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Exeter College Students Win Top Prizes at National Institute of Carpenters Competition

Exeter College carpentry and joinery students have scooped the top prizes at the Institute of Carpenters competition. Students were presented with their prizes in a special ceremony held at the historic Carpenters’ Hall in London. 

The Carpenters’ Craft Competition is a national competition open to students of carpentry, joinery, and shop fitting. It gives outstanding students the chance to showcase their work, and have it judged by leaders in the field. Students can take part at both a regional and national level, with over 200 colleges nationwide eligible to take part. 

Success in this prestigious competition gives students a head start in their chosen vocation having achieved official recognition of their exceptional skills and high calibre workmanship. 

Laura Michell recently completed her Apprenticeship in Architectural Joinery and works for James Riggall Fine Joinery. She won the over 20’s prize and was the winner of the IOC Shield and the George Pysden Shield. Laura also won the over 20’s prize last year, making her the first person in the competition’s history to win the prize in the over 20’s for two consecutive years. She said; 

“I completed the piece out of curiosity and for fun, to see if I could do as well as I did in the previous year. I was very pleased and completely gobsmacked to learn that I won first place again for the second year running for my age category. I am extremely proud.” 

Lecturer for Carpentry and Joinery at Exeter College, Oliver Cox, went to London with the students to collect their prizes. He said; 

“I’m incredibly proud to have taught Laura over her two-year apprenticeship. To be the only person to win the competition two years in a row is an amazing achievement and she should be very proud of herself.” 

Exeter College student Isaac Bruce, in his first year of the Architectural Joinery Apprenticeship picked up first place in the under 20’s category and was the winner of the JMA Cup. Robin Poynter-Taylder picked up second place in the under 20’s with Tom Reid in third. Additionally, Tomi Bartole picked up third place in the over 20’s category. 

Find out more about Carpentry courses at our next Open Event.

Exeter College Apprentice Selected for WorldSkills UK Squad

Exeter College student Harry Colgrave is setting out on the road to Shanghai following his selection to Squad UK for the international WorldSkills competition in the Joinery category.  

Harry, 19, from Winkleigh, has been invited to join the prestigious WorldSkills UK Talent Development Programme after excelling in its national skills competitions, the finals of which were held recently at WorldSkills UK LIVE at the NEC in Birmingham.  

Harry Colgrave studied his Apprenticeship with Exeter College

The WorldSkills competition, which will next be held in Shanghai, China in 2021, takes place every two years and is known as the ‘Skills Olympics’. The competition will feature over 1000 of the world’s most talented Apprentices and students competing in over 50 different skills as they battle it out to be named the World Champion in their chosen skill.   

Ben Blackledge, Deputy Chief Executive, WorldSkills UK said: “Congratulations to Harry.” 

“This is a life-changing moment for him.  Harry has already excelled in the WorldSkills UK regional and national competitions – and now he is facing an even tougher test as he looks to secure his place to represent the UK on the world stage. He has already dedicated hundreds of hours improving his skills to get to this level – and has many months of hard work ahead of him with our training managers – enabling him to transform his career and life.”  

Ben Stone, Work-based Tutor at Exeter College, said, “We’re all incredibly proud that Harry will be part of the team representing the UK at WorldSkills. This is a fantastic chance for him to test his skills at an international level with the very best talent across the globe in the construction industry.” 

Harry will undertake an 18-month training programme with WorldSkills UK, supported by Exeter College, and will face the ultimate selection test in Spring 2021 when the team that will compete at WorldSkills Shanghai is finalised.  

The previous WorldSkills competition was held in 2019 in Kazan, Russia, where Team UK was awarded 19 Medals.  By competing in the competition, WorldSkills UK are able to identify global best practice, research and insight that will help the new UK government to deliver world class standards in technical education.  

Following the completion of his studies with Exeter College, Harry has launched his own business, HC Joinery.  

Find out more about Apprenticeships at Exeter College.

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Success for Exeter College Apprenticeships after WorldSkills UK Finals

Harry Colgrave, an advanced bench joinery Apprentice, impressed the judges with his woodwork abilities at this year’s WorldSkills UK in Birmingham. Competing against the best young joiners across the country, Harry managed to achieve a Bronze Award in the prestigious competition.  

Our college was honoured not only to have Harry in the finals of this national skills contest, but also Reece Foster, who created outstanding work in the cabinet making category.   

Exeter College’s Work-based Construction Tutor, Benjamin Stone, commented on the standard of the Apprentices, “Harry and Reece have continued their road to success from an early stage in their Apprenticeship. 

“Both learners have produced amazingly high-quality joinery work for their employers on numerous occasions. They have also happily impressed the experienced joinery Lecturer Gil Taylor, who is very fond of them both,” said Benjamin.   

The most exceptional Apprentices and young artisans from across the UK take part in the annual WorldSkills UK competition, all attempting to be the best in their chosen vocation. This competition accelerates young people’s careers; as they gain and improve on world-class skills that equip them for the workplace.   

To compete in the WorldSkills UK finals, students must be nominated by the assessors or lecturers and then attend a regional competition.   

Last June our Apprentices entered competitors for the painting and decorating, carpentry, joinery and cabinet making regional contests.  

The remarkable skill our Apprentices demonstrated earnt them well deserved distinctions in the cabinet making and joinery classes. This meant that Harry and Reece achieved their places in the national skill build final at the Birmingham NEC.   

Benjamin Stone concluded, “It was an honour for me to support and mentor these highly experienced tradesmen in action against the other seven competing regional finalists.”  

“I’m very proud to be a part of their success, and humble that they have acknowledged and thanked all of the Exeter construction staff for their accolades to date.”  

If you would like to share in the experiences Exeter College has to offer, applications are now open. 

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