BARNFIELD SOARS AT WORLDSKILLS UK

Barnfield IT whizzes won gold and a runner up prize in a prestigious and hotly-contested national skills contest.

Matthew Mack and Nehman Ahmed, both aged 19, entered the IT heats of the WorldSkills UK competition, which was held at The Centre in Milton Keynes to find the best trainees under 23 in the country.

Matthew, who is studying a foundation degree in telecommunications, took gold in the Network Administrator section, while second year BTEC student Nehman Ahmed was Highly Commended in the Cisco Network Technician section.

Kevin Large, a computer network tutor at Barnfield, said: “They have both done very well indeed, having been whittled down from several regional competitions.

“On top of their own staggering hard work and determination, we believe the excellent vocational training provided at Barnfield is one of the things that have given them the edge.

“As WorldSkills UK National Finalists they may be considered for potential inclusion in a shortlist for the team that goes on to represent the UK at the international WorldSkills Competition in London in 2011 – a huge honour.”

Pete Birkett, Chief Executive of Barnfield College, added: “I’m very proud of Matthew and Nehman. It’s a massive achievement to get so far in such a prestigious competition.  Their success reflects the talent in our Computing and IT Department.”

The Worldskills final is a biennial event that brings together member countries from across the globe to pit the skills of their young people against the best the world has to offer. Competitors battle it out against the clock in 50 areas ranging from electrical engineering to landscape gardening to hairdressing.

Barnfield is holding the next stage of the selection process at the Technology Campus all this week (26 July onwards). A total of seven competitors are coming to the college from England, Scotland and Wales.

Barnfield College has been appointed the Eastern Region Ambassador for WorldSkills 2011 in London.

David Bell, the Permanent Secretary at the Department of Education and Skills, recently visited Barnfield College and described it as “exciting, innovative and groundbreaking.”