Who are the people involved?
Who are UK Skills?
UK Skills works to raise the profile of skills in the UK and oversees the UK’s premier set of skills competitions, WorldSkills UK. As a member of WorldSkills International, UK Skills manages the UK team entry to the WorldSkills Competition.
What’s the difference between WorldSkills UK and WorldSkills?
WorldSkills UK is the name for the regional and national skills competitions run by UK Skills and its partners. WorldSkills is the global competition that takes place every two years in a member country. Those lucky enough to make Team UK are able to represent their country against others, competing for medals.
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Who is eligible to enter?
Context
The WorldSkills Competition has traditionally aimed to compare vocational and educational training systems, thus raising standards amongst the members and achieving the WorldSkills International mission, which is
To promote, through the cooperative actions of Members, a worldwide awareness of the essential contribution that skills and high standards of competence make to the achievement of economic success and individual fulfilment. (Constitution Art 2.2)
The WorldSkills International Constitution defines a Member as a body representing a vocational education and training system in a country/region’s commerce, services and industry and recognised as such by the Organisation. (Constitution Art 4.1)
There is no nationality requirement by WorldSkills International because the explicit aim of the WorldSkills Competition is to compare and raise the quality of member countries’ vocational education and training systems. The sole reference to nationality occurs in the International Competition Rules (6.1.9).
Competitors have to provide their passport/ID card to validate their identity and date of birth. The passport/ID card does not necessarily have to be of the same country/region that he/she is representing at the Competition. (WorldSkills International Competition Rules 6.1.9)
Criteria for eligibility
To meet the spirit and the letter of the WorldSkills Competition the following criteria will apply to Team UK with immediate effect.
To be a member of Team UK for the WorldSkills Competition a competitor must
a) be not more 22 years of age (25 for certain specified competitions) in the year of the Competition
and either to
b) have been continuously resident in the UK for at least 2 years have been educated and trained in a UK education, or training, establishment, and hold one or more related UK qualifications,
or
c) hold, or be eligible to hold, a UK passport.
Proof of eligibility
Documentary proof will be required for each of the above criteria, with a passport/ID card for a) above.
Before you enter
Where can I get more information about competitions?
Visit www.worldskillsuk.org/competitions where you’ll find information, photographs, briefs and other downloadable information available on each competition.
If I’m interested in competitions – what do I do next?
Visit the competition page for the competition you’re interested in, and if you want to enter select ‘Enter now! to add the competition to you competition basket, you may add as many competitions to your basket as you wish and these will be saved in the basket until you decide to ‘Submit Entry’.
When and where do the competitions take place?
Competitions normally take place during spring/summer 2010. For more information please see the competition specific web page for detailed information – these will be updated when information becomes available.
What is a ‘competition brief'?
It tells you what the competition involves, including technical information and who to contact next for that particular competition. These can be found on www.worldskillsuk.org/competitions under the particular competition that you’re interested in.
What will the competition involve?
All competition related information appears on the ‘competition brief’. This can be found on www.worldskillsuk.org, under ‘competitions’ and then the specific competition you are interested in – it will tell you what the competition involves including any preliminary work you may need to submit.
What happens in a live competition?
Live competitions are events at which competitors compete against each other, in public. The content of live competitions is set out in the ‘competition brief’ and the ‘marking criteria’ so that all competitors can know the standards that they will be judged by. In a live competition the results are publicly announced soon after the competition ends.
What happens in a mixed competition?
Mixed competitions are judged at two stages:
- Stage one: competitors submit their entry for short listing to stage two, by post or email.
- Stage two: short listed competitors are invited to the UK final to either exhibit their work or participate in a live competition.
The content of mixed competitions is set out in the competition briefs. In mixed competitions the results are given after stage one via, email and/or post. At stage two, the results are publicly announced soon after the competition ends.
What are heats?
Heats are usually live events that take place prior to a UK final. They provide an opportunity for individuals to test themselves against their peers nationally. The highest scoring competitors across all heats are invited to compete in a UK final. Please note: UK Skills deliver national heats, these are open to all individuals across the nine English regions and three devolved nations
What is a screening test?
Screening tests are used as a mechanism to identify the strongest individuals that may be eligible for inclusion in the UK final. The highest scoring competitors are invited to compete in the UK final. Please note: screening tests are usually used in competitions like engineering where equipment and materials influence the delivery of UK wide heats.
What will the competition prepare you for?
Entering one of our competitions is a perfect way to take yourself out of your comfort zone and test your skills against others across the UK. Every participant will receive a certificate, which can be added to your portfolio, giving you a unique selling point.
Do I pay to enter competitions?
WorldSkills UK competitions are free to enter. However, there are charges for failing to attend a live competition. ‘Competition terms and conditions' are downloadable from the competition pages on www.worldskillsuk.org.
Go to the competition you are interested in and download the ‘Competition terms and conditions'.
How do I avoid non-attendance fees?
Only ‘live’ competitions are subject to non-attendance fees. All cancellations must be made online by 19 March 2010. Failure to comply with this rule may result in a non-attendance fee.
How to enter
How can I enter a competition?
Visit the competitions overview page to view 2009/10 competitions - worldskillsuk.org/competitions.
Select the page of the competition that you wish to enter and click the 'Enter now!' button. Your competition will then be added to your competition basket.
You may add as many competitions to your basket as you wish and these will be saved in the basket until you decide to ‘submit entry’.
I am a student, can I enter the competition?
A Students may enter themselves for competitions, however you must have the support of your college, university or employer before entering a competition.
How do I select a competition heat?
This new and improved facility allows individuals to choose their first and second choice heat location they would like to attend. Registrants can view the dates, venues and remaining capacities. The facility is only applicable for those entering ‘live’ competitions with heats like; hairdressing, beauty therapy and floristry.
I have entered a competition and have put on a waiting list, what happens next?
Competitions are open on a first come first serve basis. Waiting lists apply to competitions with heats that have reached full capacity; competitors will be placed on a waiting list where UK Skills and our partners will do our best to re-allocate you to another heat. You will be notified via email.
How can I amend an entry?
Amendments to accounts can be made until 19 March 2010 at no charge. Amendments made after this date will be charged at £20 per account.
What happens if I win a competition?
If you win a heat we celebrate your success straightaway and may invite you to compete nationally.
If you are a UK Gold winner you will be invited to a high profile national event to celebrate your achievement and present you with your trophy.
How does the competition fit into the international competition framework?
Turn to page 5 in the main brochure or page 2 in the sector booklet for the competition journey. Please note that WorldSkills UK competitions are open to those 16 and over with no upper age limit, however an age limit does apply to WorldSkills competitions.
Not all WorldSkills UK competitions lead to the WorldSkills Competition, so please check the key if you see this sign this means that this competition can lead to the WorldSkills Competition.
If you see this sign it means that the competition can lead to the WorldSkills Competition.
Who can I contact for information about competitions?
For further information about the technical aspects of a competition, please contact the competition organiser. Their details can be found within the competition brief.
If you have any other questions, please contact the WorldSkills UK contact centre:
T 0800 612 0742
E worldskillsuk@ukskills.org.uk
After entering
I have entered a competition, but I haven’t received my confirmation?
Once you have registered you will receive an email about the WorldSkills UK competition you have entered. If you haven’t heard from us within a month of entering, make sure we are not in your junk/spam folder and contact the WorldSkills UK contact centre 0800 612 0742. It is your responsibility to ensure you have received all adequate information prior to competing.
I have competed in a heat and came first, what happens next?
For competitors’ who have competed in a heat, please note that only those scoring the highest across all heats are invited to compete in a UK final.