Students are top of the class at London-wide skills competition

Students demonstrated talent, determination and teamwork at this year’s Greater London Skills Competition – with NCC learners taking top place in Brickwork and Foundation Learning – and others showing strong performances across a wide range of subject areas.

The week-long event brought together colleges from across the capital to compete in practical, industry-focused challenges designed to test the technical skills that employers are looking for. Held simultaneously across multiple London college sites, the competition celebrates the role of further education in developing the skilled workforce the city needs.

Brickwork champion crowned

A highlight of the week was an impressive win in the Brickwork competition by Rainham’s Construction and Engineering Campus student Aidan Hennem-Morrissey, above, who took first place in the Level 1 category, after producing a high-quality brick structure under timed conditions.

Aidan said: “I’m really proud to win this – I’m glad my hard work has paid off.”

Fellow New City College student Rylee Hooker also competed, demonstrating excellent skills against tough competition from across London.

Foundation Learning team take first place

New City College also celebrated success in the Foundation Learning competition, where students Olivia Harland and Michael Jolayemi, above, were declared the winners.

Their task was to design and create a spring flower display, combining creativity, planning and teamwork. The pair impressed the judges with their design and attention to detail, beating teams from seven other competing colleges.

Sian Cappi, Senior Curriculum Manager for SEND at Epping Forest Campus, said: “I’m bursting with pride that our students, Olivia and Michael, won this competition. They did amazingly well to beat all the other competitors.”

Students show off their skills

Other New City College learners took part in a wide variety of subject competitions, reflecting the breadth of vocational courses offered across the college.

In Applied Science, students Lydia Franklin and Kieren Killeen tested their laboratory and analytical skills in a series of scientific challenges.

The Hospitality competition saw Casian Burdusel and Qayima Johnson showcase their cooking skills in a professional kitchen environment.

A team of three represented the college in Health and Social Care – Malaika Rehman Raja, Naomi Daboh Marah and Claire Akwuba O’Neill – demonstrating their knowledge of care practices and patient support.

Creative and digital talent was represented in the Digital and Media competition by students Bronaugh, Karina and Ayaan, while Finlay Mead and Alexander Reader competed in Carpentry, putting their precision and construction skills to the test.

Budding engineers, Bohdan Chikh and Kyrylo Buhaienko tackled practical industry tasks in the Engineering competition, while Jordan Taylor represented the college in Plumbing.

In Electrical Installation, Mekhi Nebar demonstrated his technical ability in wiring and fault-finding challenges.

New City College also hosted the Maths and English competition at its Redbridge campus, where students Gurkrishan Bhaker, Erica Martins, Rabia Tahir and Favour Awoyinfa took part in a Countdown contest and an Escape Room challenge designed to test problem-solving and communication skills.

Celebrating skills for the future

The Greater London Skills Competition is the largest inter-college skills event in the capital and highlights the crucial role colleges play in preparing learners with the technical expertise needed in sectors such as construction, engineering, hospitality, healthcare, science and digital industries.

By competing in real-world challenges, students gain valuable experience, confidence and industry-ready skills that will help them succeed in their future careers.

Start your journey with New City College

At New City College, rated Outstanding by Ofsted, students develop the skills, knowledge and confidence that employers value – opening the door to exciting careers across a wide range of industries.

Apply now and start building the skills that can lead to your future career.