Grŵp hosts record number of Skills Competition Wales events
More than 250 competitors represented Grŵp Llandrillo Menai in Skills Competition Wales - with the Grŵp hosting more disciplines at its campuses than any college ever has previously
Grŵp Llandrillo Menai hosted a record 23 disciplines in this year’s Skills Competition Wales - the largest number ever hosted by one college group.
More than 250 of the Grŵp’s students and apprentices took part in this year’s event at various venues across Wales.
Many were competing on familiar territory, with the Grŵp holding competitions at its Bangor, Llangefni and Rhyl campuses, and at external venues.
Skills Competition Wales offers competitors the chance to develop their skills to a high standard across more than 50 disciplines as they battle it out to be the best in the country.
Competitions take place in a variety of sectors, including business, construction, digital, engineering, health and social care, hospitality and more.
Grŵp Llandrillo Menai’s Llangefni campus welcomed competitors from across Wales in 14 different disciplines.
These were: additive manufacturing, brickwork, carpentry, CNC milling, electrical installation, fitness assistant, woodwork (inclusive skills), industrial electronics, industrial robotics, mechanical engineering CAD (computer-aided design), painting and decorating, personal trainer, plastering, and plumbing and heating.
The Rhyl campus hosted light vehicle automotive technology, renewable energy, vehicle body repair and vehicle refinishing.
The new Bangor campus hosted the 3D digital game art category, while at the Pontio Centre in Bangor, the Grŵp held competitions in digital media production, performing arts and the annual ‘Battle of the Bands’.
The Grŵp also managed competitions in photography at the University of Wales Trinity Saint David, and web development at the University of South Wales in Newport.
Learners represented the Grŵp in all of the above categories, as well as in accountancy, beauty therapy, childcare, enterprise, food production, graphic design, hairdressing, health and social care, heavy vehicle technology, horticulture, IT, restaurant service, and welding. These competitions took place at venues across the country including Coleg Cambria, Cardiff and the Vale College, and NPTC in Newtown.
Competitors are now waiting to find out how they got on, with the winners set to be announced at a ceremony at Swansea ceremony on March 13. The Grŵp will host watch parties at its Rhos and Llangefni campuses, where competitors will receive their medals.
Many will go on to represent the Grŵp in WorldSkills UK competitions, where they can compete for a place in the UK squad for the biennial WorldSkills international competition.
Grŵp Llandrillo Menai won six medals at last year’s WorldSkillsUK Finals in Manchester, while Harry Sutherland won gold while representing the Grŵp in plastering at the SkillBuild National Final.
This year’s WorldSkills UK Final will be held in Wales for the first time, at various venues across South Wales.
Nia Rhys Jones, Grŵp Llandrillo Menai planning and research manager, said: “Grŵp Llandrillo Menai is proud to have hosted 23 different Skills Competition Wales disciplines this year. This is the largest amount of competitions any college group has ever hosted for Skills Competition Wales.
“These have ranged from motor vehicle competitions in Rhyl, to engineering, construction and fitness in Llangefni. We’ve also taken over Pontio, where we’ve got digital media production and performing arts.
“We had 10 bands competing in the Battle of the Bands, from almost every FE college in Wales. This is always very popular and has become more and more competitive each year.
“We’re proud to have welcomed colleges from around Wales, and we wish all competitors all the best.
“Our students have competed all over Wales this week, and we hope they’ll bring lots of medals back when the results are announced on March 13.”
Skills Competition Wales is organised by Inspiring Skills Wales, a Welsh Government funded initiative consisting of colleges, work-based learning providers and employer-led organisations which supports young people to achieve excellence.