26 November 2024
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Samuel Turato of DW Refrigeration and Cardiff and Vale College claimed the gold medal in the Refrigeration and Air Conditioning category at the WorldSkills UK national finals at Oldham College.
James Rowland (Air Control Southern/City of Portsmouth College) won silver and Matthew Barker (Johnson Controls Inc/Practical Refrigeration Training Centre) bronze, while Ricky Rossi (Thermocool/Glasgow Kelvin College) was highly commended.
Young people from across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland gathered in Greater Manchester to compete in over 40 different skills. They represented industries ranging from digital, advanced manufacturing and engineering through to creative, professional services and hospitality.
The medals were presented during an awards ceremony at Manchester’s Bridgwater Hall. Skills Minister Jacqui Smith was among those who attended and said: “Congratulations to everyone who participated in this year’s magnificent competition. Each of you has showcased the exceptional talent and promise of our future workforce.
“Competitions like WorldSkills UK are so important in nurturing talent, providing a vital platform for young people to develop the skills they need to seize opportunities and achieve growth.
“Huge thank you to the judges, mentors, and organisers whose hard work and dedication make these events possible. Your efforts are helping to inspire and empower the next generation to succeed.”
Finalists from this year’s national finals could be invited to join WorldSkills UK’s international training and development programme, with the opportunity to be selected to represent the UK at WorldSkills Shanghai 2026.
- The medal awarded to the UK's Luke Haile at WorldSkills Lyon 2024 has been upgraded from bronze to silver. An announcement from WorldSkills International said: "Following the release of results for WorldSkills Competition 2024, WorldSkills UK submitted an appeal in Refrigeration and Air Conditioning. The appeal was submitted in accordance with the timelines and processes of the Competition Rules. The WorldSkills Board upheld their appeal, changing the medal awarded to the United Kingdom from bronze to silver. The other medal results remain unchanged.
