Talented young people from across South Wales have been recognised for their outstanding skills at this year’s Skills Competition Wales awards.
Over 280 competitors won an award in their vocational field, securing 96 gold, 92 silver and 97 bronze medals.
The announcement follows a series of competitions that took place in January and February, where a record-breaking 1,129 representatives from every corner of Wales competed to be named the ‘country’s best’ in their sector. Competitions covered skill areas including culinary arts, web development, aeronautical engineering and renewable energy.
The awards ceremony took place at the ICC Wales in Newport on Thursday 14 March, where medallists received well-deserved recognition for demonstrating their skills and hard work, surrounded by friends and family.
Gold medallist, Emma Morgan is from Cardiff. She competed in the IT Network Security category and described her competition experience: “I’m over the moon to have won a medal – it’s a massive honour!
“Having the opportunity to take part in such a prestigious event is most definitely a benefit and has shown me what networking in the real world looks like. It makes me excited to think of what could be possible in the future.
“A standout moment for me was getting to meet other competitors from different backgrounds and categories and seeing how talented everyone is throughout the competition. It’s given me extra experience and motivated me to stand out from my peers.
“I’m looking forward to finishing my college course and hopefully to university or completing a degree apprenticeship. I’m also hoping to be able to compete in the IT Network Systems Administration category at the national competition, WorldSkills UK.”
Skills Competition Wales, run by the Inspiring Skills Excellence in Wales project, serves as a launchpad for participants to compete in prestigious national and international events such as WorldSkills UK, EuroSkills, and WorldSkills International. Funded by the Welsh Government, the project aims to nurture talent and drive excellence across different skill sectors by collaborating with a dedicated network of colleges, work-based learning providers and employer-led organisations.
Young people in Wales can also compete in the upcoming WorldSkills national and international competitions subject to a further round of applications. Applications for this year’s WorldSkills UK competitions close on 28th March 2024.
Minister for Economy, Vaughan Gething, said: “Skills Competition Wales serves as the perfect platform for our youth to push their boundaries and showcase their talents.
“One of my priorities for a stronger economy is to focus on young peoples’ skills and creativity, giving them the support they need to achieve ambitious futures here in Wales.
“Having had the privilege of supporting and attending numerous competitions, including this year’s Renewable Energy competition hosted at the Senedd, I’ve witnessed firsthand the remarkable talent pool we have in Wales. It’s truly inspiring to see these young individuals take pride in their work and continuously strive for excellence in their chosen fields.
“I extend my heartfelt congratulations to each and every competitor for their outstanding achievements so far. Each of you has a very exciting journey ahead.”
As Wales looks ahead, Lyon, France, will host the 47th International WorldSkills competition, where Welsh competitors will represent Team UK to be in with a shot at being crowned the best in the world at their vocational skill.
For more information on skills competitions in Wales and to be in with a chance to represent your country in 2024 and 2025, visit www.inspiringskills.gov.wales
