Now a qualified Mechatronics Maintenance Technician at Toyota Manufacturing UK, Liz is preparing to compete at WorldSkills Shanghai 2026 alongside her teammate Emily, taking on some of the world’s best young professionals in Mechatronics.
Liz first became involved in WorldSkills UK through her apprenticeship at Toyota. Each year, apprentices are given the opportunity to take part in the competition, and what began as curiosity quickly developed into something much bigger.
“Toyota runs it every year through the apprenticeship. We completed a small task, and from that the trainers selected two teams to go through to the qualifiers.”
That decision led Liz and Emily all the way to the WorldSkills UK National Finals in Manchester, where they won Gold and secured their place in Squad UK before eventually being selected for Team UK.
For Liz, Mechatronics was a natural fit. As part of her role at Toyota, she works across mechanical, electrical and programming systems every day, making the competition a direct reflection of the skills she uses in the workplace.
Her route into engineering, however, was not straightforward. After completing Maths and Physics A Levels, Liz found herself unsure about what career path to follow.
“Everyone around me seemed to know what they wanted to do, but I didn’t. University was being pushed quite heavily, but I wasn’t convinced it was right for me.”
After initially missing out on an apprenticeship opportunity, Liz went into work before spotting a final call for applications to Toyota’s apprenticeship programme.
“I almost didn’t apply. It popped up saying there was only a week left to apply, so I thought I’d give it a go. Looking back now, that decision completely changed where I am today.”
The apprenticeship route proved to be exactly what she was looking for. Having experienced remote learning during the pandemic, Liz realised she preferred practical, hands-on learning rather than a traditional university environment.
Today, she is a qualified technician and continues to build her career at Toyota, where she credits both her apprenticeship and WorldSkills UK experience with helping her develop professionally. Through her apprenticeship and competition training, Liz has developed the technical skills, confidence and problem-solving abilities needed to succeed in the workplace, helping prepare her for a long-term career in engineering.
One of the biggest impacts of WorldSkills UK has been on her confidence.
“I can get really worked up about not knowing things. The competition has taught me that just because something looks different doesn’t mean I don’t know how to do it.”
Over time, Liz has learned to trust her abilities, approach unfamiliar challenges with confidence and develop stronger problem-solving skills. She believes those lessons have been just as valuable as the technical skills she has gained through competition, helping her become more confident and work-ready in her role at Toyota.
Toyota has played a key role in supporting her journey, providing flexibility around shifts and training commitments to help her prepare for Shanghai.
“It makes such a difference knowing that the company supports what we’re doing and can see the value it brings, both to us and to the workplace. If we need time to train, they’re always willing to help make it work”.
Preparation for Shanghai has included international pressure tests and training events, giving Liz the opportunity to meet competitors from around the world and gain valuable experience ahead of the competition.
“It was really eye-opening. We met competitors doing exactly the same skill as us, and now when we get to Shanghai, we’ll already know some of the people we’ll be competing alongside.”
Looking ahead to WorldSkills Shanghai 2026, Liz is most excited about experiencing the atmosphere of the world’s largest skills competition.
“That’s the one thing you can’t train for. The atmosphere, the crowds and knowing that everyone there understands what you’re doing and that’s what I’m most excited about.”
For Liz, WorldSkills UK has been an opportunity to challenge herself, develop new skills and gain experiences that have helped her grow both personally and professionally.
“I always tell the younger apprentices to take part. It shows commitment, it shows you can manage different challenges and it’s something that genuinely sets you apart.”
Her advice for anyone considering entering a WorldSkills UK competition is simple:
“Just give it a go. You never know where it might lead.”
As she prepares to represent Team UK in Shanghai, Liz hopes her story will encourage others to take opportunities when they arise. From an apprentice unsure of her future to a Gold medallist competing on the international stage, her journey shows how confidence, determination and a willingness to step outside your comfort zone can open doors to extraordinary opportunities.
