well as helping them to develop key interpersonal and employability skills."
To find out more about the range of courses available at the College go to pembs.ac.uk
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