Students shine at first ever inter-college skills competition

Students from Derby College Group have been showcasing their talent and technical expertise at a new inter-college skills competition.

More than 200 students from Derby College Group, Burton and South Derbyshire College and Chesterfield College recently took part in SkillsFest.

Organised and hosted by Chesterfield College, the event brought together learners from across a wide range of disciplines, who went head-to-head across 24 skill-packed competition categories – from construction and engineering to creative industries, hospitality and health.

Students from all three colleges delivered an outstanding performance, with Derby College Group students doing particularly well across several disciplines, securing victories in Plumbing, Electrical Installation, Mechanical Engineering, Turning, Automotive, Sport, Music and Foundation Studies.

Heather Kelly, deputy chief executive at Derby College Group, said: “Days like SkillsFest truly capture what further education is all about.

“Our students have demonstrated not only exceptional technical ability, but also resilience, professionalism and pride in their craft.

“To see them competing alongside their peers from across the region, pushing themselves and supporting one another, has been incredibly inspiring.”

The event took place during Colleges Week, a national celebration of further education and the important role colleges play in developing the skilled workforce of the future.

Heather added: “Competitions like this give students the chance to showcase their talents in a real-world environment, build confidence and recognise just how far they have come.

“We are immensely proud of every Derby College student who took part.

“They represent the future workforce of our region, and the future is in very safe hands.

“I would also like to say a massive thank you to Chesterfield College for the huge amount of work that went into organising and hosting the very first SkillsFest.

“They created a fantastic event that celebrated skills, collaboration and friendly competition and made it a great day for everyone involved.”