Chelmsford College Learner Reaches WorldSkills UK National Finals 2026
Chelmsford College is delighted to announce the success of first year T Level Engineering learner Mathew Brunza, who has been selected as a WorldSkills UK National Finalist 2026 in the category Additive Manufacturing. The WorldSkills UK National Competitions are designed to help apprentices and students develop their knowledge, professional skills and confidence, while showcasing excellence across a wide range of sectors. Reaching the National Finals is something to be very proud of and reflects the hard work and dedication Mathew has shown throughout his studies so far.
Given the scale of this prestigious competition, Mathew's achievement is very impressive. In the Additive Manufacturing category, Mathew is amazingly one of only eight finalists that have been selected nationally. Around 400 apprentices and students from across the UK have qualified for the National Finals across more than 40 skill disciplines.
Upon finding out the great news, Mathew was thrilled to learn that he had secured a place in the finals. He is now looking forward to preparing for the next stage of the competition and representing Chelmsford College on the national stage. A special thank you goes to Lince Thomas, Engineering Lecturer at Chelmsford College, along with the wider Engineering team and staff across the College who continue to encourage learners to get involved in competitions and wider enrichment opportunities. Speaking on Mathew’s success, Lince said: "Congratulations, Mathew. We are all proud of you and wish you every success in the national finals. I am incredibly proud to see how skills competitions unlock students' potential, build confidence and prepare them for successful engineering careers. A huge thank you to our College Leadership Team for their continuous encouragement and support in promoting student participation in competitions. Thanks also to our CER team for providing outstanding guidance and access to excellent 3D printing facilities."
Echoing Lince’s words, everyone at Chelmsford College is incredibly proud of what Mathew has achieved. His success highlights the talent within the College's Engineering department and the value of taking part in skills competitions and enrichment opportunities. Earlier this year, the College hosted the FEDEC Inter College Skills Competition, which was proudly endorsed by WorldSkills UK, to help learners across Essex build confidence, technical ability and employability skills, preparing them for larger WorldSkills UK competitions.
The WorldSkills UK National Finals will take place in South Wales in November 2026, bringing together the country's top-performing apprentices and students to compete for the national win.
Chelmsford College would like to congratulate Mathew on this fantastic achievement again and wish him the best of luck as he prepares for the finals.