New College Lanarkshire has been named Britain’s best for skills provision after coming out on top at the national “skills olympics”, WorldSkills UK.
Students from across the college’s Coatbridge, Motherwell and Cumbernauld campuses won 17 accolades in total – including four gold, four silver, six bronze and three highly commended awards.
Among the winners were Airdrie laboratory technician Lewis Dymock, 22, who scooped gold, and commercial make-up students Kane Hayes, 23, from Coatbridge, and Abigail Dickson, 21, of Airdrie, who took home silver and bronze honours respectively.
The medal haul meant the college topped the leaderboard – the fourth time it has been named the top-performing institution in the competition since 2013.
More than 500 of the UK’s top apprentices and learners took part in the national finals at WorldSkills UK LIVE, a three-day skills exhibition held in the NEC Birmingham, welcoming over 80,000 young people and dozens of leading employers from across Britain.
Professor Christopher Moore, principal and CEO of the college, said: “Congratulations to those students and staff who worked so hard to achieve first place at WorldSkills UK.
“It is a fantastic accolade and indicative of the breadth and depth of talent at New College Lanarkshire; and of the supportive and nurturing approach adopted by our staff.
“Thanks to all the staff who made it possible, the students who trained tirelessly to reach their full potential and to all the supporters who have cheered them on along the way.”
Competition judging panels also included a number of New College Lanarkshire staff experts.
Matthew Smith, head of faculty for computing and creative industries and WorldSkills lead for the college, said: “Being named number one in the UK for skills once again is a testament to the calibre of students we have at the college who take every opportunity thrown at them and ensure they succeed.
“Their success is also down to the hard work and dedication of staff who work tirelessly to ensure our students are working to the highest standard and are confident in their own abilities.
“The opportunities WorldSkills competitions can bring are endless and I am so proud of all 26 students who competed and stepped out of their comfort zones and trained hard to be up there with the best.
“Thank you to the staff who spent countless hours training and mentoring as well as all the staff members who made the trip to Birmingham to show their support – it certainly paid off.”
Dr Neil Bentley-Gockmann, chief executive of WorldSkills UK, added: “Congratulations to New College Lanarkshire for such a fantastic achievement. The competition was fierce and the standards very high.
“All of the hard work and dedication of New College Lanarkshire students and staff has been rewarded and we at WorldSkills UK salute you.”
