Gold and Silver medals for GCS students

Gower College Swansea recently hosted a Skills Competition Wales Computer Aided Design (CAD) event which saw entrants from all over Wales gather at the Gorseinon campus.

Four Gower College Swansea Engineering students participated on the day and were very successful - with Scott Fry taking Gold and Brett Nethell taking Silver.

"Last year student Joseph Dickerson achieved Silver so we were delighted to go one better in 2016 and our students pulled off a brilliant team performance," says Curriculum Leader Huw Isaac.

CAD is the use of computer systems to assist in the creation, modification, analysis or optimization of an engineering design. CAD software is used to increase the productivity of the designer, improve the quality of design, improve communication through documentation and create a database for manufacturing. CAD output is often in the form of electronic files for print, manufacturing or other manufacturing processes.

Competitors were tested on their performance using CAD to produce 2D technical drawings, 3D models and 3D assemblies. Competitors were also required to produce animations and needed a full understanding of BS/ISO drawing standards and the ability to use them effectively in different situations.

WorldSkills UK is a set of dynamic skills competitions for young people and adults, designed and delivered by industry experts. They run each year in over 70 skills across the UK.

Top scorers from across the regional heats and selection events will be invited to compete at the national finals at WorldSkills UK, The Skills Show. Many of the WorldSkills UK competitions also lead to WorldSkills International competitions - the biennial event where around 72 countries come together to compete for medals on an international stage.

Photo: L - R - Scott Fry, Calon Punchard, Brett Nethell and Andrew Walker.