International skills solutions provider and green skills specialist NOCN Group, is sponsoring the Renewable Energy Competition and is encouraging learners, training providers, colleges and employers to get involved.

Competition-based training is recognised as one of the most powerful tools for driving quality improvement, as well as developing and assessing technical skills.

For students and apprentices, the benefits of entering WorldSkills UK Competitions include:

• development of technical and employability skills
• confidence boosting through competing
• interaction with industry experts providing networking and employment opportunities
• recognition through WorldSkills UK digital credentials, providing participants with a competitive edge in their future careers.

For educators, the benefits include:

• greater scope for creativity in teaching, training and learning techniques
• opportunities to benchmark and learn from peers
• provides evidence for inspections
• interaction with industry experts providing insights into best practices and emerging trends
• supporting organisations in the move from competence to excellence in teaching and training through benchmarking and pressure testing.

Educators can access free resources from the WorldSkills UK Learning Lab to support apprentices and students entering the competitions and curriculum design throughout the academic year.

The competition programme, which involves over 40 different skills including Renewable Energy, has regional qualifiers in April and specialist training, before entrants step up to the ultimate test of the national finals in November. For the first time, the national finals will take place this year in venues across South Wales. Finalists from this year’s competitions could be invited to join WorldSkills UK’s training programme for WorldSkills Aichi (Japan) 2028.

Entry to the WorldSkills UK Competitions is open until 28 March 2025. To register apprentices and access the free resources visit: worldskillsuk.org