UWTSD apprentices win gold at Skills Competition Wales
Two University of Wales Trinity Saint David (UWTSD) apprentices struck gold at the recent Skills Competition Wales finals.
Kian Lloyd and Jacob Gibbins are UWTSD Advanced Manufacturing Skills Academy (AMSA) students from FSG Tool and Die Limited and were competing in the Computerized Numerical Control (CNC) categories.
For the competition, they were required to manufacture a test piece within a five-hour window, to test their skills and expertise in machine setup, Computer Aided Manufacturing (CAM) programming and machining.
AMSA manager Lee Pratt said: “Once again we are extremely proud of the achievements of our competitors this year. They have both shown great determination to excel and have been committed since day one. We will now channel our efforts towards the Worldskills UK finals to be held in November, where they will be up against the very best young engineers from across the UK. We wish them the very best on this journey.”
The Advanced Manufacturing Skills Academy (AMSA) aims to develop, maintain, and build upon the vital skills required by manufacturing apprentices and employers to deliver the technologies that keep the manufacturing industry globally competitive.
The Academy provides enhanced training for Engineering students, apprentices and businesses on the latest Industry standard machine tools and inspection equipment.
Funded by the Welsh Government and the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales (HEFCW), AMSA works in partnership with three of the leading companies in the manufacturing industry: Mazak (machine tool supplier), Renishaw (Measuring/inspection equipment) and Sandvik Coromant (material cutting tools supplier)
Skills Competition Wales aims to raise the profile of skills in Wales and offers students, trainees, and apprentices in Wales a chance to challenge, benchmark and raise their skills by taking part in competitions across a range of sectors.
The finalists of Skills Competition Wales will have the opportunity to compete in the national and international competitions of WorldSkills UK, EuroSkills and WorldSkills International, subject to a further round of applications.
Funded by the Welsh Government and run by a dedicated network of colleges, work-based learning providers and employer-led organisations, it consists of a series of local skills competitions, aligned to WorldSkills and the needs of the Welsh economy.
Barry Liles, OBE, Head of the University’s Wales Institute of Science and Art and Pro Vice-Chancellor for Skills and Lifelong Learning at UWTSD said: “We are so pleased that once again our students excel in skills competitions, notably in employment sectors key to the Welsh economy. Our engagement in skills competitions reflects our ethos of supporting the skills competence development and employability attributes of our students.”
Further Information
Rebecca Davies
Executive Press and Media Relations Officer
Corporate Communications and PR
Email: rebecca.davies@uwtsd.ac.uk
Phone: 07384 467071