A Yorkshire laser cutting and sheet metal fabrication company helped a local student fight as she competed in the National Welding Finals of the WorldSkills UK competition.

Yasmin Whale of Wakefield College beat stiff competition from some 400 applicants to become one of ten apprentices and students invited to compete in the welding category final. Welding is one of 64 disciplines that make up WorldSkills UK, competition-based development programs designed by industry experts to enhance practical skills and knowledge taught in training courses by assessing the employability of candidates against defined criteria under timed conditions.

In the final, which took place over three days in Wales, Yasmin had to perform 24 hours of welding, joining pieces of mild steel 10mm thick to create a vessel which was then filled with water and pressurized to 1000 psi to check for leaks.

Drawings of the ship were released ahead of the final to allow participants to practice, but lacking the ability to cut 10mm thick steel and fabricate the required parts, Wakefield College has turned to Normanton’s Yorkshire Laser and Fabrication (YLF) for help.

They laser cut the profiles to the required dimensions with ease and delivered four full sets of the parts needed to make the container into cubes allowing Yasmin to perform the required welds from start to finish twice.

As Yasmin is the second Wakefield College student to qualify for the WorldSkills UK Welding Finals, teachers are well aware of the high standards that must be met.

“Yorkshire Laser was absolutely brilliant and gave Yasmin a bigger chance. We only have the ability to cut 6mm steel at the university, so we would have had to buy the parts at a high cost. They went above and beyond not only donating their time and materials, and then delivering them to us as well. A great example of the camaraderie and support of people coming together to help a local girl succeed, ”said Trevor Murgatroyd, Manufacturing and Welding speaker.

Apprentice at Relentless Engineering Ltd, Yasmin is studying the Advanced Level 3 Diploma in Fabrication and Welding at Wakefield College’s Castleford Campus. Although not part of the study program, the college encourages continuing students to participate in WorldSkills UK for additional experience.

“To participate, contestants submit four test samples which are then judged with the top 10 invited to go to the final,” explained Trevor. Yasmin put in a lot of extra time and effort on her return to college after work to prepare for the competition and we were delighted to support her, ”Trevor added.