A STUDENT at Bolton College proved he is a bright spark.

Engineering student Kyle Entwistle put his learning to the test to take top place in a competition testing his engineering skills. He won first prize in the electronics category of the Greater Manchester College’s Group Engineering Skills Competition (GMCG).

Teams of students from ten colleges cross the region battled it out at Tameside College, which hosted the engineering sector of the competition this year.

Kyle was joined by fellow Bolton College engineering students, who were all successful in their respective categories.

Second places were awarded to Ben Hardman, Megan Holland, Afzal Muhammed, Peter Walsh, Declan Wright and Jack Wild.

Peter Alstead, head of STEM at Bolton College said: “We’re committed to giving our learners every opportunity to showcase and share their skills. I am delighted with the performance of our engineering students, the competition was tough but they have done the college proud”.

Kyle, who is currently completing a Level 2 engineering diploma said: “I was really excited to take part in the competition and the whole day was great.

“The challenges set were quite difficult so I was really happy when I managed to win my category.”

The GMCG Skills competition covers a range of sectors, including catering and computing, which Bolton College are also competing in.

The GMCG skills competitions are designed to put worldwide skills in the spotlight such as food, engineering, construction and hair and beauty are organised annually to give the young people in Greater Manchester chance to compete for top awards against other colleges.

Colleges who competed in the engineering competition included also included Bury College, Hopwood Hall, Manchester, Oldham, Salford, Trafford and Wigan and

Leigh, along with hosts, Tameside College.

Tameside College was voted overall winners of the Manchester Colleges Group (GMCG) Engineering Competition.

Peter Redfern, of Tameside College, said: “The GMCG skills competition is a great experience for students in the area.

“It gives them experience of working under pressure to tight deadlines, team building and how to effectively communicate their ideas to get tasks done, which is what they will have to do in industry.”