Students from United Colleges Group celebrated an impressive overall bronze at this year’s Greater London Skills Competition 2026, held across multiple colleges in London.
The college’s success was confirmed at the awards ceremony held at City Hall, where students from the College of North West London and City of Westminster College – part of United Colleges Group – finished in the top three against competitors from 15 colleges across the capital after achieving first, second and third place medals across Carpentry, Cyber, Hair & Beauty and Health & Social Care.
The competitions were supported by the Greater London Authority, working in partnership with Association of Colleges and endorsed by WorldSkills UK. This groundbreaking initiative brought together learners, educators, employers and industry leaders to showcase vocational excellence and highlight the crucial role of skills competitions in preparing the workforce of tomorrow.
The College of North West London’s Willesden campus hosted the Carpentry competition, welcoming student teams from Waltham Forest College, Barking & Dagenham College and London South East Colleges. Students competed alongside these teams, gaining valuable experience in a high-pressure, industry-standard challenge.
Highlights included student Levy, winning first place and Stanislaw, placing third in the Carpentry competition.
Budding carpenters were challenged with planning and constructing an asymmetric shed end.
“Watching my father work in carpentry ever since I was little has really inspired me to do my very best on my course at the College of North West London.” said Levy from Wembley.
Computing & IT students also achieved a win in the Cyber competition, demonstrating their technical expertise and problem-solving skills. Four of the winners originally started their journey at our college at Level 1, progressing directly to Level 3; a remarkable achievement.
Four of the winners originally started their journey at our college at Level 1, progressing directly to Level 3; a remarkable achievement. Winifred, from Willesden, one of the winners in Cyber said “Before the competition, I felt nervous but excited to apply what we have learnt in lessons. With the help of my teammates, we all performed well and the competition was an incredible event. It was exciting to get the award at City Hall – it really was one of the most amazing experiences I have ever had.”
City of Westminster College hosted the Hairdressing and Beauty competitions at its Paddington campus, with students tasked to create bridal hairstyles and showcase their talents in glam make up and facial beauty treatments. The College’s own students secured two medals – one for beauty therapy (Jhennyfer second place) and one for hairdressing (Sundas third place).
The College was honoured to welcome Mary Vine-Morris MBE, Association of Colleges Area Director for London, who visited the campus to observe the competitions and present awards to the winners.
Stephen Davis, CEO & Group Principal of United Colleges Group, said: “Achieving Bronze at the Greater London Skills Competition – placing in the top three among 15 London colleges – is a testament to the dedication, creativity and skill of our learners. Our strong overall performance – alongside individual wins in Cyber and Carpentry – also reflects the expert guidance and support of our staff. We are grateful to the Greater London Authority, the Association of Colleges and WorldSkills for their vital support in making collaborative initiatives like this possible. Competitions like these celebrate talent, but they also give our students the confidence and real-world experience they need to succeed in their future careers.”
The College also thanked its partners for their support of the competitions, including NOCN Group, Tyron Wain, Jennor Timber Co. Ltd, Tilgear, Finn Stacey, Wella Company, Eve Taylor, VTCT Skills, and Avlon Haircare.
Events like the Greater London Skills Competition give students the chance to test their skills, gain industry experience, and celebrate achievement in a collaborative and challenging environment.
“My experience at College of Northwest London, has been exciting, it has been thrilling and it has been full of opportunities, and we have the tutors that help us whenever we’re in need. We go on educational trips to get a feel for what university life is like. We have the careers advisors that help us on our path, our university path.”
“The facilities here are brilliant. You have range of courses you can study. My teachers in the Performing Arts department have got history in the industry, which is very useful. You get to ask them for advice and actual knowledge from the industry, and take that into your own work within the college also afterwards. ”
“At City of Westminster College, my experience has been the best of all the other colleges I’ve attended. The reason I like CWC is because the teachers make my journey easier with assessment and exams. I’m a Level Two Science student and I enjoy my lessons because most of them are practical, which are helpful for me. I love studying at CWC because you meet people from other countries – all over the world and from all different communities.”
“My favourite thing about studying here has definitely got to be the teachers. They’re really helpful, kind and in the industry, so it’s good.”
“The technical knowledge and hands-on experience gained during my apprenticeship at College of North West London have been invaluable, particularly in understanding site processes, health and safety requirements and the understanding of electrical systems.”
“My experience studying at City of Westminster College has been amazing. It’s been so welcoming; I enjoy it very much because of the staff members we have here. They’re very approachable and I could come to them with any question, and it will be answered straight away. And if I come early for a class, I can use the Learning Resources Centre, I can use the computers, the books, just to continue all my studies outside the classroom time.”
“The training process was seamless. I had good instructors who were very flexible, supporting people of all learning levels. On the last day after our exams, a security company came and did a presentation. We had the opportunity to have an interview afterwards. I told them about my experiences, and they said I would be a good fit. I formally applied for a role and started with the company soon after. Getting into security has opened doors for me. I hope I will continue to take steps up the career ladder.”
“Coming to study at the City of Westminster College was the best decision that I had ever made. The teachers are very accommodating – they help you learn things in a way that might be easier for you to learn. They are very supportive and I think that’s one of the best things about learning here.”
“I was so grateful to have won Apprentice of the Year at the West London Business Awards 2026, I could not have done it without the support my company Size Group and the College of North West London.”
