Coleg Gwent go for gold at WorldSkills UK

Coleg Gwent go for gold at WorldSkills UK

Coleg Gwent students have struck gold at the recent WorldSkills UK LIVE national finals, beating counterparts from colleges across the UK at the Awards Ceremony on Saturday 23^rd November.

The national finals of WorldSkills UK Competitions cover 70 different skills across industries including digital, technology, engineering and construction. The UK’s largest skills, apprenticeship and careers event, attracted more than 70,000 spectators to the NEC in Birmingham.

Coleg Gwent students Danielle Hall and Nathan Parfitt secured Gold medals in Personal Training and 3D Digital Game Art respectively, while Shane Powell received a Silver medal for Hairdressing. Daniel Gabica was 3^rd in the Inclusive Skills: Motor Vehicle category.

Coleg Gwent was one of four Welsh colleges to make it into this year’s league table and ranks ninth in the top 10 for the third year running

Gold medallist Danielle who is currently studying Sports Massage and Exercise Referral at Coleg Gwent’s Usk Campus said: “World Skills has been an incredible experience from start to finish, I would recommend it to anyone. The tutors here have been fantastic at getting me prepared, I could not have asked for better. WorldSkills has given me a huge advantage for the real world as I have actually put all my skills into practice.

I am so grateful to have had this opportunity and am still in shock that I came out with Gold. All the competitors were fantastically skilled and I was so happy with what I’d gained from the experience, to win was the icing on the cake. I am beyond grateful and honoured to bring home the gold medal for Coleg Gwent and for Wales. You can do anything when you have the support system I have been so blessed to have.”

Helen Morgan, Head of School Landbased and Sport, Coleg Gwent – Usk Campus said: “Danielle has worked so hard in preparing for this and the Gold medal is well deserved.  She grew in confidence throughout the competition.

Well done and thank you for all of your hard work. We are all so proud at the Usk Campus.”

WorldSkills UK competitions are open to students and apprentices from all over the UK where employers, colleges and schools can register learners to take part. The competition had more than 500 apprentices and students. Those taking part in the competitions are hoping to secure the opportunity to represent the UK at the WorldSkills Finals, known as the ‘skills Olympics’ in Shanghai in 2021.

The successful Coleg Gwent students making it through to the national finals were:

• Danielle Hall from Newport, is studying for a Diploma in Sports Massage and Exercise Referral Level 3 at Usk Campus.
• Nathan Parfitt from Newport, is studying for a Diploma in Creative Media Production and Technology at Crosskeys Campus.
• Shane Powell from Blaenavon, is studying City & Guilds NVQ Level 3 Hairdressing at the City of Newport Campus.
• Daniel Gabica from Newport studies the City & Guilds Diploma level 1 in Vehicle Maintenance at the City of Newport Campus.
• Andrew Burgess from Risca is studying BTEC HNC Level 4 in Mechanical Engineering at Crosskeys Campus.