A Bath College engineering apprentice has won bronze on the international stage after competing against some of the world’s best young professionals at WorldSkills Shanghai 2026.
Oliver Coombs claimed bronze in the Additive Manufacturing category, which tests skills including 3D printing, scanning and rapid prototyping. He was one of 28 young professionals representing the UK at the WorldSkills Shanghai Final, competing in front of thousands of spectators.
WorldSkills is regarded as an international benchmark for skills excellence, bringing together competitors from around the world to demonstrate the technical expertise needed by industries and economies.
Oliver said, “Competing at WorldSkills Shanghai was a great challenge and a real test of working under pressure. Designing 3D parts within a set timeframe forced me to streamline my workflow and troubleshoot on the fly. Winning bronze made all the hard work and preparation worth it. And the experience has given me a lot of confidence in my technical skills and career prospects.”
Oliver’s success follows a journey with WorldSkills that began in March 2024 and has already seen him win gold in the UK competition in Manchester.
Eric Masuku, mechanical engineering lecturer at Bath College, said, “Oliver has been on an amazing journey with the WorldSkills competition since March 2024. He has competed online and in Manchester, where he won the gold medal in the UK competition.
“Throughout his journey, he has embraced the challenge and worked hard to master new techniques while building valuable contacts in the industry. Above all, he has shown resilience, commitment and enthusiasm for additive manufacturing.
“He thoroughly deserves the bronze medal. I congratulate him on embracing the challenge and running with it. The college is proud of his achievement. I thank him for his dedication throughout this journey.”
Oliver’s employer, BIMTek, has also played an important role in his practical training and workplace development.
Bath College said the company’s investment in local apprenticeships is helping develop the next generation of engineers in the South West and congratulated Oliver on another major milestone in his career.
