Cheshire College – South & West is celebrating the outstanding achievements of four of its talented students, who brought home gold and silver medals from the prestigious WorldSkills UK Finals. The College is proud to be one of only two English colleges to finish in the top 10, further cementing its reputation for excellence in technical education.
WorldSkills UK is a charity that partners with employers, government bodies, and education providers to help young people develop key career skills. Through rigorous competitions, students improve their teamwork, problem-solving, time-management and performance under-pressure.
The national finals, which took place at Manchester’s Bridgewater Hall on Friday 22nd November 2024, showcased the incredible dedication and talent of the participants, who spent months preparing for the event.
The WorldSkills UK National Finals challenged competitors with a series of intricate, industry-specific tasks that tested their expertise.
Veronika, Kris, and Malakai shone brightly in the 3D Digital Game Art competition, with Veronika claiming Gold, Kris securing Silver, and Malakai earning a High Commendation from the judges. The talented trio were challenged to design and create two distinct 3D objects—one solid and one organic—demonstrating their exceptional skills and creativity in the world of digital game art.
Gold medal winner in 3D Digital Games Art, and now Games Art student at Staffordshire University, Veronika,19, commented:” I spent an incredible four days among people who share my passion and talent. Competing for first place was exciting as I was in a room with the best students in my field.”
She added, “The gold medal will be a constant reminder of how important it is to strive for something and achieve your goals.”
Lecturer in Games Development, Iain McCluskey said “I can not put into words how immensely proud I am of our medal winners. They went through a gruelling process to get to the finals and did amazing to take both the gold and silver medals by impressing our judges. All are fully deserving of this amazing achievement”
Kris, 18, studying HNC Games Development at the College, was awarded a silver medal in 3D Digital Games Art. He added “The whole medal ceremony was huge and bigger than I expected it to be. I enjoyed it so much, if could do it again I would.”
For hospitality students, the finals featured a dynamic range of challenges, including wine recognition, smoked salmon carving, orchestrating a live afternoon tea service, flambéing pineapple, and carving duck live for service. Additionally, competitors demonstrated skills in serving vegetables, pairing wines, and expertly portioning gateaux—all while performing before a live audience.
Jayden, 17, studying Level 3 Hospitality Food and Beverage Supervision, achieved Silver in Restaurant Service. Reflecting upon his experience he said: “John supported me just the right amount. The competition was intense, but after learning from my mistakes on day one, I gained more confidence and came back stronger on day two. It’s a huge achievement, and I’m incredibly proud of myself.”
John Holden, lecturer in Hospitality at Cheshire College commented: “It’s clear when a student is truly committed to pushing themselves further. Jayden has taken full ownership of his development, and it’s been amazing to watch him grow through this process. We’re all very proud of him”
John added: “Jayden clearly recognised where he’d made mistakes and where he needed to improve. But his response was nothing short of impressive—, refocused, and came back with determination that saw finish in 2nd place”
As an exciting next step, there is now the possibility that the students will be selected for the WorldSkills International Competition in Shanghai in 2025, providing them with an incredible opportunity to represent the UK on the global stage.
Cheshire College continues to be a leading institution for technical education, offering students the chance to develop the skills they need to succeed in their chosen industries. Congratulations to all the students for their exceptional achievements and for proudly representing the College at the WorldSkills UK Finals.
Cheshire College – South & West WorldSkills UK medal winners:
Veronika Kondratiuk – Gold in 3D Digital Game Art
Kris Williams – Silver in 3D Digital Game Art
Malakai Gregory – Highly Commended in 3D Digital Game Art
Jayden Roberts – Silver in Restaurant Service
