 |
|
||||||
 Find related Learning & skills initiatives training courses. See all courses.  Northwest Learning Centre Strategy Unions and Employers helping to build Working Communities The learning revolution continues...  |
UK Team strikes gold in Japan4 medals and 9 medallions of excellence won at WorldSkills 2007 source: http://www.worldskillsteamuk.org/
Following a tough season for world championship sports events, the UK can be justifiably proud of a national team whose achievements can be truly celebrated. It was announced today, Wednesday 21st November, that the UK WorldSkills team, made up of 22 highly talented young people, has won a fantastic four medals and nine medallions of excellence at WorldSkills 2007, the biggest skills based competition in the world. This year's results placed the UK 11th in the world and fourth in Europe, improving the UK's position in the team league table by one place from 2005. WorldSkills is a gruelling four day event, held every two years, in which 49 nations compete in skills such as engineering, landscape gardening, graphic design, hairdressing and beauty therapy and which this year saw over 200,000 spectators turn out in support. The UK team competed hard in 21 skill categories and has achieved the following:
John Denham, Secretary of State said: 'WorldSkills is about raising the status and the standards of vocational education. What this years' team has done epitomises that. Forty-nine nations competed highlighting how essential these skills are globally. For our team to have achieved such great results proves we have skills in this country at world class levels. This team is helping to break down the snobbery around skills training - there is nothing second best about good skills-based careers.' "Throughout their training and the competition the team showed magnificent pride in their work. I hope that young people seeing what has been achieved in Japan will feel inspired to take up skills they can excel at professionally. I want many more to rise to the challenge themselves for the next competition in Canada in 2009 and again in 2011 when London will be hosting WorldSkills - and when we can show we can be the best!' David Lammy, Minister for Skills said: 'I have met each and every one of these young people and can testify to their hard work and achievement. Their skills are the very best of British. Each team member is entitled to be very proud of what they have achieved.' Chris Humphries, Chairman of UK Skills and newly appointed chief executive of the UK Commission for Employment and Skills* said: 'Skills matter to UK businesses and the UK economy, and WorldSkills provides the ultimate benchmark of a nation's young people, and the education andt raining we provide them. These 22 young UK competitors rose to the challenges presented by the WorldSkills competitions and confirmed that they are indeed true champions - up there with the best in the world. To them all, to our medal and medallion winners, and to their teachers and trainers, UK Skills offer our heartiest congratulations!' Simon Bartley, Chief Executive of UK Skills, who coordinates the UK participation in WorldSkills, said 'The team has worked so hard from the day that they were selected all the way through to the end of the competition to ensure they were the best they could be, so the results they have achieved are absolutely deserved. The results are really great and we are very proud of the whole team. They havee nsured that the UK is well on its way to being World class by 2020.' Rob Wye, Director, Strategy and Communications Group and The Learning Group commented "The UK results in the WorldSkills competition reflect the improvements ande xcellence being delivered through the Further Education system. The hard work and ambitions of the individuals who have achieved medals is to be congratulated. We hope these great achievements inspire other individuals to develop their talents and skills - for personal and professional gain." The team will now spend time in Shanghai for a de-brief and review on how the competition went before returning home to the UK. Preparation will then start to secure a new team to take part in WorldSkills 2009 and WorldSkills 2011, when London will host thee vent. The UK WorldSkills team is managed by UK Skills working in partnership with the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills, the Scottish Executive, the Department for Employment and Learning Northern Ireland, the Welsh AssemblyG overnment and key partners from education, government and industry. Supporters of the 2007 team include; City & Guilds, the Learning and Skills Council, the Quality Improvement Agency, Honda, L'Oréal Professionnel, Snickers Workwear and Brathay. To find out more about the team's success or to learn more about how you can take part in the next competition visit www.worldskillsuk.org For more information, please contact: Briefing document (1,000 words) issued 21 Nov 2007 |
||||||
|
unionlearn Telephone 020 7079 6920 |
|||||||
