Team UK success at worldskills, Calgary 2009

Team UK Success at WorldSkills, Calgary 2009
 

Team UK won 3 gold medals and 6 bronze medals at WorldSkills Calgary 2009, held last week in Calgary, Canada. The competition saw 900 competitors from 46 countries compete in 40 different vocational skills categories.
 

Team UK’s 26-strong contingent, all aged under 25, were also awarded 14 medallions of excellence for scores of over 500 points.
 

The competition aims to raise the status of vocational learning across the globe with competitors competing in a variety of categories including; bricklaying, web design, aircraft maintenance, landscape gardening and beauty therapy.
 

The UK’s success is encouraging for the next competition which will be hosted in London in 2011.
 

Simon Bartley, Chief Executive of UK Skills, said: ‘It’s a tremendous result not just for the competitors, but for their employers, trainers and colleges. We hope to build on this success as we move towards the next WorldSkills Competition, which London will be hosting in 2011, where we hope to do even better.’
 

Kevin Brennan, Minister for Further Education, Skills, Apprenticeships and Consumer Affairs congratulated the team. He said, ‘The world class skills this team have demonstrated are vital to the future success of our economy in key industries such as construction, manufacturing and engineering. It’s more important than ever that we continue to support and invest in the skills of our workforce, helping individuals get into and stay on at work as well as helping businesses stay competitive and prepare for the upturn.’