National Competitions timeline
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January – February 2025Register your interestBe the first to receive more information about our 2025 competition cycle.
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3 March – 28 March 2025RegistrationRegister for the competitions.
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April 2025EntryThe first stage of competition is a remote or online test (where applicable).
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April – 28 June 2025National QualifiersCompetitors take part in competitions at their local college, training provider centre or workplace, or take part in an online competition.
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July 2025Announcement of finalistsScores are quality-assured and Finalists are announced.September – October 2025Training & DevelopmentPreparing and practising to compete in the National Finals.November 2025National FinalsThe Finalists come together to compete in the National Finals.After the National FinalsSquad UKThose who are age eligible and have achieved the benchmark score will be invited to opt into Squad UK.
How competitions work
Competing in skills contests offers individuals and teams a chance to showcase vocational talents through real-world tasks. Expert evaluations based on predefined criteria determine the highest scores, advancing participants to the next stage. These competitions, aligned with apprenticeship standards, foster learning and development by emphasising core skills like teamwork, problem-solving, time management, and performance under pressure—qualities highly valued by employers.
The benefits of getting involved
Competition activity develops employability and technical skills to high levels of excellence and enhances capacity in attributes valued by employers such as teamwork, problem-solving, time-management, judgement and working under pressure.
Competition activity stretches teachers, trainers and assessors as well as learners and are a great development (CPD) opportunity for staff – updating and extending their subject specialist and pedagogical skills and knowledge
- Greater scope for creativity in teaching, training and learning techniques
- Opportunities to benchmark and learn from peers
- Raises the profile of Apprenticeships and vocational learning
- Access to additional equipment and resources
- Supports the move from competence to excellence
- Provides evidence for inspections
At every stage of the journey, WorldSkills UK Competitions contribute to participants’ personal and professional growth or preparation for employment. As well as building on their technical skill set, we help competitors become well-rounded individuals by evolving their professional and personal skills throughout the process.
- Helps to achieve qualification goals
- Develops personal, technical and employability skills
- Raises aspirations and ambitions
- Improves self-esteem and confidence
- Builds on strengths and identifies areas for development
- Developing networks with peers and industry
Competitions are unique in developing the skills that employers need in their workplace. The mix of technical, employability and personal skills is a key strength of the competition model. By having access to global insights and standards, competitors will be stretched to aspire to the higher-level skills necessary for individuals to compete in the national and global economies and bring that expertise back into the workplace, enhancing existing processes and systems.
- Better skilled apprentices and future employees
- Improved business performance
- Raised company profile and increased marketing opportunities
- National and international exposure
- Improved links with schools, colleges and community organisations
- Opportunity for staff development, eg, becoming a competition judge
Resources and Information
National Finals Medal Ceremony
Key steps to WorldSkills UK competitions
Frequently asked questions
Pre-Competition activity guide
Embedding competitions into the curriculum
Competition rules
Registration dashboard
Performance tables
Competitor Support Fund
National Competition Portfolio
Marketing Assets
Useful links
