The University hosts regional heat of world-wide competition

25 Jun 2019

Six Laboratory Technicians battle it out in the regional heat of the WorldSkills competition

On Thursday 20 June, The University of Manchester hosted a Regional Heat of the WorldSkills competition for Laboratory Technicians. Throughout the day-long event six laboratory technicians from across the region competed against one another in a series of challenges that saw them putting their skills into action to make it through to the national competition in November.

Competitors came from a range of higher education programmes from across the UK, including Aimen Fatima, James Allsey and Rebecca Mallender who are working to complete a Technical Apprenticeship here at the University. The competition itself took the form of two timed tasks that the competitors had to complete, one in the morning and one in the afternoon.

Throughout the day the competitors were judged by an expert set of judges who assessed them based on their skills in techniques and procedures to solve practical problems through analysis, tests and measurements while ensuring safe and ethical working practices. The competitors had to demonstrate technical competence in the use of complex instrumentation, laboratory equipment and skills in tasks that reflect real life scenarios they may encounter in a laboratory environment.

The day was rounded off with a fantastic reception aimed at celebrating the competitors for their efforts throughout the day, and also as an opportunity to thank all those who have supported the Technical Apprenticeship Programme here at the University. This event was organised as one of the Technical Apprentice Programme networking activities.

The top performing competitors across the UK will now have a nail-biting wait to see if they have scored high enough to qualify for the WorldSkills UK Final at Birmingham’s NEC in November. We would like to wish the best of luck to all those who competed!