Two electrical learners have enjoyed success at a regional World Skills heat, coming in first and third place, as they bid for a place in the national final.

Amy Bonsey and Sam Burton competed on Tuesday at Harrow College among seven other competitors, all looking to secure one of the three top spots that could grant them entry into the World Skills grand final later this year. Tasks included producing a ring main, intermediate and two-way switching and working with PVC trunking, with overall performance assessed via a scoring system. Each individual had to work strictly alone over a four-and-a-half hour window, with no assistance or guidance permitted. After three days of deliberation, Amy was announced as the winner of the heat while Sam came in third place.

The Electrical World Skills competition comprises approximately fifteen heats, consisting of around 150 competitors, each producing three potential entrants for the national final which will take place later this year. Eight overall finalists will be declared after all heats have been completed, based on the eight highest scorers across all heats. The overall winner of the 2023 World Skills competition will then further have the exciting opportunity to compete internationally in Singapore in 2025/2026.

Paul Austin, Lecturer in Electrical at Eastleigh College, commented: “Both Sam and Amy gave strong performances at the Harrow College heat, and demonstrated excellent precision in their craft. Outcomes like this are showing that we’re one of the best colleges in the South for electrical installation and we will be cheering on the pair if they are selected for the grand final later this year.”

Eastleigh College learner Amy Bonsey, winner of the Harrow College heat, said: “It feels great to win, I wasn’t expecting it and it is a nice achievement to put on my CV. Time management is one of the most useful skills I’ve learnt during my course at Eastleigh College and this was very useful in the heat. It would mean a lot to make the grand final and gain more experience for my AM2 qualification.”

To learn more about Electrical World Skills competition, please click here.

To discover electrical courses at Eastleigh College, please click here.

For any further queries please contact the College at BeBetter@eastleigh.ac.uk.