Our next Open Evening is on Thursday 15 May.
Our next Open Evening is on Thursday 15 May.
Melissa Barretto, a skilled Professional Cookery Diploma graduate from North East Surrey College of Technology (Nescot), is setting out on a journey of a lifetime, in an intrepid bid to do the UK proud on the international stage at the next WorldSkills Competition. Known as the ‘skills olympics’, it will be held in Shanghai from 22-27 September 2026.
Following Melissa’s success in its national Culinary Arts skills competitions, WorldSkills UK, in partnership with Pearson, the world’s lifelong learning company has announced that Melisa will join its 18-month intensive training programme. Melissa will be aiming to be selected for the team that will represent the UK at WorldSkills Shanghai.
It is the first time China has hosted the prestigious WorldSkills competition. The event will see 1500 young people travel to Shanghai from over 80 counties to compete in technical skill disciplines from engineering, manufacturing and technology through to creative, digital and hospitality in front of an audience of 250,000.
The WorldSkills competition is considered by global experts as the ultimate test of a nation’s ability to meet future skills needs. It is attended by government representatives, educationalists and leading employers from across the globe.
WorldSkills UK uses its participation in the international WorldSkills competition to promote skills excellence across the UK, and by working with education, industry and UK governments it is embedding world class training standards throughout the skills sector. This is helping to meet the demand for a highly skilled workforce in crucial sectors including engineering, digital, manufacturing and construction.
The UK will be competing in over 30 skills at WorldSkills Shanghai 2026, including 3D Digital Game Art, Robot Systems Integration and Renewable Energy.
Ben Blackledge, Chief Executive, WorldSkills UK said: “Congratulations to Melissa on being selected for our training programme for WorldSkills Shanghai 2026. Together with the other members on our programme, Melissa will be developing the right skills to fuel business growth across our economy. With WorldSkills being hosted in Shanghai next year, it provides a fantastic platform for us to work closely with China, where we know skills excellence is a priority, to collaborate, innovate and learn from the very best in the world.”
Freya Thomas Monk, Managing Director of Pearson Qualifications said: “Pearson is proud to sponsor Team UK! Boosting the profile and prestige of technical and vocational education is incredibly important to us and I wish this talented group of 86 young people from across the country the best of luck as they begin their training programme towards competing in Shanghai."
Melissa Barretto won the Silver Medal in the Culinary Arts category at WorldSkills UK in November. She was part of the first cohort of students on the Level 3 Advanced Professional Cookery Diploma course at Nescot, and the first year that the Catering and Hospitality department had entered the competition. She competed in the WorldSkills National finals along with fellow student, Iustin, a worthy finalist.
Karin Freestone, Catering and Hospitality Chef Lecturer at Nescot said: “Congratulations and well done to Melissa on this incredible achievement. We are immensely proud of Melissa and so thrilled that she has been selected for this prestigious training programme. Her skills and talent are exceptional and evident throughout her time at Nescot. It’s been an honour and privilege to mentor her and we wish Melissa the very best on her journey.”
Julie Kapsalis, Principal and CEO at Nescot said: “We were thrilled when two of our Professional Cookery students competed in the finals with Melissa wining Silver. A remarkable achievement for our Catering and Hospitality department in their first year of entering the competition and a testament to the team’s exceptional training, guidance and support for all our learners. We are so proud and delighted for Melissa and we look forward to following her exciting training journey for WorldSkills Shanghai. Good luck and all the very best to her.”
Students from Nescot have participated in the finals of WorldSkills UK for the third year running, with Nescot’s Creative Media students wining Gold in 2023 and Bronze in 2022.
Pearson is the official partner of Team UK for WorldSkills Shanghai, following a successful partnership at WorldSkills Lyon in 2024.
For information on Squad UK for WorldSkills Shanghai 2026 visit the WorldSkills UK website here.
For information on Nescot’s Catering and Hospitality courses visit our website here.