Computing students could represent UK in competition

Two of Nescot’s Computing students are competing to represent the UK at an international competition in Russia this summer.

Both students are currently part of the UK Squad, but are hoping their performances over the next month will be enough to get them into the team to represent the nation in Kazan in August.

HND student Ben Beckett (pictured) is competing in IT Network Systems Administration this week (March 4 to 7) in New College Lanarkshire in Scotland.

Harrison Pike, who is in the final year of his degree, will compete in Cloud Computing from April 9 to 11 at Middlesex University.

“To have two students competing at such a high level is testament to the quality of our students and the teaching that they receive,” said Frances Rutter, Nescot’s CEO and Principal.

“We wish Ben and Harrison well, and we’re looking forward to hearing about their success.”

Ben is planning to stay at Nescot next year to do his degree top-up year, and plans to find a career in networking once he’s finished studying.

Speaking before travelling to Lanarkshire, he said he was feeling nervous but had been working hard to prepare.

“It would mean a lot to me to do well at the competition,” he said. “What we do as part of WorldSkills preparation goes far beyond what we do at HND-level, so it’s a really good way to learn more.”

Harrison has also been working hard ahead of his Cloud Computing heats, for which he will have to set up, administer and fix a cloud infrastructure.

“It would be an honour to be chosen for Team UK, and it would make my family really proud,” said Harrison, who went to Glyn School before joining Nescot for his Level 3 BTEC.

“The best thing about computing is that it’s so diverse – you have so many different options to specialise, so there are lots of career options open to you.”

The WorldSkills competition is known as the ‘Skills Olympics’, and sees the world’s best students and apprentices battle it out to win gold, silver and bronze in skills from floristry to metal work.

Regional heats are held each summer ahead of the national finals every November. The most successful students then compete for the international contest every two years.

This year, more than 60 people will compete in 56 different disciplines in south-west Russia in August. The UK is currently tenth in the global rankings following WorldSkills in Abu Dhabi in 2017.

Nescot has a proud history of success at the national WorldSkills UK competitions in Computing and Media, as well as apprentice Shane Carpenter winning a Medallion of Excellence internationally.

The first 32 members of Team UK will be announced on Monday (March 11), with the remaining members selected in April.