Itec Learners Set to Shine as Wales Hosts WorldSkills UK National Finals for the First Time 

It’s a landmark year for vocational skills in Wales — and an exciting moment for three outstanding learners from Itec Skills and Employment. This November, they will take their talents to the national stage as the WorldSkills UK National Finals come to Wales for the very first time.

From 26th to 28th November, five venues across Wales will welcome over 400 of the UK’s most skilled apprentices and learners for three action-packed days of competition across 47 different disciplines. For Itec’s talented trio — Yusuf Asif, Mairah Taj and Natalia Siwy — it’s a chance to showcase the skills and confidence they’ve been developing throughout their learning journey.

All three will compete in the Foundation Skills: Enterprise competition, demonstrating creativity, problem solving and business know-how under the pressure of a national stage. With nearly 30% of the national finalists coming from Wales, Itec’s presence in the finals is a proud moment for the organisation and a brilliant reflection of the hard work of learners and tutors alike.

Minister for Culture, Skills and Social Partnership, Jack Sargeant, celebrated the announcement, saying:

“These competitions show the real-world value and applications of apprenticeships and are invaluable in futureproofing our economy. I am proud Wales is hosting the WorldSkills Finals UK 2025. We have a beautiful country, and I hope all visitors will take some time to explore it. I wish this new cohort of competitors pob lwc – I know you’ll do yourselves and us all proud.”

For Yusuf, Mairah and Natalia, reaching this stage is already a huge achievement. The Finals are widely recognised as a springboard for young people to develop career-ready skills and gain national recognition. Those who excel may even be selected to represent the UK on the international stage at the ‘Skills Olympics’ in Japan in 2028.

Itec’s Jobs Growth Wales+ Lead Tutor Hannah Kane-Roberts has been with the learners every step of the way. She said:

“I’m honestly over the moon for our three amazing learners from the Cardiff centre. They’ve made it through to the WSUK National Finals! So, so deserved after all the hard work and effort they’ve put in. What an achievement! To be named one of the top teams in their skill area across the UK is just incredible. They absolutely smashed it on the day – adapting like pros to everything thrown at them. I’m beyond proud!”

At Itec, we’re passionate about supporting our learners to thrive in their careers — you can read more inspiring success stories from our learners here.

With over 6,000 young people entering WorldSkills UK competitions every year, these National Finals are more than just a competition — they are a celebration of personal growth, resilience, and technical excellence.

Everyone at Itec is rightfully proud of Yusuf, Mairah and Natalia as they head into the final stage of their journey. They truly embody our values of empowerment, passion for learning, inclusion and growth. We wish them the very best of luck as they fly the flag for Itec and Wales on the UK’s biggest skills stage.