Kane Morcom, who is studying L3 Electronic Engineering at Gower College Swansea, is setting out on a journey of a lifetime in an intrepid bid to do the UK proud on the international stage at the ‘Skills Olympics’ in China.
Following Kane's success in its national skills competitions, WorldSkills UK - in partnership with Pearson - has announced that he will join its 18-month intensive training programme.
Kane will now aim to be selected for the team that will represent the UK at WorldSkills Shanghai in September 2026.
The WorldSkills competition is considered by global experts as the ultimate test of a nation’s ability to meet future skills needs. It is attended by government representatives, educationalists and leading employers from across the globe.
WorldSkills UK uses its participation in the international WorldSkills competition to promote skills excellence and, working with education, industry and UK governments, it is embedding world class training standards across the UK. This is helping to meet the demand for a highly skilled workforce in crucial sectors including engineering, digital, manufacturing and construction.
Ben Blackledge, Chief Executive, WorldSkills UK said: “Congratulations to Kane on being selected for our training programme for WorldSkills Shanghai 2026. Together with the other members on our programme, Kane will be developing the right skills to fuel business growth across our economy. With WorldSkills being hosted in Shanghai next year, it provides a fantastic platform for us to work closely with China, where we know skills excellence is a priority, to collaborate, innovate and learn from the very best in the world.”
“Kane has worked incredibly hard and we are all hugely proud of him within the Electronic Engineering department at Gower College Swansea,” says Curriculum Leader and WorldSkills trainer, Steve Williams. “We look forward to supporting Kane as he makes his way through the training process, which will be a fantastic opportunity for him to showcase his skills on a national and international stage.”
It is the first time China has hosted the prestigious WorldSkills event, which is known as the ‘Skills Olympics’. The event will see 1500 young people travel to Shanghai from over 80 countries to compete in technical skill disciplines (from engineering, manufacturing and technology through to creative, digital and hospitality) in front of an audience of 250,000. The UK will be competing in over 30 skills at WorldSkills Shanghai 2026, including 3D Digital Game Art, Robot Systems Integration and Renewable Energy.
Pearson is the official partner of Team UK for WorldSkills Shanghai, which takes place from 22-27 September 2026.