Students on international stage

TWO ‘skills stars’ from Warrington Collegiate have earned a place in Squad UK for an international skills competition – WorldSkills Leipzig, next July 2013.
Rianne Chester, 18 from Howley, has been selected for Beauty Therapy and 19 year old Ashley Terron, from Appleton, for Brickwork by the National Apprenticeship Service.
Rianne and Ashley have already won though in both regional and national competitions and have impressed the judges by the high standard of work they have produced, as well as their knowledge of their chosen skills area.
Ashley and Rianne were selected from among the UK’s most talented apprentices, employees and learners after competing in a tough three-day selection event on. They will now spend the next year preparing to take on the very best from across the world, undergoing a specialised training programme supported by a dedicated Training Manager for each skill.
Ashley, who has also been chosen to represent the UK at EuroSkills in Belgium in October 2012 says, “I’m absolutely over the moon, a dream come true to be able to represent the UK at something I love doing with the chance to prove I have the ability and the passion to be the best. To think that not long ago I was entering my first skillbuild regional final and now I am going to be representing the UK at Euroskills 2012.”
Paul Gould, Curriculum Manager for Building, Construction, Brickwork and the Built Environment and proud tutor adds, “Ashley is a very talented young man. This next challenge will be tough, but I’m sure that with his drive and determination Ashley will shine and we look forward to hearing that he is going to Leipzig in 2013.”
Rianne said, “I’m really excited. This is once in a life-time opportunity. I’ve had such great support from everyone at the college and at work. I’m practicing hard so that I can do myself and the college credit in the next stage.”
Tania Gray, Lecturer in Beauty Therapy, adds, “Rianne has talent and poise as well as being an outstanding student. It’s an amazing experience for such a young competitor and I have asked Rianne to come into college to do a master class for the Beauty Therapy students to share her expertise and knowledge for the students training for this year’s competition.
WorldSkills is the biggest international skills competition in the world. Held every two years in one of its 61 member countries/regions, the competition sees around 1000 young people aged 18 – 23 from across the world come together to compete for medals in more than 40 different skills including Electrical Installation, Mobile Robotics, Web Design, Cooking and Landscape Gardening.
Ashley and Rianne have one final hurdle. They will compete for a coveted place in Team UK at the selection event which will be held in March 2013. If selected they will carry on training intensively with Team UK before heading to WorldSkills Leipzig, which takes place from 2 – 7 July 2013. They both hope that the whole of the country gets behind Squad and Team UK for WorldSkills Leipzig 2013 like they do our sporting teams!”
Jaine Bolton, Director at the National Apprenticeship Service and UK Official Delegate to WorldSkills International says, “I offer my support and congratulations to every young person that has earned a place in Squad UK.
“By competing in international competitions, the UK is able to showcase the high levels of performance that can be achieved by individuals and organisations through high quality further education, skills training and Apprenticeships. This provides the inspiration for young people and adults to be ambitious in their pursuit of skills to the highest level.”
As well as training with Squad UK Rianne and Ashley are embarking on the next stage of their careers. Ashley is studying Construction and Property Management at the University of Salford and Rianne works for Akira, Hair and Beauty Team in Warrington.