Ballymena student scoops Culinary Arts award at WorldSkills UK Finals

BALLYMENA student Georgia Abernethy was among 11 brilliant young Northern Irish students and apprentices who struck gold at the UK’s most prestigious skills competition following months of intensive training.

They triumphed in a wide range of disciplines from culinary arts to furniture making and robotics at the WorldSkills UK National Finals.

Designed by industry experts, the competitions help young people grow personally and professionally by developing their technical and employability skills, as well as shining a light on the amazing skilled potential in the UK.

Victory in the national finals means the winners now have the possibility of competing at the “international skills olympics” in France in 2024. The Team UK squad for the prestigious international tournament will be announced early next year.

Georgia Abernethy from Ballymena is 18. She studies at Belfast Metropolitan College which was host for a number of the finals, including culinary arts. Georgia made the most of home advantage bringing home the gold medal.

She said: “It was a bit weird to be competing in such a huge national competition in my own college. But it looked like home advantage helped as I managed to win the gold medal. Massive amount of thanks goes to my tutors who suggested I have a go in the first place and I couldn’t have done this without their fantastic help and support.”

More than 500 students and apprentices took part in finals in over 60 disciplines held at seven venues across the UK earlier this month. The full list of winners is available here.

Finalists underwent a seven-month process of regional heats and intensive training before competing in the finals. They learned of their victory during a special live programme from Channel 4’s Packed Lunch studios, presented by Steph McGovern.

Steph McGovern said: “Eleven gold medallists from Northern Ireland – that is just brilliant. We need to ensure that their fantastic achievements encourage others to follow in their footsteps. Skills have the power to transform lives and economies. These competitions show how the UK is brimming with brilliant young people doing exceptional things.”

Deputy CEO of WorldSkills UK, Ben Blackledge said: “What a performance. Being crowned best in the UK is no mean feat, especially with all the disruptions and difficulties competitors have had to overcome in recent years.

“Everyone who put themselves forward for the WorldSkills UK competitions this year is a real inspiration and should be proud of their efforts. Skills are the lifeblood of every economy, creating high quality jobs, rewarding careers, inward investment and growth.”

WorldSkills UK specialises in selecting and training young people to represent the UK at international competitions. The unique insights of global best practice it gathers at those events are shared with young people and educators to help develop and deliver the skills needed to bring high-quality training and jobs to more parts of the UK.

The competitions are popular with entrants, who say they have helped developed their technical and personal skills:

97% of previous entrants say they improved their technical skills

93% said they improved their personal and employability skills

90% said they could apply the skills they developed.