Five welding students from Lakes College at Lillyhall have been selected to compete in this year’s WorldSkills UK finals.

Danny Hills and Jordan Miller, both of Maryport, Kieran Simmons, of Workington, Morgan Roberts, of Kirkland, and Sam Meagan, of Cleator, were shortlisted from over 3,000 entries, and make up half of the welding finalists.

Taking place in November, the WorldSkills UK competition runs over two days and acts as the UK championships in vocational skills.

In partnership with organisations from industry and education, the competition aims to help people go further and faster in their training and chosen career.

Those who excel in the UK finals could then join the WorldSkills UK training and development programme for WorldSkills Shanghai 2021 – potentially competing on behalf of the UK in the world championships.

Jordan said: “I’m thrilled to not just have won the regional finals, but be a part of the top ten finalists for the WorldSkills UK competition.

"We’re all working hard to prepare for the competition and hope for the best result. I’m extremely grateful for all the help and support the college have provided me along the way.”

Jamie Robinson, welding tutor at Lakes College and former WorldSkills UK gold medallist, said: “I am really happy to be training the finalists, hopefully helping them to become the next generation of medal winners.

“My aim is to push them to the best of their ability and achieve the success they are more than capable of.”

Clive Bell, welding lecturer at Lakes College and WorldSkills UK welding expert, said: “We are extremely proud at the college to have achieved five out of the 10 national final places, this is the most finalist places we have ever secured.

“The finalists have all worked extremely hard to get to the position they are in and I wish them all the best of luck in the competition.”