SkillsFest 2025 has wrapped up across Wales, delivering a series of highly engaging CPD sessions for tutors and trainers across a wide range of sectors.
Designed to strengthen competition-focused teaching and professional practice, this year’s SkillsFest gave educators the chance to sharpen their technical expertise, explore emerging industry trends, and gain practical insights to help prepare learners for success in skills competitions and the workplace alike.
By combining hands-on workshops with expert-led guidance, participants were inspired and ready to bring new techniques, ideas, and confidence back into their classrooms and workshops.
Led by experienced assessors and industry professionals, the sessions gave tutors the opportunity to explore competition techniques, exchange sector knowledge, and develop resources they can use to enhance training delivery.
Each workshop was designed to bridge the gap between industry expectations and competition performance, helping tutors understand what excellence looks like in practice and how to embed that in everyday teaching.
Health, Hospitality, and Lifestyle
Beauty Therapy and Practitioner – Merthyr College
Creative Make-Up (SFX Focus) – Gwent College, Cross Keys Campus
Construction and Infrastructure
Carpentry & Joinery – UWTSD SA1, Swansea
Electrical Installation – Coleg Cambria, Deeside Campus
Digital, Business, and Creative
Cyber Security – UWTSD SA1, Swansea
3D Game Art – Gwent College, Cross Keys Campus
Engineering and Technology
Automation – UWTSD SA1, Swansea
Additive Manufacturing – UWTSD SA1, Swansea
Paul Evans, Project Director, who led the Carpentry & Joinery session, reflected on the experience:
“I loved heading back into the classroom and rolling up my sleeves with fellow sector experts, drilling down into the detail of competition standards. It was fantastic to share my experience and see tutors leave inspired to bring these insights into their teaching.”
Hayley Huxtable, who ran the Beauty Therapy and Practitioner session and is a former skills competitor herself, spoke about the importance of sharing practical expertise:
“Having been through competitions myself, I know the difference that small techniques and real-world preparation can make. SkillsFest was about giving tutors those insider tips — the things you only learn from experience — and exploring how our sector is evolving. By supporting tutors, we’re ultimately giving competitors in Wales the best possible platform to perform at their best.”
“Very good CPD, I always learn something new to take away. Knowledgeable specialist with passion for sharing knowledge.”
“Keep up the fantastic work, I am looking forward to any future sessions.”
SkillsFest 2025 once again highlighted the value of industry-informed, hands-on professional development, equipping tutors with new techniques, insights, and ideas to enhance both their teaching and their learners’ competition performance.