Welder Lucas in line to take on the world

YORKSHIRE Laser and Fabrication apprentice welder Lucas Moon is in line to take on the world after being selected for the GB squad for the WorldSkills European and World Finals.

Lucas won through to the finals of the WorldSkills UK competition last year. He was one of 10 finalists taking part in the SkillsWeld competition at Middlesbrough College after having previously competed in the regional heats, one of which was hosted by Castleford College which Lucas attends one day a week.

WorldSkills supports young people across the world via competitions-based training, assessment and benchmarking in 63 skills including welding. Members’ national teams ultimately test their ability to achieve world-class standards on an international level with the European finals, being held in Poland later this year, and the World finals in France in 2024.

Three welders have been selected for squad GB. Only one will be selected to represent the UK in the international competitions. In the meantime, the three competitors are getting together to take part in competition training as well as practising independently to be prepared as possible for what could potentially lie ahead.

“Taking part in the UK competition was fun, a good laugh and good experience,” recalled Lucas. “We needed to complete a number of different welding processes and positions. It was difficult but I’d had a good bit of practice so didn’t struggle with it.”

He added: “I’m pleased to be part of the GB squad and hope to get far in the competition.”

Level three fabrication welding apprentice Lucas is nearing the end of his apprenticeship with YLF and is pleased he chose that route to learn his trade.

“I have learned so much more from the apprenticeship than I would have done from being at college full time. There’s a good bit of banter with the lads on the shopfloor and I keep learning new things to improve upon and gaining new skills to help me be the best fabricator welder I can,” he said.

YLF MD Matt Orford congratulated Lucas on his squad selection.

“Lucas has done tremendously well in WorldSkills and to be selected for the GB squad is a great achievement. The bespoke nature of what we do here at YLF means Lucas has encountered a vast range of welding and fabrication tasks and challenges which have no doubt stood him in good stead and contributed to fine tuning his skills. We’re all behind him all the way as he trains to go further in WorldSkills.”