-white.png){kind=logo}
.png)
gdm’s very own Daniel Chesson beat hundreds of other architecture students to the grand prize of Gold at the WorldSkills UK National Finals.
The WorldSkills UK competitions inspire young people to develop excellence in their discipline, grow their understanding and raise confidence. Undertaken across several stages, these competitions are tough, with individuals completing tasks based on real industry scenarios, showcasing their talents to industry experts and against hundreds of others.
Dan, who is currently studying Architectural Technology at London South Bank University, competed in the Digital Construction competition. Prior to getting to the final, Dan had to pass an initial skills test before competing at a National Qualifiers to secure his finalist place.
For the final task, competitors had to produce structural and architectural models using Autodesk software as well as undertaking clash detection and marking up problems. This required them to delve into their understanding of ISO 19650-1 and 19650-2 BIM standards, plus implement their softer skills such as interpreting briefs, problem solving and attention to detail.
A live medal ceremony was held by presenter Steph McGovern on Friday 25th November. We watched the live stream event in the gdm office and were delighted to see Dan pick up the top prize. Dan said “It’s amazing to get this reward after investing so much time and effort. I am very grateful for gdm’s support, including from my director Kevin Matthews, who has always been so supportive of my journey even from the very start when winning gold was just a dream. Now I’m glad to say it’s very much a reality. I’m really excited to see what opportunities WorldSkills has opened for me, hopefully more competitions to come!”.
Glen Ernest, Managing Director, said “We are thrilled to see Dan win Gold, it’s great to see his hard work and perseverance pay off. He is a great asset to our team and we are excited to continue to support his career as he moves through university and beyond”.
Now he has won the National Finals, we wait to see whether Dan is asked to join Squad UK and compete at the international WorldSkills tournament, to be held in Lyon, France in 2024. We have our fingers crossed and look forward to supporting the next stage of his journey.