The Prime Minister wished everyone from WorldSkills Team UK the best of luck in letters handed to them at a special send-off event in Westminster.
[You can leave your message of support for Team UK at the end of this article.]
In a letter to each of the competitors who are flying out to Brazil tonight, David Cameron congratulated them on their success in qualifying for the team and said: “I would like to take this opportunity to wish all those involved every success this year.”
He added that future learners would be inspired by their exploits in Brazil and said: “I hope you will enjoy the experience and I look forward to seeing how much you can achieve on behalf of our country.”
The letters were given out at today’s event in Great George Street, London, close to the the Houses of Parliament, where parents, team leaders and staff from Find a Future, which organises the UK’s WorldSkills entries, came to say good bye and good luck to the competitors.
Skills Show Patron and former former Dragon’s Den star Theo Paphitis was among those who attended.
“Everyone in this room is proud of you,” he told the competitors.
“You’ve got the drive and the ambition to do what’s right for yourself, but in this particular instance, you’re doing something even more magnificent, which is representing the UK.
“And it’s something that’s going to stay with you for the rest of your life and you’re going to be so, so proud.”
Peter Lauener, the UK’s official WorldSkills delegate and chief executive of the skills and education funding agencies, told the team members to make the most of the experience, by interacting with their team mates and other competitors.
“You can sense the togetherness between you that’s come because you’ve trained together, you’ve learned together, you’ve been to lots of events,” he said.
“And that’s going to be the foundation of success in Sao Paulo, together with the immense amount of hard work that each of you have done individually.”
Find a Future chair Carole Stott also had a few words of encouragement for team members who, she said, had got this far through “hard work, your own determination and your own perseverance”.
“We all know here that you’re going to do us proud in Brazil,” she added.
The competitors were each issued with a special enamel pin.
Cookery competitor Danny Hoang, aged 21, said: “I’m really proud to be able to wear the enamel, only a select few have been able to receive it and to be part of it is very special.
“I can’t wait to get started — I’ve been pretty nervous, but I’ve done everything I can to prepare for it so I can’t wait to get started.”
Danny’s mum Suan and brother Lawrence were at the event to see him off.
Suan said: “I’m so, so proud of him, not just for himself, but representing the UK as well.
“Words cannot describe it — I’m just so proud about what he’s achieved so far.”
Unfortunately one member of Team UK won’t make it to Brazil.
Sheet metal technology competitor Harley Brian, 20, has had to withdraw from the competition after a leg injury meant he was unable to fly.
A Find a Future spokesperson said: “Unfortunately, due to a serious knee injury, Harley Brian has been withdrawn from the Sheet Metal Technology competition at WorldSkills Sao Paulo and will not be travelling to Brazil with Team UK.
“We are maintaining close contact with Harley and his family, and will provide further information as soon as it becomes available. Everyone at WorldSkills UK would like to take this opportunity to wish him a speedy recovery. He will not be replaced in Team UK.”
The rest of the team will fly to Brazil tonight, in preparation for WorldSkills, which will run from August 12 to 15 and FE Week will be joining them.
Keep up with all the action before and during the competition on feweek.co.uk or on Twitter with the handle @FEWeek and the #GoWSTeamUK hashtag.
Best of luck to all the Team UK competitors. Wish I could be in Brazil, but family Linford will still be waving flags and cheering you on.
Delighted to support TEAM UK – Jonathan and all the guys at ForSkills!
Good luck to Team UK from staff and students at Warrington Collegiate. Looking forward to hearing about your successes in winning medals and accolades.
Good luck to all of our young stars competing for Team UK in Sao Paulo from all of us as Hull College Group #GoWSTeamUK
What an opportunity to show off our amazing skills to the rest of the world. Well done Team UK.
Bring back some fantastic experiences. Doncaster College is proud to have a competitor in Sao Paulo.
Nova Training wish you every success and good luck as you prove how wonderfully talented you are. Good luck and stay focused and we wish you all gold medals!
Go Team UK
Good Luck to all our fantastic apprentices
From
Darren and all at MiddletonMurray
All the best for the competition.
Good luck Reece Taylor from everyone at Derwentside college. We are all very proud of you.
The commitment of the young people involved in World Skills is fantastic and this event provides a great opportunity to promote Apprenticeships and work based learning. We wish them every success this week.
Just do your best guys and enjoy the occasion, it is a wonderful and life changing opportunity. You have already made a huge impact by just being there. Special best wishes to all the construction competitors and not forgetting all the trainers who support the tea.
The Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) Network sends our support to Team UK as you take part in World Skills. We wish you all every success as you showcase the incredible talent we have in our country.
Very best wishes to the WorldSkills UK Team in San Paulo, treasure the experience, it will set you up for life.
Martin Jones
CompEx Operations Manager
JTLimited
Good luck to all the UK team at World Skills. Very proud of you and fantastic to be providing the team member for Cabinet Making for the fourth time in a row. Good Luck Woody.
Congratulation, what a great achievement to date Team UK.
Our best wishes are with you.
Good Luck, Centrepoint is behind you all the way!
My very best wishes to all our inspirational competitiors. You are exceptional people with exceptional skills and you reflect the huge talent and capacity that is present in the UK . You are a credit to the colleges , training providers and employers who have supported you and you motivate us all to be the very best we can possibly be !
As Principal of North Warwickshire and Hinckley college I am extremely proud of Alex who is competing in CNC Turning and the whole college community wish him all the luck in the world . Go Alex go !
Good luck to all the Team UK competitors. Do your best and enjoy this wonderful occasion.
Congratulations to everybody in the team. You should be so proud of your achievement to be representing team UK. Live the dream,leave no stone unturned in your preparation and give it everything. It will be a wonderful experience .
Best wishes from Kirklees College
Congratulations and best wishes to all the UK team competitors, You have the support of the UK behind you.
Training2000 would like to wish the best of luck to TeamUK as they compete in Sao Paulo to showcase their world-class skills, hard work and determination. Good Luck!#GOWSTeamUK
Wishing you every success, but most of all enjoy the experience
Wishing the very best for the competition. You are true flag bearers for the United Kingdom and will leave a legacy for future industry professionals.
As masters of your trades you will shine a light on the dedication and skill it takes to be a world competitor and we at East Kent College salute you for that.
Enjoy the experience.
Good luck to team uk. You have all worked so hard to achieve this wonderful dream.All that is left now is to enjoy every minute and reach for the stars.
Further education inspires lives and you are certainly doing that.
Best of luck to you all
The hair& beauty team
Chesterfield College
We’ve all seen what WorldSkills Team UK can achieve. Being a Brazilian born myself, I can only expect that this team will have the experience of a life time. All he best in the competition.
What a fabulous experience for all the competitors. Not forgetting the hard work & dedication from the trainers & mentors. Fly that flag with pride! From all at Style Training
Have a fabulous experience and be lucky from all at New College Nottingham
Go World Skills Team UK! Show the world the quality of skills we have over here. NOCN is well proud of you all!
Good luck to all the UK Team from all the staff at NOCN.
Good luck and greatness in San Paulo- Team GB, what stars you are! We send lots of good wishes…. know just how proud of you we are at Learning South West.
Good luck from all at Interserve Learning & Employment. Showcase the best of TEAM UK! The skills we have are unparalleled so let’s show it.
We will be whooping and a hollering from home shores 🙂
Well done and good luck to all of the UK Team
Good luck from everyone at the Edge Foundation!