The Inter-College Skills Show, devised by Barking & Dagenham College, took place on 26 March across five locations in London and Essex.
Hundreds of students competed in 10 industry-based competitions in five colleges across the capital. The competitions were endorsed by WorldSkills UK. Howard Dawber, Deputy Mayor of London for Business and Growth, opened the competition at the College of North West London.
Barking & Dagenham College said the show aimed to tackle London’s skills gap by demonstrating how vocational education equips learners with industry-relevant expertise in key sectors such as construction, engineering, hospitality, healthcare, science and digital industries.
A 2024 survey from the British Chambers of Commerce and the Open University revealed that 63% of businesses in London and the South East experience a lack of qualified workers. It cited that this is largely attributed to a lack of employer-provided training opportunities for upskilling employees and a mismatch between the skills needed by businesses and those possessed by the workforce.
Barking & Dagenham College was joined by Waltham Forest College, United Colleges Group, South Essex College, Capital City College, Newham College, Barnet and Southgate College and Newham Sixth Form College.
The Deputy Mayor of London for Business and Growth visited the College of North West London in Willesden. During his visit, the Deputy Mayor gave the opening address to students and staff; he then had the opportunity to observe two competitions in action at the college in the electrical and plumbing departments. He met with participants and heard how vocational education is equipping them with industry-relevant expertise.
He said: “London’s further education providers play a vital role in equipping Londoners with the skills they need to unlock their potential, and in turn supply businesses with a diverse pipeline of talent. Events like this help to deliver on ambitious targets in our new London Growth Plan to build the capital’s skilled workforce and ensure all Londoners can access not just good jobs but exciting career paths.
“I was proud to support this initiative, which brought together employers, educators, and students to help build a better, fairer and more prosperous London for everyone.”
Parisa Shirazi, director of Standards, WorldSkills UK, added: “It has been fantastic to partner with colleges across London and Essex to deliver the Inter-College Skills Show. Our competition-based learning programme, based on international standards, is recognised as one of the most powerful tools for supporting young people in developing the technical skills that employers are crying out for.
“By bringing industry and education together at events like this, we can equip all young people with the skills that will help fuel business growth in London and the South East.”