In a thrilling awards ceremony held in Manchester, the winners of the 2023 WorldSkills UK Industrial Robotics competition have been revealed. Hannah Currie and Peter O'Neill from Northern Regional College in Northern Ireland emerged as the gold medalists, showcasing their exceptional skills and beating over 50 talented apprentices and students in the national finals. This article delves into their remarkable journey, the intense competition, and the invaluable benefits of participating in the WorldSkills UK event.
The Journey to Victory
Discover the remarkable journey of Hannah Currie and Peter O'Neill, the gold medalists of the 2023 WorldSkills UK Industrial Robotics competition.
Hannah Currie and Peter O'Neill from Northern Regional College in Northern Ireland showcased their exceptional skills and emerged as the gold medalists of the 2023 WorldSkills UK Industrial Robotics competition. Their journey to victory was filled with dedication, hard work, and intense competition.
Throughout the national finals, they faced tough challenges, competing against over 50 talented apprentices and students. The competition tested their programming accuracy, equipment installation, teamwork, safety, time management, and documentation skills.
With an overall score of 97%, Hannah and Peter's team secured the top spot, earning them the opportunity to represent Team UK at the WorldSkills International Industrial Robotics competition in 2024.
Benefits of Participating
Explore the valuable benefits that young individuals gain by participating in the WorldSkills UK Industrial Robotics competition.
Participating in the WorldSkills UK Industrial Robotics competition offers numerous advantages for young individuals looking to pursue a career in this field. The competition serves as a platform for personal and professional growth, providing participants with increased confidence, enhanced technical skills, and valuable teamwork experience.
Hannah Currie, currently pursuing a Higher Level Apprenticeship in Engineering with Wrightbus, expressed her satisfaction with the competition, stating that the skills and knowledge gained will be invaluable throughout her career. Peter O'Neill, a BEng Mechanical Engineering student at Ulster University, encouraged other students to get involved, emphasizing the potential job opportunities it can provide.
The Challenge and Evaluation
Delve into the details of the challenge faced by the participants and the comprehensive evaluation criteria used in the WorldSkills UK Industrial Robotics competition.
The UK national finals of the competition featured five teams who were tasked with programming a FANUC ER4-iA robot according to a brief set by the company's technical team. The challenge involved various aspects, including picking and placing parts, incorporating sensors and pneumatics components, and creating a digital twin.
The teams were evaluated based on their programming accuracy, equipment installation, teamwork, safety, time management, and documentation. The judging panel, consisting of experts from FANUC UK, assessed the participants' performance and awarded scores accordingly.
FANUC's Commitment to Inspire
Learn about FANUC's partnership with WorldSkills UK and their shared goal of inspiring the next generation of robotics engineers.
FANUC, as a partner of WorldSkills UK, is dedicated to inspiring young individuals to pursue careers in robotics engineering. The company believes that the competition serves as an excellent platform to achieve this goal.
Paul Coombes, speaking on behalf of FANUC, expressed satisfaction with the high standard of the finalists and encouraged young individuals to participate in future contests. The partnership between FANUC and WorldSkills UK plays a vital role in introducing young people to the world of robotics engineering and providing them with industry-level skills.
WorldSkills UK: Boosting Competitiveness
Understand the significance of the WorldSkills UK Industrial Robotics competition in showcasing the skills of young engineers and contributing to the UK's competitiveness in the global market.
Ben Blackledge, the chief executive of WorldSkills UK, emphasized the importance of the competition in highlighting the skills of young engineers and enhancing the UK's competitiveness in the global market.
The WorldSkills UK Industrial Robotics competition provides a platform for young individuals to demonstrate their talent and potential in this rapidly evolving field. By showcasing their skills on a national and international stage, participants contribute to raising the profile of the UK's robotics industry and its ability to compete on a global scale.
