Students at an east London college helped it win first place in a skills competition.
Barking & Dagenham College topped the Greater London Skills Competition 2026, earning three gold medals and 10 podium finishes to beat 15 other colleges across the capital.
The competitions were supported by the Greater London Authority, working in partnership with the Association of Colleges, and endorsed by WorldSkills UK.
The college’s win was confirmed at an awards ceremony at City Hall.
Alan Oleksiewicz, an engineering student, took gold in the CAD Toolbox Challenge at Croydon College, which tasked competitors with transforming a flat sheet-metal design into a fully built 3D toolbox in three hours.
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Natalie Davison, principal and chief executive of Barking & Dagenham College, said: "We are beyond excited and incredibly proud of our students and staff. To achieve first place overall among 15 colleges is a fantastic accomplishment and a testament to the talent, dedication and teamwork across the college."
Mr Oleksiewicz said: "Winning first place in engineering at the Greater London Skills Competition is an amazing feeling. It pushed me to test my skills under pressure and showed me how much I’ve developed during my training. I’m really grateful to my tutors for their support."
In the Digital Media Editing & Presentation Challenge, Kayleigh-Jo Cullings and her teammates Bradley Curle and Abidemi Talabi also took first place.
The team produced a three-minute film celebrating International Women’s Day, highlighting the positive impact of women through social justice, creativity, and community wellbeing.
Ms Cullings said: "Winning first place for film was an incredible experience for our team. The competition pushed us to work creatively and collaboratively under pressure, and we’re really proud of what we achieved together."
Hairdressing student Yaykly Valencia secured gold for creating a bridal up-style featuring waves or curls and enhanced with bridal ornaments. In total, the college earned 10 medal positions, including silver and bronze. She said: "This success reflects the hard work of our competitors and the outstanding support from our teachers, technicians, curriculum leaders and wider college teams.
"Skills competitions like this are made possible through the collaboration of a wide range of partners. We are grateful to the employers who help ensure industry standards are reflected in the challenges, as well as organisations such as WorldSkills UK and the Association of Colleges for their leadership in organising and championing skills competitions that inspire learners and showcase the incredible talent within further education."
