From Potential to Progress: Why Skills Competition Wales Matters at UWTSD
As the University of Wales Trinity Saint David (UWTSD) prepares to host Skills Competition Wales once again next month, the University is reflecting on the lasting impact of a competition that goes far beyond medals and rankings.
For Caroline Thraves, Academic Director for Art and Media at UWTSD, the competition plays a vital role in building confidence, ambition, and long-term opportunity for learners across Wales – with its influence now increasingly visible within the University itself.
“For the fourth time, UWTSD is proud to host Skills Competition Wales, but this year feels particularly significant,” said Caroline Thraves.
“We are now teaching students who first encountered UWTSD through this very competition when they were still studying at colleges across Wales. What began as a competitive challenge has, for some, grown into a pathway towards higher education, creative confidence, and professional ambition.”
That full-circle journey, she explains, captures the true purpose of Skills Competition Wales: not simply to test ability, but to unlock potential.
UWTSD’s Swansea and Carmarthen campuses will welcome competitors from colleges across South West Wales, including Bridgend College, Cardiff and Vale College, Coleg Sir Gâr, Coleg Cambria, Coleg y Cymoedd, Coleg Ceredigion, Gower College Swansea and Pembrokeshire College. Working in partnership with Inspiring Skills Excellence in Wales, funded by the Welsh Government, the University hosts a wide range of competitions designed to benchmark excellence against WorldSkills standards, while reflecting the evolving needs of the Welsh economy.
The breadth of disciplines on display continues to be striking. On 5 February, competitors at UWTSD’s IQ Building will demonstrate technical expertise in CNC Milling, Industrial Electronics, Mechanical Engineering (CAD), Additive Manufacturing, Automation, and Industrial Robotics. The competitions will be hosted by Lee Pratt, Advanced Manufacturing Skills Academy manager.
On the same day, the Swansea College of Art will come alive with creative energy, hosting competitions in Fashion Technology, Photography, Graphic Design, Textiles and Surface Pattern, and Craft.
Meanwhile, Carmarthen, for the first time, will host competitions in digital media, performing arts, pop music, and inclusive media on 4 February.
“These competitions matter because they bring learning to life,” Caroline Thraves added.
“They challenge students, apprentices, and trainees to work under pressure, solve real-world problems, and measure themselves against the highest professional standards. They are made possible through powerful collaboration between colleges, training providers, employers, and universities, all working towards a shared goal: developing a confident, skilled workforce for Wales.”
Supporting high-level skills development sits at the heart of UWTSD’s mission. Through its creative and advanced manufacturing provision, the University is committed not only to recognising excellence in the moment, but to nurturing innovation, adaptability, and ambition for the future.
The value of sustained involvement in Skills Competition Wales is clear. Skills underpin a thriving economy, and competitions like these raise standards, build confidence and open doors to meaningful careers. Perhaps most powerfully, they show what happens when opportunity is sustained over time.
“The fact that we now teach students who once stood on our floors as competitors is proof that skills development is not a one-off intervention – it is a journey,” said Caroline Thraves.
“For UWTSD, hosting Skills Competition Wales for the fourth time is not just a milestone; it is a reaffirmation of our belief in skills, in creativity, and in the transformative power of education when talent is recognised early and supported to thrive.”
Further Information
Rebecca Davies
Executive Press and Media Relations Officer
Corporate Communications and PR
Email: rebecca.davies@uwtsd.ac.uk
Phone: 07384 467071