Team UK’s tireless efforts proving themselves against the best skilled young people in the world has come to a thrilling end. Competitions in 25 skills disciplines concluded earlier today to euphoric cheers and applause as friends, families and Team UK officials rushed around the National Exhibition and Convention Center (NECC) in Shanghai to cheer on competitors during the final 10-second countdown. After four days of competition, months – and sometimes years – of preparation and honing their craft, the UK’s 28 competitors have now done all they can. Among those in the crowds were sector leaders including Hannah Sheehan, director of the skills journey directorate at the Department for Education, Marion Plant, the chief executive of North Warwickshire and South Leicestershire College and chair of WorldSkills UK, and Nicki Hay, chair of AELP. Over the finish line Among the Team UK supporters cheering on plumber Andrew McCann was former competitor Ruben Duggan, who won silver in WorldSkills Lyon 2024. McCann, who trained at South West College in Northern Ireland, said the support from those around him has made all the difference. “[Ruben] has been a great help and [training manager] Ronnie’s been fantastic and especially having my mum and dad as well. It’s been really good,” McCann said. “It’s nice to look up and see familiar faces, I really appreciate the support,” he added. McCann was humble when asked about his chances of winning a medal at tomorrow’s closing ceremony. “I think I’ll do relatively well,” he said. The team will have to wait for their scores to be finalised before finding out whether their efforts have been enough to secure gold, silver and bronze medals. ‘It went as well as it could go’ For cabinet making competitor Stan Mackintosh, his final 10 minutes were less about last-minute frantic panic and more so checking over his work. “I ran out of stuff to do,” he admitted. “I was sort of pretending a little bit to keep busy. The way they’ve done it this year is they’ve marked most of it already so the things you usually do at the end – checking surfaces – there’s no point doing because it’s already been marked,” Mackintosh explained. “I just spent 10 minutes looking over everything and making sure it’s all as tight as it can be.” Overall Mackintosh said he’d done some of his best ever work this week. “It went as well as it could go.” Painting and decorating competitor Shelby Fitzackerly felt similarly. “It was hard but you have got to stay calm and I think I did and I think it went well,” she told FE Week after the klaxon. “I’ve loved every minute. I can’t believe it’s over, I’m really sad,” she added. Fitzackerly, along with her family and boyfriend, are staying in China after the competition to relax after two hard years of training. Putting the UK back on the map… brick by brick Bricklayer Joe Shingler was one of the team members that found the final moments particularly intense. “I’m overwhelmed to be honest. It was down to the wire so I’m hot and sweaty,” he told FE Week. He added: “I managed to do everything I wanted to do. Hopefully it scores up alright. “There’s some tough competition for sure but we all get on and there’s been a good atmosphere. Just sharing a passion for our skill.” Shingler’s participation in Shanghai marks the UK’s first entry in bricklaying this 2017, which has not gone amiss to him. “I’ve got a passion for bricklaying, I have done since I was 15/16. To try and put the UK back on the map in terms of the world stage is fantastic.” Tune into tomorrow’s closing ceremony at 12pm BST to see the medal results announced and how Team UK fared.