Engineer ready to represent UK in the ‘skills Olympics’
OSCAR Mcnaughton from the University of Wales Trinity Saint David (UWTSD) has been selected to represent the UK at Worldskills Lyon 2024, known as the “skills Olympics”.
Oscar will compete as part of Team UK at the event, which takes place from September 10 to 15.
Team UK is selected, mentored and trained by Worldskills UK, in partnership with the world’s leading learning company Pearson.
Team UK will be heading for glory on the world stage in Lyon, France, just hours after the Olympic flame is dimmed.
Just like their sporting counterparts, Team UK have been training hard for this once in a lifetime opportunity to represent their country in their chosen career.
The UK has been taking part in the Worldskills competition since 1953, and the event is used by governments around the world, economists and global business leaders as a litmus test to measure preparedness to optimise future economic growth.
At Worldskills Lyon 2024, 1,500 competitors from more than 65 countries and regions will compete in 62 professions with the aim of being named the world’s best in their chosen skill.
Oscar started working for UWTSD’S CBM Wales as an apprentice design engineer. He entered the Worldskills competition for Additive Manufacturing last September and qualified for the UK finals.
He attended the UK finals in Manchester two months later in November 2023 competing against the very best from across the UK and achieving a silver medal.
After the finals he was invited to attend a squad selection event for a place in the Worldskills UK international squad.
Lee Pratt, UWTSD’S Advanced Manufacturing Skills Academy manager, said : “We are extremely proud of Oscar’s achievements in being selected for a place in Team UK for this year’s Worldskills International finals.
“To think Oscar will now go on to represent the UK against the very best additive manufacturing engineers from across the world is amazing.
“This is a pilot year for the Additive Manufacturing competition in the UK.
“Competitors are required to utilise a number of Advanced Manufacturing skills as part of their test, including 3D scanning, reverse engineering, computer simulation and 3D printing.
“We believe Oscar has what it takes to go all the way with Team UK, and we will be supporting him every step of his journey.”
Oscar said: “I’m delighted to have been selected for the UK international team for Worldskills.
“It has been an amazing rollercoaster of a journey, and I’m really looking forward to representing both the UK and the University in Lyon in September.
“I’d like to say a massive thank you to Lee and the rest of the team who have been instrumental in my success and supported from the nationals through to now. It’s a really exciting time to be part of the additive world.”
Ben Blackledge, chief executive, Worldskills UK, said: “The UK’S participation in the ‘skills Olympics’ will provide vital insights to ensure we can develop our apprenticeship and training programmes, to make them truly world-class.”