Firebrand Training at WorldSkills The Finals 2023, Amsterdam!

Last week, our Apprenticeships team was a special guest at WorldSkills The Finals in Amsterdam, representing all Independent Training Providers.

We were invited because Firebrand is the first independent training provider to go through World Skills Developing Excellence CPD training, which was until now only open to schools and colleges.

The WorldSkills Excellence is an Olympics for all vocational and trade subjects taught in colleges. The annual event took place on March 23 and 24 in the Netherlands.

More than 600 students competed for the prestigious title of Dutch Champion in their field, from Software and Web Design to Beauty and Catering.

Organized by WorldSkills Netherlands in close collaboration with the ROC van Amsterdam – Flevoland Foundation, the event showcased the importance and quality of vocational education in the Netherlands. Thousands of attendees followed the 60 competitions live.

In the UK, this issue is very much on our minds, with the increasing number of learners opting for Apprenticeships instead of the more traditional university path.

WorldSkills Netherlands Director, Erik van der Zwan, said “Skills The Finals offers an unforgettable and very educational experience. It is all about talent and professional pride.”

Our dedicated Learning Support and Welfare Manager, Venessa Cox was on the scene.

"It was a privilege to travel to the World Skills Netherlands Finals Competition and see first-hand the dedication, concentration, and commitment of all the competitors. What suppressed me the most was the enthusiasm and energy, not only of participants, but the organisers too. It was clear to see that the experience of taking part in this competition will change the lives of its participants by opening up so many opportunities for them in their future careers."

Venessa is currently teaching a Mindset masterclass focused on what excellence is and the 10 common traits of excellence.

"Don’t settle for good — think about your careers!"