The Bedford College Group’s students compete in WorldSkills UK National Finals
The Bedford College Group is proud to announce that three exceptional students, Brianna Smith, Alex Chan, and Awotoye Oluwatobiloba, are competing in the prestigious WorldSkills UK National Finals this week, representing the Group across two highly competitive disciplines.
Brianna Smith will compete in SFX Makeup & Hair for Film and TV, while Alex Chan, aged 17, and Awotoye Oluwatobiloba, aged 18, will represent the Group in Web Development, placing them among the top eight competitors nationally in their category.
Alex, a current student at Bedford College, and Awotoye, who has progressed to further studies and is exploring apprenticeship opportunities, excelled through two demanding assessments. The first stage tested their theoretical knowledge of website design and development technologies. Having qualified, they then completed a practical task, building a web page from a detailed brief, assessed on design quality, technical execution, and industry-aligned programming standards.
In the National Finals, they will complete four in-person assessments over two days: Design Implementation, Front-End Development (Coding), Back-End Development and Speed Test.
Competing in SFX Makeup & Hair for Film and TV, Brianna Smith, a student at Central Bedfordshire College will face four highly technical and creative final tasks that mirror industry expectations: Injury Continuity Recreation, 1940s Wig Dressing & Application, designing a 1-Minute Commercial Pitch Video and Creative Face & Upper Body Design.
Brianna commented: “I feel really shocked I got into the finals and amazed by the idea. Central Bedfordshire College really helped me with the process to getting here by helping with supplies, and helping me develop skills.”
Abygayle Smith, Head of Learning Excellence at The Bedford College Group commented, “We are incredibly proud of Brianna, Alex, and Awotoye. Reaching the WorldSkills UK National Final is a tremendous accomplishment and reflects their dedication, talent, and professionalism. Their achievements highlight the exceptional standard of teaching and learning at The Bedford College Group.”
Head of School for Computing at Bedford College, Paula Hobday added “Alex and Awotoye demonstrated outstanding commitment throughout the competition stages. The assessments mirror real industry practice, and the standard this year was exceptionally high. To see them ranked among the top eight in the UK is a testament to their hard work and capability.”
The WorldSkills UK National Finals will unite hundreds of the country’s most gifted young professionals, offering an inspiring platform to celebrate excellence, innovation, and industry-ready talent.
For the first time, the National Finals is taking place across multiple venues in South Wales, running from 25–28 November, where the UK's most promising learners will compete for the top honours in their respective fields. The event brings together the very best emerging talent across a wide range of technical and creative disciplines.
For more information about the courses available across The Bedford College Group, visit https://bedfordcollegegroup.ac.uk/