FANUC UK is celebrating the achievements of the country’s brightest young industrial robotics talent following the WorldSkills UK winners ceremony, held in in Manchester on Friday 22 November. Morgan Leyshon and Aled Gore, both 21 and from Bridgend College in Wales, were awarded Gold in the Industrial Robotics WorldSkills UK competition, which was held in conjunction with industry partner and factory automation specialists FANUC UK. The duo beat over 80 competitors in the gruelling eight-month long contest which culminated in the live finals held earlier this month at FANUC’s Open House event in Coventry. Morgan and Aled now have the chance to represent Team UK at the WorldSkills International Industrial Robotics competition in Shanghai, China in 2026.
In a challenge set by FANUC UK’s in-house automation engineering team, the finalists were tasked with completing the robot system integration of a cell to load and stack totes on a pallet ready for shipment. The totes had to be loaded with specific numbers of packages of different sizes, 16mm or 19mm thick. The project was divided into three stages – setting up the robot and cell, completing the basic task and, if time, attempting an extension task – and was notably more difficult than in previous years, following an increase in the number of applicants and a rise in overall ability.
“Year on year, the quality of the competitors has grown, and this year was no exception with some great teams making the final,” said Paul Coombes, competition organiser and Head of Technical for FANUC UK. “WorldSkills UK is a fantastic initiative, giving the next generation the opportunity to learn more about what a career in industrial robotics can offer. It’s highly rewarding to see the progression of those involved – this year’s marking team actually included some previous international-level competitors, which was great to see.”
Taking part in the WorldSkills UK competition brings a variety of benefits to young people. From increasing their knowledge and skill set, working with industry partners and tackling real-world problems, to increasing resilience and highlighting the importance of teamwork, all competitors leave with an experience that will boost their chances of future employment and enhance their CV.
Winners Aled and Morgan both study Mechanical Engineering at Bridgend College, in conjunction with Renishaw, and are hoping to pursue careers in the engineering sector once they graduate. When asked about the value of competing in the WorldSkills UK competition, Aled said: “FANUC is the number one company in the automation industry. Competing with their support enabled me to get a head start in learning about robotics and has boosted my CV.”
Morgan added: “I entered in the hope that the contest would help me to grow as a person, and hopefully provide me with opportunities to get into programming in the future.”
The winners’ ceremony at Manchester’s Bridgewater Hall was attended by Skills Minister Jacqui Smith, leading employers, industry experts from across Europe, and representatives from the UK’s education and training sector. Ben Blackledge, Chief Executive, WorldSkills UK said: “Being named the best in your skill is a tremendous achievement and reflects the dedication of teachers in our colleges, universities and training providers, who are the bedrock of our skills systems across the UK. Working with our partners across industry and education, we are championing the emerging skills that are critical to drive investment and business growth in the UK.”
To find out more about the 2025 WorldSkills UK Industrial Robotics competition, including how to enter, go to: https://www.worldskillsuk.org/competitions/industrial-robotics/
