A group of highly talented media students from East Durham College showcased their exceptional skills by winning bronze medals at the WorldSkills UK National Finals 2024 in Manchester.
Libby Scanlon, Lucy Archer, Grace Burton, and Byron Booth (pictured from left to right) earned their place on the medal board while competing against the best media teams in the country.
Grace said: “Winning bronze at the WorldSkills Media Competition was amazing. It makes all the hard work, teamwork and passion we put into our project worthwhile. I’m proud of how far we’ve come, and this experience has shown me that you are capable if you stay dedicated and believe in yourself and your team.
“Competing at the finals was a life-changing experience. It pushed us beyond our limits and took our collaboration, creativity and communication skills to new heights.”
Fellow teammate Lucy added: “Being part of WorldSkills was unbelievable; it felt like an amazing glimpse into the industry I aspire to join. The skills we developed and the friendships made are things I’ll carry with me moving forward.”
The students’ route to the finals began in February 2024, when their lecturers in the College’s Creative Industries Department started to prepare and support them in pursuing an entry into this prestigious national competition. Staff incorporated ‘pressure tests’ into their lessons, frequently changing the subjects and criteria to help refine the students’ media skills.
“This is another fantastic achievement for our media students”, remarked Suzi Martin, Media Course Leader at EDC.
“First just reaching the finals, and then placing in the top three for a second consecutive year is incredible. This experience will not only have helped the students develop their skills but also provide them with an opportunity to work in a realistic media environment.
“They absolutely thrived on the challenge. Well done Team EDC!”
During the 2023/24 academic year, the teaching team entered four teams into the media category of the WorldSkills Competition. Two of these successfully progressed to the Regional Heats in Hinckley, where judges selected the top six teams to compete at the National Finals in Manchester. Reaching this stage alone was a huge accomplishment.
The EDC finalists then spent an exciting and challenging week in Manchester, creating media productions to a specific brief set by experienced media industry professionals.
Amanda Gregory, Programme Area Lead for Creative Industries, was also delighted with the teams’ tremendous success. “The judges were highly impressed with our team’s performance, praising their creativity and excellent technical abilities. Amazing!”
“This success is also testimony to the quality of training provided by WorldSkills to our staff. Peter Walters MBE helped the team develop pressure tests which were implemented across all areas of the creative industries department. This, combined with the vocational experience of Suzi Martin, has had a material impact on the quality of the College’s ability to prepare our students for competition.”
The EDC team proudly received their medals from Will Best, a highly acclaimed television presenter, during the closing ceremony.
Minister for Skills, Apprenticeships and Higher Education Robert Halfon said: “WorldSkills UK not only provides an unparalleled opportunity to hone your skills and climb the ladder of opportunity towards a better and brighter future, but it also celebrates and champions vocational courses and the further education sector.”
