National recognition as three students reach WorldSkills UK finals

Engineering talent takes centre stage

Three students from The Bedford College Group, which has campuses across Bedfordshire and Northamptonshire, have been named as finalists in the WorldSkills UK National Finals 2026.

Gabriel Bartiromo, Jak Henson and Grzegorz Romanowski have secured places in the finals, where they will compete against students and apprentices from across the UK.

Gabriel, who recently completed an HND in Electrical and Electronic Engineering at Bedford College, will compete in Additive Manufacturing, which involves using digital designs to create three-dimensional objects.

He completed two qualifying stages, including a knowledge quiz, 3D modelling tasks and practical challenges.

Gabriel said:

“When my WorldSkills tutor first approached me about entering the competition, I didn’t think I was skilled enough. Up until that point, I’d mainly seen 3D modelling and printing as a hobby.

“I decided I had nothing to lose by giving it a go. Reaching the final has given me a lot more confidence in my abilities, particularly as this is something I’ve taught myself.

“I’m looking forward to seeing how I compare against some of the best competitors in the country.”

The pair prepared for the qualifiers by working through past WorldSkills tasks under competition conditions, supported by their college tutor.

Greg said:

“Competing was exciting and a little nerve-racking. It was a great opportunity to put my skills to the test, and I learned a lot from the experience.

“I’m very happy to have qualified for the WorldSkills Finals and excited about the challenge ahead. There are definitely some nerves, but I’m motivated to keep improving and give my best at the finals.”

Their course tutor described both students as having a natural ability to solve problems and said they had excelled throughout their programmes, particularly when working on practical tasks.

Yiannis Koursis OBE, Chief Executive at The Bedford College Group, said:

“Reaching the WorldSkills UK National Finals is a fantastic achievement and shows the level of skill the students have demonstrated throughout each stage of the competition.

“We are incredibly proud to see three of our students reach this stage and wish them every success when they compete in Swansea in November.”

The WorldSkills UK National Finals will take place on the 18th and 19th November at the University of Wales Trinity Saint David in Swansea, with the winners announced on the 20th November.

For more information on the WorldSkills UK Finals, visit: https://www.worldskillsuk.org/skills/national-competitions/