Cyber Security student selected for Squad UK

Former Burton and South Derbyshire College (BSDC) Cyber Security student, Daniel Matthews, has his sights set on representing the UK on the global stage at the prestigious ‘Skills Olympics’ in China.

Following his success in the national WorldSkills competitions, Daniel has secured a place on Squad UK, joining an 18-month intensive training programme. This prepares aspiring competitors for the chance to represent the UK at WorldSkills Shanghai in September 2026.

Members of Squad UK will train under the guidance of highly skilled trainers, industry experts, former medal winners and performance coaches to prepare for the challenges of competing at the highest level. The top performers from Squad UK will be selected next spring to become official members of Team UK ahead of the 48th WorldSkills finals in Shanghai.

The WorldSkills competition is regarded by global experts as the ultimate test of a nation’s ability to meet future skills needs. Attended by government representatives, educationalists and leading employers worldwide, the event promotes skills excellence and global collaboration.

Daniel Matthews began his WorldSkills journey while studying at Burton and South Derbyshire College. He started on a Kickstart course and progressed to Level 3 courses in Computer Science, and Networking and Cyber Security. Representing Burton and South Derbyshire College, Daniel competed in the national finals of the WorldSkills competition. He is now continuing his education by studying for a BA in Cyber Security at Nottingham Trent University.

Daniel commented: “I’m thrilled to be officially announced as part of Squad UK, training towards representing the UK in Cyber Security at WorldSkills Shanghai in 2026! The journey so far has been incredible, and being part of this programme is truly inspiring. I’m grateful for all the support that has helped me reach this point.”

Jacqui Maw, Curriculum Team Leader at BSDC added: “We’re extremely proud of what Daniel has achieved and wish him all the best in the next phase of his WorldSkills journey. Competing at this level is a phenomenal accomplishment, and he has represented BSDC with excellence.”