09 September 2024

Two Tameside College students feature in BBC coverage of the WorldSkills competition world finals.

Lucy Yelland and Ben Love, who are employed by engineering company Siemens and study as apprentices with the college, were interviewed by the BBC at the college as part of a feature on the UK’s WorldSkills team.

Both Lucy and Ben will be competing between 10th-15th September at the finals in Lyon, France in the mechatronics category.

WorldSkills Lyon 2024 will host over 1500 people from 65 countries, who will compete in 62 different skill disciplines. The prestigious event is designed to find the very best talent in each discipline, raise career aspirations for young people across the globe and boost the prestige of technical education.

During the interview, which took place in the college’s advanced technologies centre, the students talked about how they became interested in the field of engineering, how the college and their employer have supported them and why apprenticeships are important in the industry.

Lucy and Ben were also filmed demonstrating their skills using the college’s mechatronics rigs and planning their competition strategy.

Lucy, said: “We are both confident as a team that we are ready for the competition and know we will put our all into it. WorldSkills is the best opportunity I have been given in my career and it has taken me on a path I have really enjoyed and benefited from. The support from the college has been amazing and is how I became involved in the competition in the first place. I am looking forward to putting my skills to the test.”

Jackie Moores, principal and CEO of Tameside College, said: “Ben and Lucy are a testament to not only the college but their employer, family and friends. To progress from the north west competition all the way to the world finals shows they are amongst the very best at what they do, anywhere and demonstrates to other students the possibilities available. It is brilliant to have the BBC visit the college, especially when it is to film something which is so important to us as a further education provider and it was wonderful to see them on national television. Good luck to Lucy and Ben, everyone at the college will be routing for you.”

To find out more about engineering courses and apprenticeships at Tameside College, visit the college website or call 0161 908 6600.