Reaseheath College is celebrating three major successes in the latest Cheshire and Warrington Skills Competition, after hosting the Business and Construction contests on campus.
The event, which took place at the Nantwich-based college last Thursday, March 27th, brought together talented students from Reaseheath College, Macclesfield College, Cheshire College South and West, and Warrington and Vale Royal College, giving them the chance to showcase their skills in a competitive yet supportive environment.
The Cheshire and Warrington Skills Competition is similar to the WorldSkills movement, aiming to inspire and equip young people with the skills they need for successful careers in their chosen industries. The competition allows students to test their abilities against their peers in real-world scenarios, helping them develop confidence, technical expertise, and employability skills that are highly valued by employers.
In the Business competition, the four college teams were tasked with developing a food subscription box concept capable of competing with industry giants such as HelloFresh and Gousto. With convenience and sustainability driving the market, students had to create an innovative brand and business strategy before pitching their ideas in a Dragon’s Den-style presentation to potential investors.
The winning team from Macclesfield College, made up of Ben Blanthorn, Harvey Sinclaire and Diezel Wright, impressed the judges with their concept, Peak Fuel, a protein-focused takeaway box designed to cater to fitness enthusiasts. Runners-up Joe Bland-McKenzie, Brooke Goldstraw, Will Brimsom and Sam Holroyd from Reaseheath College developed Seven Wonders of the West, a food box business based in Japan that showcased Western cuisines. The winning business students were rewarded with lifestyle vouchers worth up to £100, generously sponsored by Residential Management Group.
In the Construction competition, joinery students were challenged to create a precise framework to strict specifications, testing their accuracy, cutting skills, joint work, and overall craftsmanship. The Junior Joinery competitors created a small frame incorporating four different woodworking joints, which they had to cut themselves, while the Senior Joinery competitors were tasked with constructing a complex roof structure.
Bricklaying competitors were required to build walls to specific requirements. The Junior Bricklaying task involved constructing a half-brick wall with piers and a soldier course in contrasting brick, while the Senior Bricklaying challenge was to build a solid wall with a return corner and a brick-on-edge capping.
The winners in the bricklaying category were Jesse Knowles from Macclesfield College in the senior section and Ryan Whitlow from Reaseheath College in the junior section. In the junior joinery category, Charlie Snell from Warrington and Vale Royal College took the top spot, while Sam James from Reaseheath College triumphed in the senior section. The construction winners and runners up were all awarded quality site tools to support their future careers.
Andy Gould, Curriculum Area Manager for Construction at Reaseheath College praised the competition as an invaluable experience for students.
He said: “This event allows our students to put their skills to the test in a real-world environment. The standard of work this year has been exceptional, and it’s fantastic to see the level of talent coming through the ranks in both joinery and bricklaying.”
Nick Blakemore, Reaseheath Food Centre Manager, highlighted the benefits of the challenge for aspiring entrepreneurs: “This competition gives students a fantastic opportunity to develop their business acumen, creativity, and presentation skills. The quality of the pitches this year was outstanding, and it’s great to see young people developing such innovative ideas for the future of the food industry.”
The Cheshire and Warrington Skills Competition continues to provide students with vital industry experience, preparing them for successful careers in their chosen fields. Reaseheath College is proud to have hosted this year’s Business and Construction contests and congratulates all participants for their hard work and dedication.
