Oscar McNaughton, originally from the Vale of Glamorgan, will be the first person ever to represent the UK in Additive Manufacturing at the 47th WorldSkills competition in Lyon this September.
Oscar’s educational journey has taken him beyond Wales, with stints at the University of Plymouth where he completed both his undergraduate and master’s degrees in design. He has since secured an apprenticeship at CBM Wales, an industry-focused facility specialising in advanced research, new product development, and batch manufacturing, based at the University of Wales, Trinity St Davids (UWTSD). It was at CBM Wales that Oscar first learned about WorldSkills through a colleague.
Reflecting on his journey, Oscar remarked, “My colleague, Lee Pratt, introduced me to WorldSkills, and it sounded like a brilliant opportunity that I knew I would love to be involved in.”
When asked how it feels to be selected for Team UK, Oscar said, ‘It’s a real honour to be selected for Team UK. I’ve worked really hard to get here, and it’s a brilliant opportunity. It feels special to be the first person to represent this skill for the UK.”
Oscar’s dedication and hard work paid off when he competed in the WorldSkills UK national finals and won a silver medal.
Oscar said, “The support from everyone has been incredible, especially as I balance work and training. UWTSD has been brilliant at accommodating my training.” Oscar mentioned that between now and September, he is busy training with his Training Manager, who is helping him practice with different equipment and prepare for the challenges ahead.
While Oscar has his sights set on winning gold, he mentioned, ‘It’s also about the valuable skills and experience that come with it. The hard skills I’ve gained are invaluable and will definitely help in my career, but the soft skills are equally important. WorldSkills has been transformative for my self-confidence, problem-solving, and resilience.’”
Looking ahead to WorldSkills Lyon 2024, he is excited about the scale of the competition and the opportunity to meet and compete with talented individuals from around the world.
Oscar said, “This is the first year this skill is being brought to the competition, and I’m really looking forward to it. It’s great to be part of something so valuable, meet all the competitors, and enjoy the experience with the rest of Team UK.”
Oscar concludes by saying, “Everyone should get involved with WorldSkills UK. It’s a brilliant opportunity to learn valuable new skills, meet new people, and represent your country.”Team UK, powered by WorldSkills UK in partnership with Pearson.
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