Lewis first became involved with WorldSkills UK in 2017, competing in the National Finals in Web Technologies, where he won the gold medal. His success secured him a place in Squad UK before going on to represent the UK at EuroSkills Budapest 2018. He later remained on the international programme and competed at the WorldSkills Competition 2022 Special Edition in Goyang, South Korea, where he was awarded a Medallion for Excellence.
Reflecting on his journey, Lewis says competing with WorldSkills UK has been one of the most rewarding experiences of his career.
“There really isn’t anything else quite like WorldSkills. It feels really special and gives you opportunities you simply wouldn’t get anywhere else.”
The experience not only strengthened his technical skills but also transformed his confidence. When he first started competing, Lewis admits he would never have imagined putting himself forward for opportunities such as speaking at events or representing WorldSkills UK on the international stage.
“A few years ago, I would never have said yes to something like this. I would have been too frightened. Public speaking still pushes me outside my comfort zone, but thanks to the support I’ve had through WorldSkills UK, I feel so much more confident and ready to take on new challenges.”
Alongside developing his confidence, Lewis has expanded his professional network through WorldSkills UK. He has spoken at colleges, connected with lecturers and industry professionals, and helped raise awareness of skills competitions with future apprentices and students. These experiences have reinforced his passion for technical education and sharing the opportunities that WorldSkills UK can offer.
Throughout his WorldSkills UK journey, Lewis has been supported by his employer, Radweb, which has recognised the value that competing has brought to both his personal development and the business. The company has encouraged him to take on new opportunities and supported him in taking time away from work to travel to Shanghai as a WorldSkills UK Skills Champion.
“Radweb has been incredibly supportive throughout my WorldSkills UK journey. They’ve seen how much I’ve developed through the competitions and the skills I’ve been able to bring back into the business.”
Radweb’s commitment to developing talent extends beyond Lewis. The company has strong links with the University of Portsmouth and recently welcomed another WorldSkills UK competitor who represented Team UK at WorldSkills Lyon, demonstrating its continued investment in skills excellence and the next generation of digital talent.
This September, Lewis will travel to Shanghai as a WorldSkills UK Skills Champion, returning to the world’s largest skills competition in a very different role. Rather than competing, he will be supporting Team UK, engaging with international stakeholders and helping showcase the UK’s world-class skills system.
“I’m really looking forward to the challenge. It’ll be great to cheer on Team UK from the other side this time and experience the competition from a completely different perspective.”
Having experienced international competition himself, Lewis understands the pressure competitors face and hopes his own experiences will help support the team throughout the event.
His advice to Team UK is to trust the preparation they have received and make the most of the support available from the Performance and Wellbeing team.
“The competition is on such a huge scale that it’s difficult to imagine until you’re actually there. The breathing exercises and techniques from the Performance and Wellbeing team really helped me stay calm, so I’d encourage everyone to practise those as much as possible.”
Above all, Lewis wants Team UK to enjoy every moment and remember how much they have already achieved.
“Whatever result you get isn’t the defining moment. The real achievement is everything you’ve done to get there over the last two years. Be proud of how far you’ve come and enjoy the experience because you’ve earned it.”
For anyone considering taking part in WorldSkills UK, Lewis has one simple message.
“Just say yes and go for it. It might feel scary at first, but you’ll surprise yourself with what you can achieve if you give it your best shot.”
Today, Lewis continues to champion skills excellence, encouraging others to embrace opportunities that challenge them. As a WorldSkills UK Skills Champion, he hopes to inspire the next generation of competitors to step outside their comfort zones and discover where their own WorldSkills journey could take them.
