Talented students from Trafford & Stockport College Group were invited to lunch last week with Group CEO James Scott
The five students are heading to the WorldSkills UK National Finals in South Wales next month and James wanted to personally congratulate them on their outstanding achievements so far.
During the lunch, held at Trafford College, the finalists shared insights into their competition experiences, challenges they’ve overcome, and their hopes for the finals.
Finley Woodward, a Hospitality student at Trafford College, impressed judges in the first round with a movie-themed table inspired by Mamma Mia! complete with a Greek blue-and-white colour scheme, mocktails, and cocktails. Despite a small hiccup (forgetting a tray to carry everything), he remained composed and came out top of his heat at Cheshire College.
Looking ahead to the finals, Finley will face a more complex challenge: identifying wines by scent, delivering table-side meat carving, and creating a full afternoon tea service.
“I love doing competitions, I find them really fun,” he said. “The hardest part is understanding the brief because it can be interpreted in so many ways. But once you sit down and unpack it, it becomes manageable.
My advice to anyone thinking about applying next time is: go for it. It’s such a good experience. Just make sure you plan everything out in detail. The judges can always tell when someone’s really thought things through.”
Isabelle Burgess, studying Media Make-up, is the only student from the North West to reach the national finals in SFX Makeup and Hair for Film and TV. Her preparation included coming into college on her days off to practise, which she says helped her skills and confidence grow significantly.
In the next stage, Isabelle will be given an image to recreate from scratch, testing her technical ability and speed under pressure.
“Taking part has made me push myself creatively and I’ve developed so much since the start. I’m proud to represent Trafford College and the region,” she said.
Cheadle College students Adam Massey and John-Paul Johnson were part of a team in the Foundation Skills: Enterprise category. Their project focused on recycling crisp packets into survival blankets for homeless people, a powerful idea combining sustainability with social impact.
The duo, who are part of the Group’s Supported Internship programme, spoke passionately about the value of teamwork and their excitement at reaching the finals. Their success highlights the college group’s inclusive approach to opportunity and excellence for learners of all abilities.
James Scott said: “It was a real privilege to sit down and hear directly from our finalists. Their talent, creativity, and commitment is really inspiring and they’ve all pushed themselves far beyond the classroom to get to this point.
Competitions like WorldSkills UK play a vital role in preparing young people for their future careers, and I couldn’t be prouder of the way our students are representing Trafford and Stockport College Group on a national stage.”
The WorldSkills UK National Finals will be held from 25 to 28 November 2025, with competitions hosted at leading institutions across South Wales. More than 400 finalists from across the UK will compete in over 45 skill areas, culminating in a celebration and awards evening on 28 November.
We wish all the finalists the very best as they prepare to take their talents to the national stage.
