WorldSkills medals prove Britain’s got Talent
17 September 2009
Great Britain’s exceptionally skilled team have returned from WorldSkills 2009, the skills equivalent of the Olympic Games in Calgary, Canada with three gold and six bronze medals.
Britain’s 26 young competitors were amongst teams from 46 nations and 900 competitors, competing over four days in the city which staged the 1988 Winter Olympic Games. WorldSkills is the biggest skills competition in the world, held in a different international location every two years. Over four days young people from across the world test themselves against rigorous international standards, with the ultimate prize of winning gold, silver or bronze for their country. The next Games will be held in London: WorldSkills 2011 at ExCeL. ExCel will be major competition venue for botht he Olympic and Paralympic Games just one year later in 2012 - in fact EcXel will be the largest (multisport) competition venue outside of the Olympic Park.
Two of the GBR medals were won by current college students: Charlotte Burford (Bronze, Beauty therapy) of South Staffordshire College, and Trevor Woods (Bronze, Joinery) of Omagh College. Team UK was also awarded 13 ‘Medallions for Excellence’, with 10 of the young recipients from colleges and universities nationwide. The Team, who are all under the age of 25 and were chosen throughout the home nations, and have each trained hard over the last eighteen months. Social lives have been put on hold as each individual has perfected their skill ready to compete against the best in the world.
Skills Minister Kevin Brennan said: “I would like to congratulate each member of Team UK for the hard work and talent they displayed in Calgary. These inspiring young people have demonstrated to the rest of world just how able and highly skilled the UK is. “
The UK’s WorldSkills team is managed by UK Skills working in partnership with the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, the Department for Employment and Learning Northern Ireland, the Scottish Government, the Welsh Assembly Government and key partners from education, government and industry. Brathay (Brathay Hall Trust), a national charity that empowers young people to make a positive contribution to society, supports the development of Squad and Team UK.
