Scottish colleges have once again topped the medal table at the WorldSkills UK Live competition in Birmingham.

Competitors from New College Lanarkshire won  four gold, four silver and four bronze medals, and three were highly commended - gaining the college 39 medal points and first position in the table. 

The Lanarkshire institution with an impressive WorldSkills track record narrowly beat City of Glasgow College on 38 medal points - five gold, two silver and five bronze medals, as well as two students who were highly commended. 

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The national finals took place against the backdrop of WorldSkills UK LIVE, a two-day event at the NEC Birmingham, which attracted more than 80,000 young people and brought together dozens of leading employers from around the UK. 

More than 500 apprentices and students competed in over 70 different disciplines - and those taking part were also hoping to secure the opportunity to represent the UK at the WorldSkills Finals, known as the “skills Olympics” - in Shanghai in 2021.

Ben Blackledge, deputy chief executive of WorldSkills UK, said: “This is a life-changing moment for these young people. They have already won regional competitions and now their national finals - they are the new generation of high flyers that will give UK employers a competitive edge.

“We couldn’t be prouder of each and every one of them - the standard of competition could not have been higher.”

The squad for WorldSkills Shanghai 2021 will be announced on 2 December 2019.

Which colleges topped the table?