The Russian Federation reigned supreme at EuroSkills 2018 after their team claimed nine golds, eight silvers, two bronzes and 10 medallions of excellence in Budapest.
Following up in second place was Austria while France finished third (full table below).
Russia, which is hosting next year’s WorldSkills competition in Kazan, took 37 young people to compete in Hungary – the largest team out of any competing nation.
They won top podium spots in mobile robotics, welding, mechanical engineering design CAD, graphic design, visual merchandising, web development, ICT specialists and hotel receptioning.
Austria took 32 competitors and won four golds, 12 silvers, two bronzes and nine medallions of excellence. Their gold medals were achieved in automobile technology, plumbing and heating, painting and decorating, and concrete construction.
France’s 25 competitors won three golds, three silvers, six bronzes and 10 medallions of excellence. They were announced Europe’s best skilled nation in wall and floor tiling, heavy truck maintenance and hairdressing.
EuroSkills 2018 came to a close on Saturday night after three days of brutal competition.
Twenty eight European countries competed in 35 official skills. Over 100,000 spectators were said to have visited the competition, being held at the Hungexpo arena, over its duration.
Flying the flag for Team UK was 22 individuals. WorldSkills UK boss Dr Neil Bentley had given the team a target of a top 10 finish in the overall medal table.
And they achieved just that.
They finished joint ninth with Sweden. Beauty therapist Holly-Mae Cotterell claimed gold, while bronze medals went to mechatronics duo Danny Slater and Jack Dakin, mechanical engineering CAD competitor Ross Megahy, and hairdresser Gavin Jon Kyte.
Team UK also claimed seven medallions of excellence.
“This is a fantastic result for Team UK and the country as a whole,” said Dr Bentley.
“We were gunning for a top ten position and we got it.
“These brilliant young people – training and preparing them to be among the very best across Europe – are the UK’s new generation of high flyers.”
An FE Week souvenir supplement about EuroSkills Budapest will be published this week, in partnership with Pearson.
FE Week is proud media partner of WorldSkills UK and Team UK.
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