Cardiff and Vale College’s Kyle is off to the Skills Olympics

A recent graduate from Cardiff and Vale College has been selected for Teak UK in the WorldSkills finals in Kazan, Russia, in August 2019.

Kyle Woodward successfully completed his Cyber Security course at the College last year, and is now studying Applied Cyber Security at the University of South Wales. He was selected for Team UK following a gruelling series of tests and competitions at Middlesex University.

Known as the ‘Skills Olympics’, the WorldSkills Competition sees the world’s best students and apprentices battle it out to win gold, silver and bronze in their chosen skill. The UK is currently tenth in the WorldSkills rankings following its medal success at the last WorldSkills competition in Abu Dhabi in 2017.

Kyle Woodward was invited to compete for a place in Team UK for WorldSkills Kazan 2019 after excelling in the WorldSkills UK National Competitions. He will join CAVC Electrical Installation apprentice Tom Lewis, who was picked for Team UK earlier in the year.

“It feels amazing to be selected to represent the UK in the WorldSkills finals,” Kyle said. “I was quite shocked because I’ve come such a long way since I started at the College.

“I was quite a low level learner at high school but when I started at the College my tutor Peter Franklin really pushed me and it changed everything. I have gone from being low level to getting almost perfect grades and now I’m going to the WorldSkills finals – that just blows it out of the park for me.”

Kyle admits to feeling some nerves when he and fellow CAVC learner Mateusz Kolacki embarked upon the selection contest. “It was nerve-wracking in the week before and just before you go in, that was the worst, but the second you sit down and start the nerves go and you know you just have to get on with it,” he explained.

He is looking forward to his trip to Russia in the summer.

“I’ve only been abroad once or twice before and that was always with my family, never alone,” Kyle said. “Seeing the culture and getting to compete against other people internationally is going to be amazing – and it will be a good opportunity to do a bit of networking as well.”

Cardiff and Vale College Deputy Principal Sharon James said: “Congratulations and a massive well done to Kyle for making it to Team UK in the WorldSkills Finals which will be held in Russia this year – it will be an amazing opportunity that not many young people get to experience.

“It’s such an impressive achievement. Kyle has shone at every level of the WorldSkills and Skills Competition Wales contests, and his reward is represent the UK in the international finals.

“I’d also like to thank his Lecturer, Peter Franklin – his hard work and support to help Kyle reach such a high standard really has paid off.”