Charlie’s involvement with WorldSkills UK began at Northern Regional College when he was a BTEC Level 3 Engineering student, where he was encouraged to take part in college competitions. From there, he progressed through the regional and WorldSkills UK national finals in 2022, ultimately achieving outstanding success by winning a gold medal. Competing alongside his teammate Jason, Charlie went on to represent the UK at EuroSkills Gdańsk 2023, where they were awarded a Medal of Excellence, highlighting the high standard of their performance on the international stage.
Following this success, Charlie and Jason were selected to join Team UK and went on to compete at the ‘skills Olympics’, WorldSkills Lyon 2024. Competing against the best in the world, they once again achieved a Medal of Excellence, reinforcing their technical ability, consistency, and professionalism at the highest level of competition. Reflecting on his selection for Team UK, Charlie said, “For me, it’s an honour. Being chosen means you’re the best in the country at that moment. It’s proof that you’ve excelled and are at the top of your game.”
Throughout his competition journey, Charlie developed far more than technical expertise. The experience strengthened his confidence under pressure, enhanced his problem-solving and time management abilities, sharpened his attention to detail and quality standards, and built resilience, enabling him to learn from setbacks and continually improve. Charlie explained how competitions changed his mindset, saying, “I learned not to see challenges or missed opportunities as failures, but as chances to grow and improve.”
Charlie went on to achieve a first-class degree in Mechanical Engineering at Ulster University and, over the past six months, has been working in industry as a Graduate Equipment Engineer at Seagate Technology. He credits WorldSkills UK with preparing him for the transition into industry, noting that “the skills and experience I gained through WorldSkills UK made a huge difference when moving into a professional role.”
Determined that his WorldSkills UK journey would not end after Lyon, Charlie chose to become a WorldSkills UK Skills Champion, motivated by a desire to give back and inspire others. He credits WorldSkills UK as a major factor in securing his current role, not only due to the high-level technical skills and confidence developed through competition, but also through additional support, including
working closely with the WorldSkills UK Skills Champion and Operations Development Manager to develop and refine his CV. Reflecting on this support, Charlie said, “That guidance really helped me understand how to present myself and feel confident going into interviews.”
As a Skills Champion, Charlie is passionate about encouraging young people to take part in competitions, build confidence, and push themselves beyond their comfort zones. Reflecting on his personal growth, he said, “My confidence has grown, and through WorldSkills UK I’ve really enjoyed meeting new people and pushing myself outside my comfort zone.”
Charlie’s advice to anyone considering WorldSkills UK competitions is simple: “Go for it. Even if you don’t win, the experience, skills, and confidence you gain are worth it. It opens doors you might not even realise at the time.”
Charlie encourages learners to view competitions as opportunities for personal and professional growth, rather than focusing solely on medals, and to embrace every challenge as part of their journey.
