Apprentices and student picked to take part in UK skills finals

THREE apprentices from the University of Wales Trinity Saint David’s Advanced Manufacturing Skills Academy and a student on a computer and cyber security course have been selected to take part in the prestigious Worldskills UK national finals in November.

Kodie Higgins, Sion Murray and Will Holmes competed at the Skills Wales competition earlier this year at the academy based at the university’s SA1 Waterfront campus in Swansea.

Kodie and Sion were awarded gold and silver medals respectively.

The three apprentices, who are employed at FSG Tool and Die Manufacturing Ltd in Llantrisant, went on to take part in the national qualifiers of World Skills UK and are now through to the UK national finals.

They were all part of the university’s Advanced Manufacturing Skills Academy (AMSA).

Also through to the UK national finals is the university’s MSC computer networks and cyber security student Yohannes Zerzghi.

AMSA manager Lee Pratt said: “We are immensely proud of Kodie, Sion and Will as they continue to demonstrate fantastic knowledge and skills and they are growing in confidence as a result.

“They will now undertake an intense training programme at the Academy in SA1 over the coming weeks in preparation for the final.”

The UWTSD apprentices will join over 400 students and apprentices to take part in 64 skills competitions around the country for the Worldskills UK national finals in November. In contrast to previous years, where the finals have been held in Birmingham, this year the finals are going to 25 venues. The industrial robotics final will take place in Northern Ireland, while the heavy engineering competition will be held in Cardiff.