Hope for fab four at World Skills finals

Four students from Exeter College are busy preparing for a place in the world's best skills line up after they heard they are heading to the World SkillsUK National competition finals at the NEC Birmingham in November – the nation's largest skills and careers event.

The four students beat off competition from colleges and training providers from across the SW in their local and regional heats over the last year and will now be competing for Gold, Silver or Bronze medals against the country's best in their chosen skill – before having the chance to compete at the International competitions in Abu Dhabi.

The competitions, part of Find a Future, showcase vocational skills and aim to inspire young people and adults to be ambitious and strive for excellence and expertise in a wide array of skills in the key employment sectors such as engineering, construction and the service industries.

“We're very proud that there are an impressive four participants from Exeter College at this year's finals!” Said Ian Fitzpatrick Assistant Principal, Exeter College. “These competitions are a great way to raise the profile of skills in both the college and the workplaces and it also helps apprentices and full time students raise their standard of expertise. The experience really helps them hone the very skills their current and future employers are looking for. All of the finalists have already worked really hard to win through to this stage and what a great accolade to have on their cv – being able to prove that they are the best in the region – as well as being a great accolade for the college and the faculty training staff.”

Scott Smith, 21 from Exeter who is an apprentice at Kynaston Autobodies at Marsh Barton will compete in the automotive refinishing competition. He is hoping to follow in the footsteps of a previous Kynaston and Exeter College apprentice, Tony Litchfield, who was crowned Gold Winner in the National Skills competition in 2012.

Josh The college's construction department is celebrating two World Skills finalists. Josh Ellis, 20 and Fergus O'Connell, 21 both from Exmouth, are both competing in the challenging plumbing skills finals.

Josh who works for Westmancoat Heating in Exmouth is no stranger to awards since this week he also scooped the college's Plumbing Apprentice of the Year Award.

Fergus was nominated for the regional heats by Ben Maddison, his employer at Pro Heat who was himself an apprentice at Exeter College so understands the importance of updating technical skills and training while working.

Chelsea CrossmanThe fourth finalists is no stranger to the pressure of competitions and awards having been awarded the college's Health and Social Care student of the Year in 2012 as a full time student then overall Apprentice of the Year last year. Working for North Devon NHS Trust Chelsea will be competing in the challenging health and social care world skills finals this week.

“Apprenticeships are very much a partnership between the college, our employers and the apprentices and these competitions also celebrate that partnership” said Ian Fitzpatrick, “Whilst the competitions hone the very practical skills that will benefit their employers these participants cannot compete without the support of their employers. The national finals are 3-4 days away from the workplace and many of the apprentices have additional training to ensure they are completely prepared for the standards expected – we're very grateful that their employers are so supportive and wish our competitors all the best. “