Super College going for gold in China

Two City of Glasgow College graduates will represent the college and the UK at WorldSkills Shanghai 2022.

George Hutchison and Simona (Simi) Federova made selection for Team UK, along with three other Scots.

As part of a 39-strong UK team they will take on rivals from more than 80 countries in this global showcase renowned as the Olympics of skills competitions.

Paul Little, Principal and Chief Executive, City of Glasgow College, said:

“To be selected for Team UK for this internationally respected skills competition is an outstanding achievement. This success underline our ongoing commitment to skills excellence, the ambition, determination and hard work of our young competitors, and the talent of our trainers, coaches and employers who have supported and trained them. We wish George and Simi – and all of Team UK - the very best of luck.”

George Hutchison, who now studies at the University of West of Scotland, won bronze at WorldSkills UK LIVE in 2019 for the college for 3D Digital Game Art. He said:

“To be rewarded for something I am so passionate about is amazing. I can’t wait to get out to Shanghai to challenge myself against the rest of the world, and prove all this hard work has been worthwhile. The whole experience so far has given me a huge confidence boost as a person and an artist, and it’s going to make such a difference to my career in the future.” 

Originally from Slovakia, Simi Federova studied HND Hospitality Management at City of Glasgow College and won gold at WorldSkills UK LIVE in 2019. Competing in Restaurant Services, she said:

“My heart was racing when I found out I had made Team UK and it still hasn’t sunk in. It has been a brilliant journey just to get this far and I am delighted it is going to continue all the way to Shanghai. I can’t wait to meet up with competitors from other countries and see how they do things. I am really looking forward to getting stuck into the extra training ahead of October, continuing to learn and then going out to take on the world’s best.” 

Team UK is aiming to medal in the top 10 and improve on their impressive 12th place position at WorldSkills Kazan 2019. This is the 46th global skills showcase, taking place in China from 13 to 16 October. The global pandemic forced the Shanghai finals, originally scheduled for 2021, to be pushed back a year. The full line-up for Team UK is available on the WorldSkills UK website.