Coleg Gwent makes the rankings in UK contest

A WELSH college has come in the top 10 of UK further education colleges in the WorldSkills UK National Finals

Coleg Gwent came ninth across the whole of the UK at the prestigious Skills Show UK Final after winning four medals.

A record number of spectators – nearly 80,000 – thronged the three-day interactive event organised by WorldSkills UK and held at the NEC in Birmingham.

Almost 500 students and apprentices, covering disciplines ranging from aircraft maintenance to 3D game design and hairdressing, took part in the National Finals.

Thomas Seward, 19, from Brynmawr, who studies at Coleg Gwent’s Blaenau Gwent Learning Zone and is an apprentice with PI Lewis, won a silver medal in the Electrical Installation competition.

He has also been selected into Squad UK to train further with a chance of representing the UK in Kazan, Russia in 2019.

Crosskeys Campus students Rachel Watson, 22, from Abercarn, who studies beauty therapy, won bronze in the Beauty Therapy: Hands and Face competition, while Karen Coates, 19, from Bridgend, won a bronze medal in the Media Make-Up: Body competition.

Rachel said: “There are lots of benefits of taking part – for example, I’ve built a lot more confidence from doing this competition and it helps you to build a name in the industry.”

Ricky Raybould, 20, from Newport who is studying sport, sports massage and sports referral at the college’s Usk Campus, was highly commended in the Fitness Training: Personal Trainer competition.

Ricky had two days of competition to test the skills and knowledge required to deliver fitness instruction to clients.

One day involved seven hours in the gym, providing three or four consultations for clients and then writing them each a 12-week programme.

“My tutors have been a massive influence and very, very supportive,” he said Ricky.

“The competition is good because it makes you push yourself out of your comfort zone.”

Also in the UK National Finals was Rachel Watson’s twin sister Rebecca, who studies beauty therapy, Megan Sampson, 21, from Cwmbran, who is studying for a foundation degree in forensic science, Jessica Leonard, 19, from Pontypool, who studies sport, sport massage and sports referral, and Luke Williams, 17, from Abercarn, who is studying professional cookery and took part in the Advanced Restaurant Service competition.

Coleg Gwent principal Guy Lacey said: “We are extremely proud of all of the students.”