Talented students from colleges across Greater Manchester are set to showcase their skills as they compete against each other in a unique set of competitions.
Teams of students from ten colleges in the region will battle it out in the Greater Manchester Colleges Group (GMCG) Skills Competitions over the coming weeks in a range of sectors including hospitality and catering, hair and beauty, art and design, digital and media, construction, sport, public services, enterprise, music and performing arts, and engineering. There will be 50 individual competitions across the ten sectors.
The GMCG member colleges including Manchester, Stockport, Trafford, Salford, Oldham, Wigan & Leigh, Tameside, Hopwood Hall, Bolton and Bury, will each host a different skills competition over a week in May (9th-13th). To kick things off and get students in the mood, Stockport College today hosted the engineering competition. Students and tutors are now busy preparing themselves for the week of competitions.
The competitions are a great opportunity for students to gain the confidence and skills that will stand them in good stead on the national and international competition stage. The GMCG Skills Competitions started in 2013 and it is unique for a group of colleges to do something like this on such a large scale.
Joan Scott, Director at Trafford College and Chair of GMCG Skills Competition Steering Group, said: “Since starting 3 years ago, the GMCG Skills Competitions have grown tremendously. In 2015 we had 50 individual competitions, across ten different sectors with 700 students competing and this year will be on the same scale. This close collaboration of the Ten GM Colleges provides a showcase of the fantastic skills and talents of our learners in the FE sector. Furthermore they encourage participation in WorldSkills UK competitions, helping to raise the profile of GM nationally and internationally.
“Learners develop hugely by competing in the GMCG Skill Competitions, increasing their expertise, resilience, team work and overall employability. Competitions generally are very inspirational, they help to awaken ambition, improve motivation and increase the enjoyment of learning. By visiting other Colleges and meeting Learners from other parts of GM, individuals gain invaluable experience and confidence. Skills competitions enhance the development of world-class skills which underpin economic competitiveness for Greater Manchester and the region.”
Photo: Joan Scott, Chair of GMCG Skills Competition Steering Group
