Three London colleges will open their doors next year to hundreds of skilled young people competing to be the country’s best in dozens of trades. Capital City College’s Mosaic@Soho campus, Waltham Forest College and London South East Colleges’ Bromley campus will each host competitions as part of the WorldSkills national finals. The 2027 event marks the capital’s biggest skills competition since it last hosted the global WorldSkills competition in 2011. London also puts on its own regional Greater London skills competition every year, which brings together students from across the capital to compete in 14 vocational disciplines. The annual event also provides a pathway into the national competitions. Last year, more than two dozen national finalists hailed from London’s FE colleges and secured two medals. The national finals will officially transfer to London in November, following this year’s event in south Wales where colleges and universities in the region have hosted the competition since 2025. The competition will see apprentices and students participate in more than 40 disciplines spanning engineering, manufacturing, health and hospitality. Capital City College will host competitions particularly focused around digital, business, and creative disciplines. Meanwhile, budding engineering, technology and construction champions will head to London South East College to compete and Waltham Forest College will host health and hospitality competitions, alongside foundation skills for learners with additional needs. Entries for the 2027 national competition will open next March, with the finals taking place between November 24 and 26, 2027. Mark Smallman, operations director at WorldSkills UK said: “Bringing the WorldSkills UK National Finals back to London is a hugely significant moment for skills in the UK. Working with the Mayor of London and our host colleges, we’re proud to shine a spotlight on the exceptional talent of apprentices and technical education students from London and across the UK, showcasing the high-level, work-ready skills that employers need and inspiring the next generation to see where skills can take them.” Howard Dawber, deputy mayor for business and growth at the Greater London Authority, said: “The WorldSkills UK National Finals is an exciting event showcasing London’s talented students and apprentices in sectors that are key to the capital’s growth, and I’m delighted that London will host this prestigious competition for the next two years.” Asfa Sohail, deputy CEO and principal at London South East Colleges, added: “This is about much more than hosting a national competition. It is an opportunity to inspire ambition, celebrate excellence and showcase the vital role that skills and technical education play in transforming lives, strengthening communities and supporting economic growth.” Two weeks and counting Today also marks two weeks until 28 Team UK parade the UK flag in China for the WorldSkills Shanghai 2026 opening ceremony. Mechatronics team Liz and Emily in China for a pressure test Since the squad came together for their summer “mindset” bootcamp, our champions have barely had a moment to catch their breath. Some have already had a taste of the competition itself, jetting out to China and back for international pressure tests, while others have been sizing up the opposition closer to home in friendly competitions with their peers. Mechatronics pair Liz Hopkinson and Emily Bettridge, who work at Toyota, swapped the UK for Wuxi, China, for a training camp ahead of the big event. Joinery competitor Jamie Matthews from Northern Ireland headed to DeWalt’s training centre in Slough and aircraft maintenance competitor Elyot wrapped up his final training session in in Gosport, Hampshire. Joe Shingler, bricklaying champion, took his trowel to the Hertford Showground for the Super Trowel Final, the industry’s own bricklaying competition. Bricklayer Joe Shingler at the Super Trowel Final Katie Sime practising on WorldSkills UK’s Chris Herron Elsewhere, hairdressing competitor Katie Sime has been putting in extra training hours with her employer Reds Hair Company. WorldSkills UK’s international development manager Chris Herron obliged as Sime’s model for the day. Once the team lands in Shanghai, they will have a short window to adjust to the time difference and acclimatise before the competition gets underway. The opening ceremony will be streamed live from Shanghai from 1pm on September 22 and hosted by broadcaster Steph McGovern. WorldSkills Shanghai runs from September 22 to 27.