Skilled Students on the Verge of Brazil

Talented Black Country University Technical College (UTC) students, Charlotte Hall and Hayley Ramadhar are one step closer to competing in the prestigious 2015 WorldSkills International Competition, in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

The two Y13 students, who are studying a Level 3 Advanced Diploma in Engineering, were chosen to be part of the Squad Pool UK ahead of the 43^rd WorldSkills Competition, which is considered to be the largest Vocational Education event in the world, featuring over 2,000 competitors from 60 countries.

Judges were first impressed by their engineering abilities during the Skills Show in Birmingham’s NEC in November. Charlotte, aged 17 and Hayley 18, took part in the process control competition, sponsored by Festo and Siemens. They had to programme and diagnose faults on an industrial fluid control rig using a variety of software. They finished 4^th in the UK and received a Highly Commended medal.

Between 24^th-26^th June 2014, over 160 of the UK’s most talented apprentices and learners will battle it out over three days of intense competition in Northern Ireland with the hope of securing a place in Squad UK. The Squad UK selections will take place at Belfast Metropolitan College’s Titanic campus, CAFRE’s Greenmount campus and Northern Regional College’s Ballymena and Newtownabbey campuses.

If successful, the talented duo will be part of the final UK team, and will receive four months of intense training, before heading off to Brazil to represent the UK.

Gordon Mills, Director of Business Engagement at the Black Country UTC, which is sponsored by Walsall College and Wolverhampton University, said: “As well as the skills gained in the training they also learned to work under pressure using their own initiative and also fault find and problem solve during the competition. They also had the opportunity to meet and work with other competitors from around the country gaining valuable life skills.

“This subsequent success is due to Hayley and Charlotte’s commitment, dedication and hard work throughout their time at the UTC.

“The potential opportunities which arise from this can only enhance their future career prospects. Everybody at the Black Country UTC congratulates them on their success and wishes them all the best in the selection process for Team UK – we are rooting for them and hope they get the chance to showcase their skills at the international final in Brazil.”

Henriette Harnisch, Chair of the Black Country UTC Governing Body, said: “This is a very exciting opportunity for Hayley and Charlotte and testimony to the hard work of the staff and students at the UTC.”