National Competition Finals are now on!

We’re delighted to announce the incredible competitors who have made it through to the national finals of this year’s WorldSkills UK competition-based development programme!  

From bricklaying in Edinburgh to laboratory technicians in London, 500 finalists will be competing for gold, silver and bronze at the competitions, which will take place in venues across the four corners of the UK. These are Barking & Dagenham, Belfast Metropolitan, Blackpool & The Fylde, Cardiff & Vale, Edinburgh and Middlesbrough colleges, which will host a total of 62 finals in the week commencing 14 November.

The national finals are designed to boost skills and confidence. And competitors who impress under pressure, could see themselves representing the UK at the “skills olympics” in France in 2024.

Alongside the drama of competition, visitors can enjoy inspirational careers advisory events which will highlight a wide variety of apprenticeships, T-levels and technical education on offer. This combination of workshops, masterclasses, and interactive sessions will also provide the opportunity to talk directly to employers and industry experts.

An online broadcast will ensure those who cannot attend a local event can still be involved. Featuring action from the finals, advice from careers advisors, and interviews with previous winners to inspire attendees.

Former apprentice and TV journalist Steph McGovern will then be handing out medals from her Packed Lunch studio on Friday 25 November.

WorldSkills UK Deputy CEO Ben Blackledge said:

“I want to offer my congratulations to everyone who registered for our competitions this year, especially those who are now going on to compete in November’s finals.

“We are really excited to be taking the show on the road again this year with finals hosted by colleges across the UK. We hope seeing the finals in person or catching up with our online content will inspire more young people to develop their skills and have a go at one of our competitions next year.

“Our competitions and competition-based development programmes equip apprentices and students with the lifelong, world-class skills that will help increase UK productivity and competitiveness.”

We’d love you to celebrate our amazing finalists on social media, just follow and engage with the hashtag #WSUKfinalists on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.