Apprenticeships and Technical Education - Q4 2021

A Mediaplanet campaign focused on

Apprenticeships & Technical Education

All winners are featured on pages 7-10

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Inspiring the next generation ~Dr Neil Bentley- Gockmann OBE CEO, WorldSkills UK

Q4 2021 | An independant supplement distributed on behalf of Mediaplanet, which takes sole responsibility for its contents

Congratulations to all our WorldSkills UK finalists 2021

Full list of medal winners inside!

Read more at www.businessandindustry.co.uk

excellence at work

All sectors need a full armoury of skills

Inspiring the next generation We are privileged to celebrate the achievements of the very talented young people – role models for the next generation - who competed in the national finals of the UK’s biggest skills competition.

Y Dr Neil BentleyGockmann OBE CEO, WorldSkills UK

ears of dedication and months of training from students, apprentices and young professionals at their places of work and learning led them to the WorldSkills UK national finals and the opportunity to battle for medals.

This year’s finals were a living breathing manifestation of just how powerful the UK can be when governments, business and education work as one.

I saw first-hand the intense commitment of those competing to be the best and applaud their resilience.

Testing skills under pressure More than 400 of the best came together at 21 venues the length and breadth of the UK to put their skills to the test.

The finals test their technical and time management skills under pressure and will be a major boon to their career prospects.

Skills will be the backbone of our post-pandemic world and it will be highly-skilled youngsters, like those who competed last month, who will be the difference for our economy, and our country, going forward.

The winners of the national skills competitions epitomise the young achievers that will help the United Kingdom emerge from a difficult period, stronger, more dynamic and hopefully better equipped for the future.

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usiness embraces challenges and thrives on competition - just as you have. If we are to continue to prosper postpandemic and post-Brexit, we need to ensure that all sectors are equipped with a full armoury of skills.

WorldSkills UK is leading the way in helping to create high-quality jobs across the UK. We believe that we can achieve anything when we set our minds to it.

Building a world class skills base

the UK an even better place to live with increased prosperity, diversity and social mobility.

By getting to this elite level so early in your career, you have made a major stride towards a brilliant and rewarding life, one where you never stop learning as industry and business evolve and technology advances.

Creating sustainable jobs for all

Access to world-class skills, training and education throughout one’s lifetime will make the UK an even better place to live with increased prosperity, diversity and social mobility.

In order to attract inward investment, we need to build a skills system that is genuinely world-class. We have managed to do that in previous industrial revolutions and, with another based on green and digital technologies underway, it is imperative that we produce many more high achievers like you.

Access to world-class skills, training and education throughout one’s lifetime will make

Rooney Anand Chairman, WorldSkills UK

This transformation will be pivotal in not only making the UK more successful, but also ensuring that sustainable, rewarding jobs are within reach for everybody – whatever their backgrounds.

Your job now is to enjoy your win and work out ways to persuade your friends, family and others to follow in your footsteps entering the world of work with the power of skills under their belt.

Well done!

A highly skilled workforce is the key to ministers’ ambitious plans to level up our countries, create jobs and put the UK at the forefront of growing global markets in areas like green technology.

Skills for the future A highly skilled workforce is the key to ministers’ ambitious plans to level up our countries, create jobs and put the UK at the forefront of growing global markets in areas like green technology.

At WorldSkills UK, we are pioneering a new way of working to support those plans, encourage inward investment and give business and industry the skills they need. We and our partners have the experience and insights to make a difference.

I would like to offer my congratulations to all this year’s finalists and urge many more to follow their lead in the years to come.

@BusinessandindustryUK

@MediaplanetUK

Contact information: uk.info@mediaplanet.com or +44 (0) 203 642 0737

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Our apprenticeships have set us on the path to career success

Apprentices at Google are part of our mission to build great products for every user, and their different experiences help ensure that our products are as diverse as our users.

Apprenticeships contribute towards the development of digital skills by providing opportunities for work and study. They can serve as part of your journey to a meaningful career.

During the program, apprentices get exposure to different areas and teams at Google, while receiving external training and developing their professional skills on the job. Find out more on g.co/Apprenticeships

Whether you’re leaving school or looking to change your career, an apprenticeship can give you the hands-on skills and experience you need to increase your employability.

Fabiha Hassan Software Development Apprentice, Google

Frankie Tassie IT Infrastructure Technician Apprentice, Google

Waqar Ali Marketing & Digital Assistant, Sony Music

Fabiha Hassan, Software Development Apprentice, aged 25

Frankie Tassie, IT Infrastructure Technician Apprentice, aged 19

Waqar Ali, Marketing & Digital Assistant, Sony Music, aged 24

The career-changer After finishing a Masters in biomedical engineering, I felt a bit lost, career-wise. I worked in a hospital and a school for a while but knew they weren’t really for me. Then, in 2019, I started a temp role at Google and discovered the company’s apprenticeship opportunities. I successfully applied for their two-year Software Development Apprenticeship, which I began in September 2020.

To start with, I did a threemonth boot camp to work on basic coding skills, and then had to pass two exams to get my Level 4 Software Development qualification. I’m now a front-end developer, implementing really cool designs on user interfaces.

I present the work I do in a portfolio, which is how my apprenticeship is assessed.

The practical nature of an apprenticeship appealed to me because when I was fresh out of university, potential employers always asked about my ‘experience’.

Yet I’d just graduated: I needed experience! So, it was tough getting a job.

That’s why I’d tell anyone who wants to change their career: ‘Think about an apprenticeship.’ In two years, you’ll have acquired the skills you need to progress in your field — and it’ll look good on a CV.

The school-completer I knew from a young age that I was a practical person, I always took things apart to find out how they worked. I didn’t particularly enjoy learning from books and by the time I’d finished secondary school, I knew that sixth form wasn’t for me. At the age of 16, I went to college to study for a BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma in IT and I passed with a triple Distinction star.

I started my 16-month apprenticeship with Google in October 2020. In my role, I can complete my apprenticeship work alongside working as a front-line IT technician for Google, specifically providing support for employees.

I have a line manager and mentor as well as a business coach who provides support within my apprenticeship. They are always there for me if I need guidance or support.

I’ve had many career talks within Google, but I have also been given support to find a job outside the organisation if I wish. I’m always striving to be the best I can be. It just shows that anything is possible, even if you do not have a degree. I was awarded a Distinction for my apprenticeship. I don’t have the qualifications that some people do, but I have the hands-on experience and a hard-working attitude to achieve my goals, that is invaluable.

The apprenticeship alumnus In 2015, I started running a fan account for Miley Cyrus which amassed over a million followers on various platforms. Her team saw it and reached out to me, so I began working with them on digital campaigns! Whilst at university, I studied surgery but realised it wasn’t my passion. Then I had an epiphany: people actually have music industry careers in digital marketing - so why not aim for that?

I successfully applied to Google in 2019 for a digital marketing apprenticeship, which was incredible. I was assigned to the marketing insights team whose work includes researching advertising effectiveness and optimising brand messaging. While I was an apprentice I ended up as project lead on amazing projects, including working as co-lead on one of the organisation’s most successful and high-powered global marketing campaigns. Lots of trust was placed in me.

I was also given exceptional support. My managers and mentors knew I had music industry ambitions, so assigned me to projects to equip me with the skillsets and knowledge I would need. I still have my mentor from Google, even though I’ve been working at Sony Music since January 2021. What goes around comes around: Miley is signed to our label — so I’m still championing her!

WRITTEN BY Tony Greenway

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Paid for by Google

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Digital innovation will continue to drive the change and we now need more digital relevant skills than ever before.

What is new about the digital skills gap and what is the solution?

There is no argument that the UK faces a digital skills gap.

The pandemic has accelerated digital in a way we could not have imagined two years ago.

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Julian David CEO, techUK

retty much everything that can exist in the online world now does – from essential services to everyday communication. As we edge our way to a ‘new normal’, what will this look and feel like? Digital innovation will continue to drive the change and we now need more digital relevant skills than ever before.

But here’s the conundrum. The UK was facing a lack of digital talent even before COVID-19 and the pipeline of talent has not suddenly blossomed.

While there are some clear indicators that young people are beginning to understand this need, many still think, “tech is for nerds” and older generations continue to believe, “there’s no way I can do that technical stuff.”

Changing perceptions around digital skills But that is not what digital skills are about. As techUK President Jacqueline de Rojas says, you don’t need to be a deep technologist to gain digital skills. What we need to do is excite young and old alike about the digital future and help the career changers bring their experiences to the world of tech, adding value across the economy and society.

So, we face two acute challenges: how to show people from all walks of life that they could enjoy and succeed in a tech career, and how to provide ready access to high-quality education and training that leads directly to jobs.

Collaboration is urgently needed No organisation can solve this on their own. Rather, a new level of collaboration between employers, educators and policymakers is essential to create the long-term talent pipeline we need.

Alongside this, we need more people to take up relevant training and education. However, digital skills

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What we need to do is excite young and old alike about the digital future and help the career changers bring their experiences to the world of tech, adding value across the economy and society. training is a complex matter. The market is huge and highly fragmented – so how can learners be guided to the right learning for them, ensuring their investment brings rewards?

Our focus must be programmes that reflect the modern workplace and create highly skilled individuals who are job-ready.

Signposting and industry accreditation Signposting is crucial and industry accreditation is an essential part of this. TechSkills has made this challenge its core mission and is enabling this through Tech Industry Gold accreditation and digital credentials, created in partnership with leading employers. Tech Industry Gold programmes deliver the blend of technical expertise and employability skills needed to work effectively in tech roles – whether at degree level or through specialised training programmes – digital credentials provide online proof to employers of an individual’s job-ready skills.

We are embarking on a new journey toward the inclusive, skilled and job-ready workforce, society depends on. As a collaborative industry body, TechSkills believes in building partnerships, creating pathways to employment and realising the potential of people from all walks of life. The time to act is now; our digital futures depend on it.

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TechSkills is a techUK company. techskills.org

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We look at an individual’s attributes, personality and attitudes rather than their academic qualifications or background.

Apprenticeships secure overlooked talent and must be accessible to all Apprenticeships are a way to make workforces more skilled and diverse. That’s why it’s essential they are open to everyone, regardless of their age, background and gender.

James Jennings Apprenticeship Manager, Centrica

Darsan Patel Information Systems Apprentice, Centrica

Susan McLean SMART Apprentice, Centrica

WRITTEN BY Tony Greenway

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pprenticeships give employers the chance to recruit and train from a wide pool of untapped talent. That much is obvious.

Yet they also offer companies the opportunity to build diverse workforces — a strategy that will be central to their future success.

Take Centrica, the energy services and solutions company, which has committed to recruit 3,500 apprentices by 2030, with 1,000 of these in place by 2022. What’s more, the aspiration is that 50% will be women.

“Our view is that apprenticeships should be accessible to everyone,” insists James Jennings, Centrica’s Apprenticeship Manager. “We look at an individual’s attributes, personality and attitudes rather than their academic qualifications or background. It’s more important for us to recruit apprentices who are agile, innovative and have the right values.”

An expanding and changing industry offering a variety of roles Today’s energy industry doesn’t exclusively offer engineering apprenticeships, notes Jennings.

The sector is changing, different skills and specialisms are needed across the board and opportunities for women are increasing exponentially in a variety of roles

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from IT to digital data marketing.

Don’t make the mistake of thinking that apprenticeships are only for school or college-leavers, either. For example, Darsan Patel — a 43 year old married father of three — worked in a range of customer services positions in Centrica for around 12 years, but two months ago made an internal move and became an Information Systems Apprentice. “I always wanted to have a trade under my belt,” explains Patel. “Plus, IT has long been an interest, so this was a terrific opportunity.”

Patel has a packed personal life.

“With three children there was no way I could go back to college,” he says. “I saw an apprenticeship as a way for me to gain qualifications without having to return to fulltime education — which is great because I’m a person with drive who wants to learn. If there’s a meeting, I’m there 10 minutes ahead of time, prepping and looking through my notes.”

In truth, Patel was a bit nervous about heading back to the classroom after so long – but his fears have been short-lived.

“The support I’ve been offered is fantastic. I have two mentors who help me with anything that I need; and a special educational needs co-ordinator has been assigned to me. She’s offered lots of assistance and given me advice about the types of coping strategies that could help with my studies.”

Meeting net zero ambitions for businesses and their customers Apart from securing overlooked talent, apprenticeships also deliver the green skills of the future. That’s crucial if energy companies such as Centrica are to meet net zero ambitions for themselves and their customers. It’s good for employees, too, who want relevant training that will help them progress in their careers. Susan McLean had been part of the British Gas team for more than a decade, working as a Team Leader and a Project Manager on electric vehicles. Passionate about net zero and green skills, she recently decided to retrain as a Centrica SMART Apprentice.

“After more than 10 years, I was definitely up for a new challenge,” explains McLean. “I’d always seen female engineers in the office and thought: ‘I want to do that’. When I saw that the business was targeting female apprentices and was trying to close the gender gap, I saw it as the perfect chance to put my electric vehicles expertise to good use, meet customers face-to-face and get out and learn new skills that will benefit me.”

The fact is, says Jennings, wellrun apprenticeships are good for companies and their workforces.

“They are strong staff retention tools that deliver diversity and expertise,” he says. “These are key ingredients to sustain and grow a business.”

Paid for by Centrica

Find out more at centrica.com/ careers

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Pushing boundaries and channelling a competitive spirit How does it feel to take part in a WorldSkills UK competition on a national and international level? We caught up with some past competitors to find out.

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ogdip Raghvani, 26, won a gold medal for Web Development and Mobile Robotics at the 2013 national finals. He is now IT Director at Anantek Solutions Limited.

Yogdip Raghvani IT Director, Anantek Solutions Limited

Kerris Boulton Employer Engagement Manager, SETA Training & Advisory Services

Robyn Hadland Quality Assurance Engineer, Toyota

Why did you take part in the competitions?

I have always been competitive, so when the opportunity to compete at a national level arose at college, I loved the idea. I knew it wouldn’t be easy and I put in lots of extra hours of practice, but I hoped being part of it would help me stand out to employers and universities.

How was the event?

Nerve-racking, but I knew I was part of something remarkable.

It gave me real-world experience and a taste of what it’d be like to pursue a career in mobile robotics and web development.

How did it feel to win gold?

Winning gold felt good, knowing my hard work and determination had paid off. Receiving my medal on stage with my family and friends in the crowd of thousands was very memorable.

How have the competitions helped you and would you recommend them to others?

It is an amazing opportunity.

It gave me a huge confidence boost, especially when speaking in public. It has since allowed me to work and transform many businesses. I’ve also been able to share my journey with college students across the UK. My advice to the next set of winners is to use the recognition to stand out against the rest of the crowd. It will give you great credibility in a crowded market. Keep pushing yourself and never settle.

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Why did you take part in the competitions?

How did you become part of Team UK?

erris Boulton, 27, won a silver medal in Electronics at the 2018 national finals.

She is now Employer Engagement Manager at SETA Training & Advisory Services.

I was an apprentice at the University of Manchester and my coordinator approached me about taking part.

I was apprehensive but wanted to prove to myself and others what I could achieve and push myself out of my comfort zone.

How was the event?

Nothing prepares you for the atmosphere of the live event. I didn’t realise just how big it was and what it meant to get to the nationals. You go through a range of emotions but there are so many people to encourage and support you. It was unforgettable.

How did it feel to win silver?

I didn’t really think about the results – I was just so pleased that I’d taken part and pushed myself, so it took a while to sink in. I think I was more nervous receiving my medal than I had been throughout the competition.

How have the competitions helped you and would you recommend them to others?

100% – you have nothing to lose and everything to gain.

It isn’t about the winning, it really is about the taking part: showcasing your current skills and gaining more along the way.

It has undoubtedly helped get me where I am today: boosting my motivation, confidence and skills.

Since competing my career has gone to another level.

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obyn Hadland, 28, was awarded a medallion for excellence in mechatronics at WorldSkills Sao Paulo 2015. She is now Quality Assurance Engineer at Toyota.

I first learnt about the competitions when I worked on Toyota’s stall at the Skills Show in 2013, talking about my apprenticeship. I went on to take part in a squad selection event which led to me becoming part of Team UK for the international competition in Sao Paulo.

How was the event?

Great fun. Everyone was super excited on the way over. I had no idea how big the event was until I got into the arena – the opening ceremony was like the Olympics.

The coolest thing though was meeting people from all around the world and different walks of life. It’s hard to judge how well you’ve done at the time so when my teammate and I heard we had a medallion for excellence I was overjoyed and proud.

How have the competitions helped you and would you recommend them to others?

Definitely. I was still in my apprenticeship at the time, it gave me a massive confidence boost and improved my soft skills. It is also a chance to experience something extraordinary. How many people can say they’ve represented their country in an international competition? I’ve had some brilliant opportunities since, including being sponsored through my degree by Toyota.

If you do take part, then make the most of every moment and opportunity.

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WorldSkills UK Competitions - National Finals In November dedicated, gifted and skilled young people from all four nations of the UK battled it out to be crowned best of the best at the WorldSkills UK National Finals.

The competitive climax came at the end of a process that began with over 3,000 people registering to take part back in March. After months of regional heats and intense training, we celebrate their achievements.

Digital, Business and Creative 3D Digital Game Art Cheshire College South & West

Gold winner: Elvijs Dovans Silver winner: Savannah Hodgins Bronze winner: Keanu Dowsett

Accountancy Technician Kaplan

Gold winner: Abigail Evans & Matthew Latimer Silver winner: Adam Jenkins & Amy Jones Bronze winner: Aeneas Bates & Matthew McCormick

Cyber Security Glasgow Clyde College

Gold winner: Sai Putravu & Anahitha Vijay Silver winner: Jake Sumner & Konrad Gutmanski Bronze winner: Max Clarke & Oskar Werys

In partnership with Palo Alto Networks

Digital Media Production North Warwickshire & South Leicestershire College

Images provided by WorldSkills UK

Gold winner: Flynn Smith, Nathaniel Gray, Joshua Valenti & Jack Houston Silver winner: Ellie James, Jack Hilton, Isaac Callender Barlow, Hayden Kracke Bronze winner: Ganesh Karri, Nico Bentham, Max Sandiford, Beres Smith, Frankie McCarthy, Jake Benson, Ryan Maguire & Reece Todd

Graphic Design The Manchester College

Gold winner: Aaliyah Huntley Silver winner: Benjamin Catherall Bronze winner: Ella Banks & Lily Hardiker

IT Software Solutions for Business WorldSkills UK

Gold winner: Antony Lockhart Silver winner: Fiona Stewart Bronze winner: Zoe Lazenby-Carroll

IT Support Technician WorldSkills UK

Gold winner: Izaac Bharwani Silver winner: Toby Hallam Bronze winner: Christopher Nairn

WorldSkills UK is a charity that uses international best practice to raise standards in apprenticeships and technical education to help young people and businesses thrive.

Network Infrastructure Technician WorldSkills UK

Gold winner: Yohannes Zerzghi Silver winner: Samuel Thomas Bronze winner: Kieran Lloyd Winstone & Jamie Maitland

WorldSkills UK is a proud member of WorldSkills, a global movement of over 80 countries that runs biennial international competitions where young people compete to be recognised as the very best in the world at what they do.

Web Design Weston College

Gold winner: Jack Kimmins Silver winner: Rhydian Brown Bronze winner: Morgan McDonald

The insights WorldSkills UK gains from being part of this global network help raise standards across the UK. Through sharing international best practice, WorldSkills UK helps deliver high-quality training and assessment and boosts the skills of educators and students.

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Four page booklet paid for by WorldSkills UK

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WorldSkills UK Competitions - National Finals

Construction & Infrastructure Bricklaying (CITB)

Gold winner: Mitchell Proctor Silver winner: Michael Topham Bronze winner: Kieran Oglethorpe

In partnership with St.Modwen

Carpentry (CITB)

Gold winner: Charlie Reeve Silver winner: Sammy Young Bronze winner: Leonie McDonagh

Furniture & Cabinet Making (CITB)

Gold winner: Jack Talbot Silver winner: Tom Slevin Bronze winner: Thomas Knowles

Joinery (CITB)

Gold winner: Sam Abbott Silver winner: William Zuk Bronze winner: Dion Evans

Painting and Decorating (CITB)

Gold winner: Nicole Smith Silver winner: Sophie Graham Bronze winner: Jacqui Hawthorne

Plastering (CITB)

Gold winner: Sam Dean Silver winner: Steven Price Bronze winner: Kieran Jones-Rees

Plastering and Drywall Systems (CITB)

Gold winner: Ignas Kurasovas Silver winner: Liam Watson Bronze winner: Matthew Connolly

Stonemasonry (CITB)

Gold winner: Lewis Evans Silver winner: Kane Frith Bronze winner: Ben Nicholson

Wall and Floor Tiling (CITB)

Landscape Gardening (Association of Professional Landscapers)

Foundation Skills The Foundation Skills Competitions are designed for students with Special Educational Needs (SEN) and/or disabilities. The competitions allow students to showcase skills, knowledge and behaviours that highlight their independence and employability skills.

Gold winner: Aaron Gillespie Silver winner: Christopher Parry Bronze winner: Morgan Nutt

Gold winner: Cameron Barker Silver winner: Guy Cantiello Bronze winner: Michael Junk

This is just so important – I know the huge dedication and sacrifice these girls and guys have made to get to this level. We need to ensure that we shout about their success and encourage many more to follow in their footsteps.

It was an absolute honour to present the medals this year from my Packed Lunch studio. I’ve already spoken to many of the winners about what this means to them as individuals – but it has to be said, the real winner is the UK.” TV presenter Steph McGovern, herself a trained engineer, is a passionate advocate for world-class skills and strong supporter of WorldSkills UK’s competition-based training programmes.

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Fitness Assistant (AoC Sport)

Gold winner: Kyle Robertson Silver winner: Ibrahim Mohamed Bronze winner: Jaidev Charan

Health & Social Care (ACTAN)

Gold winner: Alisha Thomas Silver winner: Callum Hearne Bronze winner: Mia Jenkins & Lewis Smith

Restaurant Services (New College Durham)

Gold winner: Gestautas Matas Silver winner: Connor Watts Bronze winner: Maisy Cadwallader & Jack Bradley

IT Software Solutions for Business (New College Durham)

Gold winner: Bailey Richardson & Ben White Silver winner: Harvey Ede Bronze winner: James Ducay

Hairdressing (New College Durham)

Gold winner: Kelys Ramsay Silver winner: Sinead Hitchman Bronze winner: Chardonnay Palmer

Horticulture Association of Professional Landscapers

Gold winner: Kevin Stubbs Silver winner: Dean Roberts Bronze winner: Reece Horton

Catering (North Warwickshire & South Leicestershire College)

Gold winner: Georgina Price Silver winner: Rosie Thompson Bronze winner: Casey Mcfarlane

Media (North Warwickshire & South Leicestershire College)

Gold winner: Emily Sinnott & Declan Morrissey Silver winner: Zachary Macgregor, Nicholas Long & Nick Anderton Bronze winner: Jeffrey Letts, Louise Baker, Logan Joslin & Iman Nadeem

Motor Vehicle (North Warwickshire & South Leicestershire College)

Gold winner: Samuel Barnes Silver winner: Connor Jamie

Woodworking (CITB)

Gold winner: Ben Thewlis Silver winner: Adrian Buick Bronze winner: Daniel Walker

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WorldSkills UK Competitions - National Finals

Health, Hospitality & Lifestyle

WorldSkills UK’s competitions are designed by industry experts to assess an individual’s knowledge and practical skills in a competitive timed environment.

Beauty Therapist (Coleg Cambria)

Gold winner: Courteney Bett Silver winner: Scarlett Roberts Bronze winner: Mya Hitchcock

Beauty Therapy Practitioner (Coleg Cambria)

Gold winner: Shannon Fearon Silver winner: Lucy Johnson Bronze winner: Lucy Lewis

Butchery (Cambrian Training)

Gold winner: Jason Edwards Silver winner: Benjamin Tindale Bronze winner: Benjamin Roberts

Commercial Make-Up (Coleg Cambria)

Gold winner: Leah Allender Silver winner: Jamie Easton Bronze winner: Tiana Elizabeth Roberts

Confectionery and Patisserie (Craft Guild of Chefs)

Gold winner: Celt John Silver winner: Joanne Tills Bronze winner: Lucy Potts

Creative Media Make-Up (Coleg Cambria)

Gold winner: Fiona Hagan Silver winner: Jessie Roberts Bronze winner: Grace Elliott

Culinary Arts (Craft Guild of Chefs)

Gold winner: Gabriela Kulesza Silver winner: Cherie Buckingham & Natasha Ellis Bronze winner: Samantha Watkins

Fine Jewellery Making (The Goldsmith’s Centre)

Gold winner: Dan James Silver winner: Josh Hook Bronze winner: Idris Tetlow

Fitness Trainer: Personal Trainer (AoC Sport)

Gold winner: Rhys Edmunds Silver winner: Anna Crowley Bronze winner: Matty Ferguson & Shannon Greenway

Floristry (British Florist Association)

Gold winner: Catey Burn Silver winner: Jane Sked-Connop Bronze winner: Emily Wykes

Hairdressing (L’Oreal)

Gold winner: Charlotte Lloyd Silver winner: Leah Browning Bronze winner: Rachael Penny

Health and Social Care (ACTAN)

Gold winner: Grace Burton Silver winner: Elizabeth Rosendale Bronze winner: Edie Hannah

Nail Technician (Coleg Cambria)

Gold winner: Georgia Durr Silver winner: Sophie Logan Bronze winner: Lauren Robertson & Samantha Reid Masters

Restaurant Service (Craft Guild of Chefs)

Gold winner: Alex McCathie Silver winner: Daniel Davies Bronze winner: Lauren Jones

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At every stage of the journey, WorldSkills UK competitions contribute to participants’ personal and professional growth. As well as building on their technical skill set, the process helps competitors become well-rounded individuals by developing their full range of skills.

WorldSkills UK competitions are unique in developing a mix of technical, employability and personal skills. The competition-based training programme develops key employability and technical skills and boosts other attributes valued by employers such as teamwork, problem-solving, time-management and working under pressure.

By having access to international best practice, competitors are pushed to reach the higher-level skills required to compete against the very best young people domestically and on the global stage.

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WorldSkills UK Competitions - National Finals

Engineering and Technology Aeronautical Engineering: Mechanical (Royal Aeronautical Society)

Gold winner: Jeremy Franks Silver winner: Matthew Cutt Bronze winner: Adele Hughes

Automation (Middlesex University)

Gold winner: Tom Turley Silver winner: Patrick Sheerin Bronze winner: Casey Dommett

Automotive Body Repair (IMI)

Gold winner: Tiler Moorcroft-Jones Silver winner: Joel Windsor Bronze winner: Lewis Hastings

Automotive Refinishing (IMI)

Gold winner: Ryan Lowrey Silver winner: Callum Roberts Bronze winner: Sion Lewis

Automotive Technology (IMI)

Gold winner: Alexander Mills Silver winner: Luke Merchant Bronze winner: Olly Brown

CNC Milling (WorldSkills UK)

Gold winner: Sion Murray Silver winner: Samuel Lewis Bronze winner: Callum Murfin

Construction MetalWork (Engineering Skills Competitions CIC)

Gold winner: Balveen Nota Silver winner: Jimmy Mason Bronze winner: Jack Kerswill

Digital Construction (New College Lanarkshire)

Gold winner: Paul Hudson Silver winner: Taylor Williamson Bronze winner: Pawel Kudosz

Rank

Gold winner: Owen Nelson Silver winner: Gianluca Mori Bronze winner: Richard Collingwood

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Gold winner: Nathan Dane Silver winner: Adam Redfern Bronze winner: Scott Tavner

Industrial Robotics (Fanuc UK Ltd)

Gold winner: Brennan Wilson & Louie Heath Silver winner: Adam Kirkpatrick & Cameron Middleton Bronze winner: Aaron Stevenson & Jude Moore

Laboratory Technician (Middlesex University)

Gold winner: Joel Farrant Silver winner: Maria Pop Bronze winner: Luke Ball

Mechanical Engineering: CAD (New College Lanarkshire)

Gold winner: Clark McGeechan Silver winner: Cailey Miller Bronze winner: Alex Austin

Mechatronics (Middlesex University)

Gold winner: Oliver Newdall Silver winner: Connor Greenwood Bronze winner: Samuel Kearsley

Sheet MetalWork Technology (Engineering Skills Competitions CIC)

Gold winner: Oliver Bolland Silver winner: Joshua Smith Bronze winner: Joe Mason

Welding (Engineering Skills Competitions CIC)

Gold winner: Ross Jones Silver winner: Joel Blair Bronze winner: William Hunt

What competitors say about WorldSkills UK’s competition-based training: • 92% said it improved their career progression • 86% said it boosted their technical skills • 86% reported improved personal and employability skills • 90% said competing raised their aspiration level

Gold winner: Paige Tynan Silver winner: Lauren Woolford Bronze winner: Paris Williams

Total Points Organisation

Industrial Electronics (Gower College)

Reaching out • Each year, over 30,000 young people gain careers advice and education through WorldSkills UK’s careers advice resources.

• Each year, close to 4,000 young people benefit from WorldSkills UK’s competition-based training, pushing them to hit international standards.

In partnership with Texecom Ltd, Hikivision & CSL Forensic Science (Complete Forensics)

Gold winner: Mark McAdams Silver winner: Daniel Parker Bronze winner: Andrew Hill

In partnership with Royal Society of Chemistry & Institute of Physics

In partnership with Autodesk

Electronic Security Systems (Skills for Security)

Heavy Vehicle Technology (IMI)

Gold medals

Silver medals

Bronze medals

Highly Commended

1

33

New College Lanarkshire

3

3

3

6

2

30

City of Glasgow College

5

2

2

0

3

19

Southern Regional College

3

1

1

2

4

18

North Warwickshire & South Leicestershire College

2

1

3

1

5

17

Toyota Manufacturing Ltd

2

1

1

4

6

16

Coleg Cambria

1

3

1

1

7

14

Cardiff and Vale College

0

3

2

1

8

13

Coleg Ceredigion

1

2

1

1

9

12

Northern Regional College

1

2

1

0

10

11

Cheshire College South and West

0

0

5

1

10

11

Coleg Gwent

1

1

2

0

10

11

TEC Partnership

1

2

0

1

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The skills shortage is one of the most significant economic challenges in the UK With a number of essential industries needing to tackle the issue of an aging workforce and finding suitable candidates to meet demand, the UK is facing acute labour market and skills shortages.

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ocial care, construction and engineering are among the sectors most impacted by the skills shortage. Large scale government and private sector infrastructure and house building initiatives will create demand for construction and engineering professionals, while the ageing population is expected to create a further 450,000 vacancies in social care by 2035.

David Phillips Managing Director, City & Guilds and ILM

Diversity challenges

Coupled with this, many of these industries also struggle with a lack of diversity, further restricting talent pools, with women making up just 14% of the construction workforce, men accounting for just 18% of those of those working in social care and only 8.1% of the engineering workforce coming from BAME backgrounds. In addition, this can harm social mobility, with many of these sectors offering high paying, sustainable roles, but often struggling to attract people from a broad range of gender, ethnic and social backgrounds.

Declining apprenticeship rates

Apprenticeships have traditionally provided an effective route into a wide range of fields, including those which are currently facing skills shortages. However, a decline in the number of apprenticeships has been driven not only by the pandemic but also by wider structural changes in the system prior to the impact of COVID-19. This has been further compounded by the fact that many young people are choosing to pursue university over vocational or technical education.

A 2021 City & Guilds survey of school leavers in the UK found that just 13% planned to pursue an apprenticeship while 30% intended to go on to university. Clearly, for apprenticeships to maximise their potential in addressing the skills shortage and social mobility it will be essential to promote their benefits to young people.

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Clearly, for apprenticeships to maximise their potential in addressing the skills shortage and social mobility it will be essential to promote their benefits to young people.

Career progression opportunities

It will also be vital to emphasise the potential for career progression offered by apprenticeships. Among the students we surveyed who planned to attend university, 41% said their decision was based on the belief it would lead to a good job and 40% said that they had chosen university because they believed it would improve their earning potential.

Despite this perception that attending university will lead to higher paying jobs, recent research suggests that apprenticeships can offer similar or even greater earning potential compared to a degree. In addition, those who had completed apprenticeships experienced lower rates of unemployment than graduates between 2017 and 2020.

A collaborative effort between employers, government, schools, colleges and awarding and assessment organisations to improve awareness and understanding of apprenticeships will be vital to address skills gaps in critical industries. It will also give young people the chance to make the most informed choices about their future.

At City & Guilds we are committed to supporting employers who offer apprenticeships, helping them to understand how apprenticeships can help them access new talent pools and improve long term staff retention and aid succession planning.

To find out more visit cityandguilds.com/ apprenticeships

City & Guilds and ILM support thousands of apprentices each year to pass their assessments first time.

To find out more, visit: cityandguilds.com/apprenticeships

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Boosting the skills of the UK workforce

WorldSkills UK’s competition-based training programmes are one way that employers can offer opportunities to young people and ensure they’re proactively topping up the talent pipeline and boosting skills excellence.

A diverse skilled workforce is a key challenge for businesses around the UK and finding a way to rectify it, both now and for the future, is vital.

F Joe Sheppard Brand and Marketing Manager, CSL Group

Rachel Kenning Technical Support Engineer and Apprentice Mentor, FANUC UK

Richard Marsh Apprenticeship Partnerships Director, Kaplan

ew would disagree that a collaborative approach is needed to boost the quality of skills across the nations and sectors if the UK is going to develop a world-class skills economy.

Many employers are realising the vital role they can play in raising the quality of skills and recognising the importance of raising the profile of their sector to attract the next generation.

Real-world skills that businesses need This is a core reason why many prestigious employers are partnering with WorldSkills UK to run national competitions.

As well as standardising training excellence, the competitions help build awareness of specific technical professions and highlight their appeal to a wider range of young people in a formative stage of their career planning.

For CSL, one of the partners for the Electronic Security Systems competition, that is key.

“Our sector has a lack of engineers, which is a problem for everyone from people like us in the supply chain to the installation companies all the way up to the customer,” says Joe Sheppard, Brand and Marketing Manager. “As a manufacturer and supplier for the security industry, we’ve been supporting both Apprentices for Fire and Security and WorldSkills UK competitions for some time as we know it helps raise the industry’s profile and standards.”

Engaging young people in new careers “Not many people aged 15-17 are really aware of the opportunities 12

within the security sector. We’re confident that the competitions will allow us to showcase the range and hopefully we’ll inspire lots of young people to get involved,” says Joe. Rachel Kenning, Technical Support Engineer and Apprentice Mentor at FANUC UK, partner to the Industrial Robotics competition, agrees that competitions help the sector engage young people as they consider their careers.

“WorldSkills UK competitions raise an awareness in young people of the work that we do and the variety of applications our products can be used for. It also showcases the different roles, entry routes and career paths that can be followed in the engineering industry,” she says. “It’s also a way to change the outdated perception of engineering being a ‘dirty’ job only suitable for men.”

developed the Accountancy Technician competition with WorldSkills UK, a team competition aimed at apprentices.

“Our involvement includes and goes beyond running the Accountancy Technician competition to engage young people – we’re having a much wider discussion about excellence, quality and equity, diversity and inclusion. But the competition remains core to this,” says Richard Marsh, Kaplan’s Apprenticeship Partnerships Director.

He says it is Kaplan’s mission to open the accountancy profession to all sections of society and parts of the UK. “Through the relationship with WorldSkills UK we’ve been able to share information and views with other organisations around the UK, such as Welsh and Scottish universities and colleges, that we would never have had contact with.”

Bridging the gap between classroom and real world By getting involved in the competitions, forward-thinking employers can bridge the divide between the classroom and the real world. Rachel believes employers can have invaluable input around new processes and technologies. “By working closely with educators and training providers, we can support and guide them to ensure the information they’re passing on is up-to-date and relevant,” she says.

As the largest apprenticeship provider in the financial sector, Kaplan trains over 10,000 apprentices every year. It

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WorldSkills UK competition partners Accountancy Technician (Kaplan) Digital Construction (Autodesk) Cyber Security (Palo Alto Networks) Electronic Security Systems (CSL, Hikvision, Texecom Ltd) Industrial Robotics (Fanuc UK Ltd) Laboratory Technician (Royal Society of Chemistry, Institute of Physics) Bricklaying (St Modwen) For more information about how to work with WorldSkills UK please email partnerships@worldskillsuk.org

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Unlocking exciting career opportunities for women in logistics

Image provided by Royal Mail

Career pathways that are open to people of every background Ipswich-based Laura Ludbrook is at the start of her Royal Mail career, at just 16 years old. She joined the company in September as a Postal Apprentice, but things are moving fast. She now has her own delivery route and is also completing her studies towards the Level 2 Express Delivery Apprenticeship Standard. Plus she’s been chosen to be a company ambassador for next year’s National Apprenticeship Week.

Before becoming an apprentice, Ludbrook’s life couldn’t have been more different. “I’d been working with showjumping horses, but wanted a career change,” she explains. “I didn’t want to go to university and was looking for job that involved working outside, so I thought the apprenticeship was an ideal way to earn and learn.”

Ludbrook, who has her sights set on becoming a workplace coach, loves the variety of her job. Once her training is finished, she’ll be awarded her apprenticeship certificate. “But I’ll also have acquired different kinds of workplace skills such as time management and customer service,” she says.

Apprenticeships and technical education schemes are making logistics an ultra-attractive career proposition for female applicants.

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uccessful companies must be on a continual journey of discovery and reinvention, notes Zareena Brown, Chief People Officer at Royal Mail. “That’s why a young talent pipeline is so vital,” she says.

“We’re on a mission to scale-up the numbers of young people coming into our business, because they help us shape the future with fresh thinking. We have a social role to play, too — a duty to help young people shine, whatever their background or qualifications. So it’s important to expand the type of career opportunities we offer.”

Brown also believes it’s imperative for any business to reflect the diversity of its customer base. One of the ways Royal Mail is doing this is by making logistics an appealing career for women.

Paid for by Royal Mail

A mix of practical and theoretical education with a salary Take Carlisle-based Sophie Judge, who started an Engineering Apprenticeship with Royal Mail eight years ago. “I’d been

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the assistant manager of a swimming pool,” she says. “While I was enjoying the practical, maintenance side of that job, I didn’t feel fulfilled so decided to switch careers. The trouble was I’d been earning an income, so didn’t like the thought of getting myself into debt at university. Then I saw the chance to do an apprenticeship.

That suited me because it’s a mix of practical and theoretical learning — and you get paid for it.”

After completing her training, Judge rose through the ranks in a variety of engineering roles and is now Engineering Maintenance Team Leader, overseeing the engineers responsible for repairing and servicing mail sorting machinery. It is a male-dominated industry, she admits — but that shouldn’t put off female applicants.

“The guys here couldn’t have been more welcoming to me, and my views are as well-respected as the views of my male colleagues. Plus, increasing numbers of women are being recruited into engineering across the company, so it will be a more balanced picture in future.”

We’re on a mission to scale-up the numbers of young people coming into our business, because they help us shape the future with fresh thinking.

Hands on experience and behind the scenes knowledge

A different pathway into the sector is open to graduates. For example, Teresa Murio Fernandez — who has a master’s degree in logistics and supply chain management — started on Royal Mail’s Logistics Graduate Scheme in September and is currently working with the Optimisation Team in Glasgow to ensure that mail trucks are being used at maximum capacity.

“I’m getting hands on logistics experience, which is something I didn’t get at university,” she says.

“I’m seeing behind the scenes at distribution and mail centres and finding out how the business is run.”

Murio Fernandez is also looking out for any internal apprenticeship opportunities that will give her the chance to continue learning, support her development and accelerate her career. “I would say to anyone thinking of joining this sector: ‘Go for it.’ It’s so multi-faceted, you never know where it might take you.”

Zareena Brown Chief People Officer, Royal Mail

Sophie Judge Engineering Maintenance Team Leader, Royal Mail

Teresa Murio Fernandez Logistics Graduate, Royal Mail

Laura Ludbrook Postal Apprentice, Royal Mail

WRITTEN BY Tony Greenway

Royal Mail are currently looking for LGV Driver Apprentices to train as part of our new 13 month scheme. If you have had your standard driving licence for between 2 and 5 years and are willing to learn what it takes to drive excellence and deliver to the nation, then you could be part of our next generation of LGV Drivers.

Please scan the QR code for details of our locations and how to apply

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Focus on inspiring learners and educators in Wales Ensuring skills excellence across all nations and regions is core to the “levelling up” strategy. So, it is pertinent that this year’s WorldSkills UK national competitions are being held all around the UK for the first time.

Mike James Principal, Cardiff and Vale College

Eva Voma WorldSkills UK Competitor

Paul Evans Project Director, Inspiring Skills Excellence in Wales

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ne college playing host to some finals is Cardiff and Vale College. Principal Mike James’ college is one of 37 institutions across the UK that are part of the WorldSkills UK award-winning Centre for Excellence, an initiative that embeds world-class standards in skills development.

Inspiring staff and students to develop their skills Mike thinks the competitions will bring a real buzz to the college that will spill over to other students and teachers.

“It showcases the national skill level to the college. Students watch their peers competing and the experience they’re having and think: ‘I could do that.’ It’s inspiring and encourages them to keep pushing and developing,” he says. “The same goes for the staff. Competitions have really raised our game as educators, so we make sure the skills we’re delivering to the young people in our organisation are cutting edge.”

Cardiff and Vale College has 19 students taking part in this year’s finals and has had great success in recent years. “We’ve had some stunning students who’ve worked their socks off in the competitions over the last few years. We’re lucky to have staff that go way above and beyond their dayto-day jobs to support these individuals,” he says.

Supporting Welsh competitors He says there has been a real “Team Wales” approach, with great support from employers and government-funded initiatives such as Inspiring Skills Excellence in Wales. It works collaboratively with competitors, training providers and employers to offer a supportive infrastructure for Welsh competitors. Project Director Paul Evans says the competitions are a great way for young people to “test and showcase their skills and demonstrate their ability to be best in class” but they’re also a way for educators to benchmark themselves.

“Without WorldSkills UK we’d have nothing to benchmark against – we’d just be big fish in a little pond. The competitions are our opportunity to spread our wings and see how well our tutors

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It showcases the national skill level to the college. Students watch their peers competing and the experience they’re having and think: ‘I could do that.’

and competitors do at a national and international level,” he says.

He’s excited that some of the finals are taking place in colleges around Wales and is proud that 30% of competitors this year are from the nation. “It’s a fantastic achievement and a true testimony to the quality of educators we have in Wales,” he says. “We have some really strong pockets that are consistently producing competitors and winners and we strive to increase that year on year.”

It was so good for my confidence because we were given industry-level tasks to perform, so I knew I was performing at high level.

Beneficial career experience Someone who has seen the benefits of competing is 19-yearold Eva Voma. A student at Coleg Menai, she won a silver medal in the Mechanical Engineering Computer Aided Design (CAD) category in 2019.

“It was so good for my confidence because we were given industry-level tasks to perform, so I knew I was performing at a high level. I’d say if you can accomplish a brief in WorldSkills UK, you’re well equipped for work in that sector. The experience reinforced that CAD is something I really enjoy doing and where I want to pursue a career. I’d recommend the competitions to anyone – it’s such a useful and (in hindsight) fun experience to have had,” she says.

While Wales has shown a huge improvement in both representation and standards at the competitions over the past few years, Paul says the crucial thing educators, employers and governments must focus on is future skills.

“We need to think about the skills we’re going to need in 10 years’ time,” he says. “We need to learn and work in collaboration with the rest of the world to share knowledge. WorldSkills UK enables us to get that global link, so we ensure Wales is in a position to deliver these future skills and get ahead of the game,” he says.

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Why apprenticeships are a powerful way to develop good employees Apprenticeships are a win-win. They help employers bridge the skills gap, while offering employees practical experience coupled with real and achievable career progression.

Nicola Wilsher (PhD), Vice President, DMPK and Preclinical Development, Astex Pharmaceuticals

Nicola Wilsher (PhD) Vice President, DMPK & Preclinical Development, Astex Pharmaceuticals

Paid for by University of Kent

In the drug discovery industry, our aim is to make breakthroughs that will ultimately benefit patients — but we are only as good as the calibre of our scientists. Apprenticeships offer a mix of academic and industrially focussed training and are a way to discover the next generation of scientific talent.

It’s certainly true that degree students in academic settings can receive a very good grounding in scientific research principles; but they will only truly understand how drug discovery works by being embedded in an organisation involved in it. That’s what an apprenticeship does. It equips people with the key skills and knowledge that employers are looking for, but that a degree course can’t offer on its own.

I passionately believe that this hybrid way of learning and progressing is an incredibly powerful way to develop good scientists. At Astex, we have an apprentice called Jessie Stowe who received a ‘highly commended’ award at the 2019 National Apprenticeship Awards in the Apprentice of the Year category. Jessie shows what an enthusiastic, young, bright scientist can bring to an organisation. By investing in her, we now have an additional highly trained member of the scientific staff.

Jessie Stow, Research Scientist, Astex Pharmaceuticals

I joined Astex as an apprentice in 2016. The work I do here is an essential part of my master’s degree in Drug Discovery and Development at the University of Kent.

I devote one day a week to my university studies, which mostly involves online learning.

There’s a satisfaction to this way of hands-on learning because the university projects I complete may be of benefit to the company. Plus, I receive a range of support from my line managers, the colleagues in my team and from across the organisation.

As an apprentice, I feel as though I’m progressing in two ways. First, there’s my academic progression.

This is my third apprenticeship: I’ve worked my way up from a Level 5 to a Level 7. Along the way I’ve developed more confidence and qualifications, and more understanding of the organisation. Then there’s my professional progression. When I started here my job title was ‘Apprentice’. I’ve since been promoted to Research Scientist.

In a year, I’ll be a fully equipped scientist who is ready to go out into the working world with a better understanding of my abilities and how I fit into a drug discovery role.

Jessie Stow Research Scientist, Astex Pharmaceuticals

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Why management training can be transformative for employees — and employers Apprenticeships are a win-win. They help employers bridge the skills gap, while offering employees practical experience coupled with real and achievable career progression.

T Dr Deepak Ravindran Medical Consultant, Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust and the CMI Apprentice of the Year 2021 WRITTEN BY Tony Greenway

here’s an assumption that all senior professionals — such as engineers, architects, accountants, or doctors — must be good at managing people.

But that’s simply not the case, says Dr Deepak Ravindran, a Medical Consultant in anaesthesia and pain management at Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust.

“In 2016/17, when I became the clinical lead in my department, I knew there were gaps in my management knowledge,” he says. “That’s because things like leadership skills, how to manage budgets, work with stakeholders, or increase a team’s performance aren’t taught in any formal manner at medical school. It was then I realised I would benefit from a management leadership course.”

So, in 2019, Dr Ravindran began a three-year Level 6 Chartered Manager Degree Apprenticeship at Henley Business School, supported and fully funded by his employer.

Teaching was mostly carried out online with occasional face-to-face classes (before the pandemic). During this time, Dr Ravindran continued to

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carry out his medical duties, which meant he could immediately apply his new skills in the workplace.

“Apprenticeship programmes are an important way to upskill staff,” he says. “But they are good for employers, too, because they provide an organisation with new ideas, skills and innovation — and, ultimately, a better company culture.”

They are good for employers, too, because they provide an organisation with new ideas, skills and innovation — and, ultimately, a better company culture.

Making a positive difference to an individual’s leadership abilities Dr Ravindran believes that the apprenticeship has made a big difference to his management style.

“As a clinician I always thought I had the right answer,” he says.

“But after my apprenticeship I think I’ve become a more reflective practitioner who is better able to understand and collaborate more

effectively with colleagues.”

It has also made an enormous difference to his work. For example, Dr Ravindran recently had the opportunity to set up a long COVID clinic — one of 89 such clinics in the UK. “By understanding the needs of patients and stakeholders in different organisations, I’ve been able to co-author a policy paper, secure funding and people engagement to support those with long COVID,” he says. “I don’t think that outcome would have been possible without my new management and leadership abilities.”

He could have completed other management courses, but Dr Ravindran chose an apprenticeship which offered Chartered status, which can only be achieved by completing a CMI course. “It also includes CMI (Chartered Management Institute) membership which gives me access to valuable resources, support and mentorship to help me continue my learning.

The whole experience has been transformative.”

Paid for by CMI

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