By Maya Yates, Senior Marketing Manager at Skills and Education Group
As proud sponsors of the Foundation WorldSkills UK competition, we were delighted that Solman Nouman and Maya Yates from our team could attend the qualifiers, hosted by North Warwickshire and South Leicestershire College (NWSL College) at their Nuneaton campus. At Skills and Education Group, we are passionate advocates for skills and the transformative power of education, and experiencing the energy of this event first-hand truly highlighted the huge, positive impact these competitions have on learners.
The tone for the event was perfectly set by Marion Plant, OBE FCGI, Principal and Chief Executive Officer at the college and Chair of WorldSkills UK. Welcoming attendees to the qualifiers, she reminded the competitors that they were already ranking among the very best in the UK. Her opening words captured the exact spirit of the competition:
“Today all we ask is that you be the best you can be, do your best and do yourself proud.”
Talent and Innovation on Display
Solman and Maya were able to observe competitions across a diverse range of disciplines, including horticulture, catering, hairdressing, and media design. Our personal host for the day, James Stanley, Head of Creative at the college, ensured the team had a fantastic insight into each area.
They also witnessed the health and social care competitions, which featured a brilliant element of cross-campus collaboration. Drama students from the college’s Hinckley campus acted out realistic scenarios for the competitors. It was a fantastic demonstration of the interconnected ecosystem that exists within a college, showing how different departments can work together to create a rich, immersive learning environment.
Sauman Li, Training Manager for Health and Social Care at WorldSkills UK, said: “These competitions offer huge long-term benefits as students transition into higher education and clinical practice, equipping them with essential skills while building the confidence they need to handle the nerves of real-life situations.”
The standout takeaway from the entire experience was the sheer focus of the learners, each entirely committed to achieving the highest standard in their respective fields. It was fascinating to see how each student approached the exact same brief, interpreting it through their own creative lens to produce completely unique, high-quality outcomes.
Day Two: The Judging Process
Day two shifted focus to the intense judging process of the Digital Media Production competition. For this challenge, students were tasked with creating social media content for Kleenex, balancing storytelling, cinematography, editing, branding, and emotional communication.
A panel of five judges evaluated the work of the nine competing teams: Vanessa Hill, Coventry University; Kate Knight, Army Cadet Charities UK; Kelly Johan, Nottingham Trent University; Will, Film and TV student and former competition entrant; and Maya Yates from Skills and Education Group.
The panel assessed the entries against a rigorous set of criteria, looking closely at pre-production, idea generation, planning, the quality of shooting and editing, storytelling, audience engagement, project management, and how effectively the final product aligned with the brief and target audience. With the stakes high, only six of the nine teams will progress to the national finals in Wales.
Insights from the Panel
The judges were incredibly impressed by the quality of the entries and the growth mindset demonstrated by the participants.
Vanessa Hill commented on the excellent standard of work: “It has been a great opportunity for young people to develop their skills in a fast-paced media environment. What an excellent opportunity for young people to showcase their skills and talent.”
Kate Knight emphasised the broader professional value of the experience:“It’s been a good opportunity for young people to put their learnt skills to the test in these competitions. It enables them to apply resilience and leadership and develop their professional approaches to work.”
The value of the competition was also echoed by past competitor Will, who reflected on how the experience shaped his own career path:“Taking part in the competition was a great opportunity. It was nerve-wracking, but once we were in the competition spirit it was really rewarding, and it has helped with next steps such as going on to study Film and TV at Cheltenham.”
The Power of Collaboration and Support
Behind every competitor was a robust network of encouragement. The level of dedication from the college tutors, the commitment of the staff, and the expertise offered by the judging panel demonstrated a brilliant, shared effort to foster the next generation of skilled professionals. This event truly highlighted how powerful collaboration is within further education, bringing together different campuses, faculty teams, and industry experts to support student success.
Events like the WorldSkills UK qualifiers highlight the vital importance of technical education and vocational excellence. Seeing these learners rise to the challenge reassures us that the future of these industries is in incredibly capable hands.
Congratulations to everyone who took part over the two days – you certainly did yourselves proud, and we wish the finalists the very best of luck in Wales!
