Students from Crawley College and the College of North West London came together on 19 June as Crawley College hosted the regional SkillWeld, the WorldSkills UK Welding Competition, welcoming learners, lecturers, employers and industry representatives for a day celebrating technical excellence in welding.
Recognised as the UK’s premier welding competition, SkillWeld is designed to raise industry standards while developing the next generation of multi-skilled, job-ready welders. The competition also highlighted the high standard of welding training available at Crawley College and the growing career opportunities available across the welding industry.
Ten regional finalists tackled a series of demanding practical challenges, including specialist pipe and aluminium welding, testing their precision, technical ability and problem-solving skills under competition conditions. For many students it was their first experience of competing against learners from other colleges, while others returned to build on experience gained in previous competitions.
Crawley College student Finlay Leonard- Page claimed first place overall, with Ben Barker and Tom Clarke finishing second and third. A number of additional awards were also presented in recognition of technical skill and merit.
Mark Lewis, Welding Lecturer at Crawley College, said the college has built a strong relationship with the SkillWeld organisers and believes the competition provides an excellent opportunity to challenge students beyond the curriculum. He added that events like this allow learners to meet and learn from their peers, while also giving college staff the chance to share ideas and best practice.
Crawley College welding student Evie Forrest said the competition had given her a real focus for developing her skills.
“It helps improve your skills because you’ve got something to work towards. The tutors are welcoming and friendly and they really take the time to get to know you, which helps you develop. You don’t need lots of welding experience before you start, just be prepared to learn and enjoy it.”
Judges and industry representatives praised both the quality of the competition and the high standard of welding demonstrated by learners, particularly those in their first year of training. Clive Slocombe of CodeAWeld and Chris Porter of Air Products highlighted the quality of the work being produced and the excellent employment opportunities available throughout the welding industry. They spoke about the wide range of careers available across manufacturing, aerospace, construction, transport, utilities, energy and the nuclear sector, encouraging students to continue developing specialist knowledge in areas such as metallurgy, shielding gases and working with materials including stainless steel, aluminium and chrome alloys.
Tom McCarthy, Welding Lecturer at the College of North West London, said competitions provide an invaluable opportunity for students to push themselves beyond their normal learning environment. “Competitions challenge learners, take them out of their comfort zone and help them stretch themselves. Crawley has excellent facilities, with plenty of room to work, making it an ideal venue.”
Mark Lewis also highlighted the technical challenge of the competition, particularly pipe welding. “Pipe welding is particularly demanding and recognised across the industry. Competitions like SkillWeld encourage students to reach an industry-recognised standard while learning from both their peers and experienced professionals.”
Jonathan Higgins, Welding Lecturer at Crawley College, described the competition as “A good old get-together” that encourages peer-to-peer learning while creating a real sense of community. He also highlighted Crawley College’s spacious workshops, high standards of health and safety and modern welding equipment as major strengths that make it an ideal venue for regional competitions.
Visiting students from the College of North West London were equally positive.
Hansen, attending his second SkillWeld competition, praised the organisation and described Crawley College’s workshops as “well stocked, organised and an easy place to work.”
Fellow student Alex Hadzhier described the event as “fun, different and challenging”, adding that welding had opened up opportunities for both employment and further study.
The competition once again demonstrated why Crawley College has become a recognised venue for regional SkillWeld competitions, bringing together colleges, employers and industry specialists to celebrate technical excellence while inspiring the next generation of skilled welders.
Interested in welding?
See website for Crawley College welding courses: https://www.crawley.ac.uk/study-with-us/subjects/engineering-and-welding/
Contact Tim Chester-Williams to find out more about welding courses, apprenticeships and employer training opportunities at Crawley College: tchesterwilliams@crawley.ac.uk