Military engineer takes gold at WorldSkills UK

Isaac Jervis from the Army’s Corps of Royal Engineers was the winner of the gold medal at this year’s refrigeration, air conditioning and heat pump (RACHP) final of the 2025 WorldSkills UK competition held at Cardiff and Vale College last week.

The competition was organised by the Building Engineering Services Association and sponsored by the UK’s largest F-Gas registration scheme REFCOM and HVAC equipment manufacturer Baxi with support from the BDR Thermea Foundation.

The six finalists were challenged to demonstrate their skills and knowledge in testing ‘real world’ situations, including pipework installation, electrical testing, pressure checks and controlled refrigerant handling. They also commissioned systems for optimal efficiency and performed environmentally responsible refrigerant recovery, demonstrating their ability to manage the entire lifecycle of a working system.

Isaac was the youngest finalist at just 18 years of age and scored over 90% across all combined elements of the competition. Samuel Jones, representing the Practical Refrigeration Training Centre and Industrial Cooling Equipment, took the silver medal with bronze going to Craig Gow, Glasgow Kelvin College / Cool Cair Refrigeration.

Evan Jones, City of Portsmouth College and Lightfoot International, was highly commended and the other two finalists Taylor Mclaughin of Cubic Works and Daniel Hunt of the Royal Engineers also received high praise from the panel of expert judges.

Proud
“All of the competitors scored extremely highly, and their employers should be very proud of them all. They are all incredible engineers,” the judges said. 

Baxi managing director Jason Baldock congratulated all the finalists who “showcased their incredible talent”.

“We're committed to a sustainable future and the UK economy's transition to low-carbon buildings.  Developing skills in refrigeration and heat pump technology is essential for achieving that goal, and by championing STEM careers, we’re helping to build the next generation of innovators who will enjoy long and rewarding careers,” he added.

All the finalists commented on the importance of being able to earn a living while learning their trade and several are combining further studies with their practical training.

WorldSkills UK competitions are designed to help young people in a range of technical industries grow personally and professionally by developing their technical and employability skills. The competition-based development programme also has a strong track record of supporting young people from all backgrounds and abilities.

Finalists under 21 years of age who scored above average will also be considered for the UK’s international squad preparing to compete at the 2028 Skills Olympics in Aichi, Japan.

“Seeing these six highly gifted young engineers in action gives us real confidence for the future of our industry.” said BESA’s technical director Kevin Morrissey. “Demonstrating your skills in front of a live audience and a high calibre judging panel may be daunting, but they all performed very well and will have benefitted from the experience.”

WorldSkills involves more than 80 countries and is a partnership between the education sector, businesses, and governments. It was set up over 60 years ago as a way of helping young people develop through competitions-based training, assessment, and benchmarking to support economic growth and create employment opportunities.

Ben Blackledge, chief executive of WorldSkills UK, also added his congratulations to the RACHP finalists

“They have all demonstrated their skills at the highest level and are part of the new generation of highflyers that will give UK employers a competitive edge,” he said. “Our competitions, based on global standards, play a vital role in developing the skills that will drive investment, create jobs, and fuel economic growth.”

For more details visit the BESA WorldSkills Competition page

A pre-registration test for next year’s competition is already available for learners to complete at work or in college. A tutor, mentor, or workplace supervisor can mark the test, and anyone achieving over 60% is encouraged to enter the 2026 programme. Apply here.