Bath College Students get top results in Refrigeration and Stonemasonry #SkillsLIVE

Bath College had four students competing in WorldSkills UK live last week, which held the UK National Finals of more than 70 WorldSkills UK Competitions, giving the most talented apprentices and students the chance to be named as the UK’s best in their chosen skill.

The competitions challenge and assess an individual’s applied knowledge, technical ability and employability skills against a set of performance criteria, with finalists competing for gold, silver and bronze medals and the opportunity to be selected to join Squad UK to train for future international competitions.

Two Refrigeration students, Chandler Davison and Kevin Ballantine, made the top six for SkillFRIDGE as well as two Stonemasonry students, Josh Underwood and Hartaj Hunjan,  who made the top eight for Stonemasonry in SkillBuild.

Bath College was the only training provider in the 2018 SkillFRIDGE competition to see two of its students make the top six, with Chandler winning Silver in the competition.

In the SkillBuild completion, Hartaj received Highly Commended and Josh received Silver for their Stonemasonry work.

Chandler, who topped the national rankings and was the recipient of the SkillFRIDGE National Winner accolade, is employed by Thermocold Ltd – a family-run business working in and around the South West region – and is set to complete his four year apprenticeship course in September.
  
Kevin spent fifteen years in other trades before pursuing a career in RACHP (refrigeration, air-conditioning and heat pump systems), after his elder brother asked him to partner with him and start their own company; TKB Air Conditioning.

Simon Robinson, Refrigeration & Electrical Learning Coordinator said: “I am over the moon with the result, the lads have equally put a lot of their personal and work time in to this competition, so support from the employers must be equally applauded.

“Both lads have inspired the Refrigeration classes and staff with their efforts to do well and use their initiative to overcome weaknesses prior to entering the finals. The competition is always fierce as this is as much as massive title for the apprentice as an accolade for the college or training establishments.

“To have the pair in the finals is a first for Bath College and to come away with a silver medal is well deserved.”

Hartaj has just finished the Stonemasonry course at Bath College and is an apprentice at A F Jones Stonemasons Ltd.

Josh is also doing an apprenticeship at a Stonemasonry business, his is with Phidias Neo Classical, based in Bristol. After his apprenticeship finishes he would also like to start a business.

Paul Maggs, Stonemasonry lecturer said: “The lads worked extremely hard and I am very proud of their achievements at the world skills competition.”