AN engineering apprentice from Bath College Somer Valley Campus in Radstock has won bronze in Additive Manufacturing at the WorldSkills Shanghai Final 2026.
As one of 28 young professionals representing the UK team, Oliver Coombs competed in 3D printing, scanning and rapid prototyping on the international stage before an audience of thousands.
WorldSkills is globally recognised as the benchmark of skills excellence. Through competition, the organisation brings nations together to display the talent and expertise needed to drive the growth of economies and industries.
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.”
Lecturer in mechanical engineering at Bath College, Eric Masuku, 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 is employed at BIMTek based at Midsomer Norton & Radstock Business Hub who continue to play a vital role in his practical training and workplace development.
In total Team UK delivered an outstanding performance on the world stage, bringing home two Gold, one Silver and three Bronze medals, alongside 13 Medals for Excellence.