More than 30 of the country’s best and brightest young skilled people have been chosen to represent the UK at WorldSkills Kazan later this year.
The team [see below] of young professional from sectors including engineering, hospitality and professional services, construction and digital and IT will fly to Russia in August to compete in the competition known as the ‘Skills Olympics’.
They’ll battle it out with their counterparts from more than 60 countries and go for bronze, silver and gold in 56 different skills disciplines.
Neil Bentley-Gockmann, chief executive of WorldSkills UK, which selects and trains the team, said: “Think Olympic Games – but much more important to the economic future of the United Kingdom.
“This is a life-changing opportunity for all those involved.
“I couldn’t be more proud of these extraordinary young people who will be on the plane to Russia. They have worked tirelessly for weeks, months and years to be the best – they are a shining example to the next generation – let’s celebrate their spirit, commitment, and success.”
While 32 members of Team UK have now been announced, more will join them in April when the cyber security, cloud computing, chemical lab technician, floristry, cooking and car painting competitors are selected.
All competitors will then undergo a rigorous regime of Olympic-style training in preparation for the most intense week of competition imaginable.
These skilled young people have undergone a two-year challenge to get this far, and have already triumphed in regional and national competition, as well as a grueling team selection event that took place last week.
The 45th WorldSkills event will take place in Kazan from August 22 to 27.
At the last WorldSkills, which took place two years ago in Abu Dhabi, saw Team UK retain its top-10 position, after our competitors bagged one gold, three silvers, three bronzes, and 13 medallions of excellence.
FE Week is proud to be the official media partner for WorldSkills UK and Team UK.
Team UK for WorldSkills Kazan:
Competition |
Forename |
Employer and Training Provider |
3D Digital Game Art |
Patrick Buckley |
West Cheshire College |
Aircraft Maintenance |
Haydn Jakes |
Nottingham University |
Architectural Stonemasonry |
Ethan Conlon |
Bath College and APS Masonry |
Beauty Therapy |
Rebecca West |
East Sussex College and Bespoke You |
Bricklaying |
Lewis Greenwood |
York College and PDS construction |
Cabinet Making |
Owen Aldous |
Chichester College and Callow & Co |
Car Painting |
Conor McKevitt |
Riverpark Training and Wrights Accident Repair Centre |
Carpentry |
Jack Goodrum |
The College of West Anglia and Peter Goodrum Ltd |
CNC Milling |
Elliott Dawson |
Training 2000 Limited and Fort Vale |
CNC Turning |
Jack McCarthy |
DMG MORI UK |
Confectioner/Pastry Cook |
Connor Stow |
Hull College and Compass Restaurant Association |
Construction Metal Work |
Tyler Atkinson |
Burnley College and WEC Group LTD |
Cooking |
Sam Everton |
Pembrokeshire College and Crwst |
Electrical Installation |
Thomas Lewis |
Cardiff and Vale College and Blues Electrical |
Electronics |
Thomas Andrews |
Alton College and Sonardyne Int Ltd |
Hairdressing |
Phoebe McLavy |
Coleg Sir Gar and Morgan Edward Salon |
Jewellery |
Samuel McMahon |
The Goldsmiths Centre and Mappin & Webb (Aurum Holdings) |
Joinery |
Christopher Caine |
Pembrokeshire College and DH Carpentry & Joinery |
Landscape Gardening |
Samuel Taylor |
Myerscough College and Garden TLC |
Landscape Gardening |
Shea McFerran |
CAFRE and Logan Landscape |
Manufacturing Team Challenge |
Andrew Joyce |
Carnaud metalbox |
Manufacturing Team Challenge |
Isaac Khan |
Carnaud metalbox |
Manufacturing Team Challenge |
James Thomason |
Carnaud MetalBox |
Mechanical Engineering: CAD |
Ross Megahy |
New College Lanarkshire |
Mechatronics |
Jack Dakin |
Toyota Manufacturing UK |
Mechatronics |
Danny Slater |
Toyota Manufacturing UK |
Painting and Decorating |
Callum Bonner |
Forth Valley College of Further and Higher Education and Clackmannanshire council |
Plastering and Drywall Systems |
Curtis Johnston |
SERC andSB Plastering |
Refrigeration |
Orlando Rawlings |
Grimsby Institute of Further Education and Higher Education and Daikin UK |
Restaurant Services |
Collette Gorvett |
Gower College Swansea |
Visual Merchandising |
Konnar Doyle |
City of Glasgow College |
Wall and Floor Tiling |
Mark Scott |
City of Glasgow College and J McGoldrick & Sons Ltd |
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