Kidderminster College students have been celebrating success after taking part in – and proudly hosting – the sixth annual NCG Skills competition, held at Kidderminster College during National Apprenticeship Week.
NCG Skills is a unique, national competition that brings together learners from across NCG’s seven colleges, giving them the chance to develop and showcase their technical expertise in front of industry professionals.
Learners from across the NCG group travelled to Kidderminster after earning their place in regional heats held in December.
Apprentices and students competed across 11 skills areas, including business, carpentry, hairdressing, joinery, electrical installation and bricklaying.
Each category was shaped, judged and supported by employer partners including NOCN Group, OneAdvanced, L’Oréal, Wella and WorldSkills UK, creating real world pressure and expectations for competitors. world pressure and expectations for competitors.
Competitions like NCG Skills play a crucial role in helping students develop the technical, professional and personal skills that employers across the region and beyond are looking for.
Modelled on WorldSkills principles, the competition aims to deepen hands-on experience, build confidence, and strengthen the skills that employers are actively seeking. Past winners have gone on to compete nationally and internationally, including in Switzerland and Beijing, demonstrating the high standard of talent across NCG. on experience, build confidence, and strengthen the skills that employers are actively seeking. Past winners have gone on to compete nationally and internationally.
Kidderminster College learners competed across a range of disciplines, with George Collins taking home first place in the Electrical category. Students said the experience helped them build confidence, test their skills under pressure and connect with industry professionals.
Cat Lewis, Kidderminster College Principal, said: “I was thrilled to host NCG Skills at Kidderminster College this year. We saw incredible talent from students across all of our NCG colleges - skills that demonstrated they are on the right path to developing the knowledge, behaviours and expertise needed for their next steps into employment. It was a fantastic day and an amazing opportunity for our students to show just how much they have grown during their time with us at NCG.”
