James Cracknell celebrates skills success at awards ceremony
November 19, 2008
View the WorldSkills UK Awards 2008 photo gallery
They were presented with their awards by James Cracknell, double Olympic Gold Medallist and World record holding oarsman, at the UK Skills Competition Awards. The awards were held to celebrate the gold medal winners of the WorldSkills UK Competitions. This year’s ceremony was held at the IMAX in Waterloo, London. The Awards are sponsored by City & Guilds.
James Cracknell, congratulated the medal winners on their achievements: “To be a winner, whether in skills or in sports you need to have more than just talent to succeed. You need to work hard and just when you feel like you have had enough you need to work just that little bit harder. Every person being awarded a gold medal today has done just that and I would like to personally wish each and every one of them the very best success in the future”.
The awards recognise winners from WorldSkills UK Competitions. UK Skills, a not-for-profit organisation which exists to champion skills and learning for work through competitions and awards, oversees the WorldSkills UK framework of competitions.
Simon Bartley, the Chief Executive of UK Skills said: ”I am delighted to celebrate the achievements of these winners here today. Their success is testament to the hard work, dedication and passion they have for their subject. I hope their success inspires others to enter WorldSkills UK Competitions“.
Skills Minister Lord Young commented: "I offer my congratulations to these skills champions. They are an inspiration to their friends and communities, and demonstrate the depth of talent that exists in the UK. Through investing in world class training, the Government will do all it can to ensure that every young person has the opportunity to fulfil their own potential to achieve excellence”.
Key partners include; Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills, Department for Employment and Learning Northern Ireland, Welsh Assembly Government and the Scottish Government. WorldSkills UK Competitions are supported by the TUC and Investors in People.
For more information about how to enter these competitions, please visit www.worldskillsuk.org/competitions.
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For more information contact:
Kathryn Crookenden
Communications Executive
Tel: 020 7612 9261
Email:
kathryn.crookenden@ukskills.org.uk
Vikki Light
Communications Manager
Tel: 020 7612 9260
Email:
vikki.light@ukskills.org.uk
Notes for editors
What is WorldSkills UK?
WorldSkills UK is the name for the UK’s premier set of skills competitions for young
people and adults. They run every year in around 70 skills within these five main sectors:
- Built Environment
- Cultural and Creative Arts
- Engineering
- Information Technology and Business Administration
- Professional, Social, Public and Hospitality Services
WorldSkills UK competitions run both regionally and nationally each year in the UK and aim to help lift standards of training and performance promoting world class skills and international competitiveness.
Outstanding WorldSkills UK National Finalists may be considered for potential inclusion in a shortlist for the team that goes on to represent the UK at a WorldSkills Competition.
WorldSkills UK is supported by government, the Devolved Nations and a host of other partners across business, industry and the world of education and training.
WorldSkills UK is an integral part of the legacy being developed by UK Skills as part of its work for WorldSkills London 2011, an international competition being hosted by the UK.
WorldSkills London 2011 will take place in ExCeL, Docklands from the 6–9 October 2011 www.worldskillslondon2011.com.
Who runs WorldSkills UK?
WorldSkills UK is led by UK Skills, a not-for-profit organisation that champions
vocational skills and learning for work through competitions and awards.
All skills competitions carrying the WorldSkills UK label are quality assured by UK Skills, which is responsible for developing a local, regional and national framework of skills competitions at all main levels of vocational attainment. Individual competitions may be organised by a variety of organisations including colleges, Sector Skills Councils, UK Skills and industry organisations among others.
UK Skills is also responsible for the UK’s participation in international competitions.
City & Guilds
City and Guilds sponsors WorldSkills UK 2009 competitions and is a premier sponsor of
WorldSkills London 2011.City & Guilds’ main objective of providing skills for a brighter future
fully complements the aims of UK Skills, which are to support, encourage and equip people,
particularly young people, with skills for their future.
City & Guilds is the UK’s leading provider of work-related qualifications. City & Guilds works closely with industry and employers and offers over 500 qualifications in 28 different industry areas, through colleges, training providers and employers.
In all the competitions in this brochure which display the City & Guilds lion logo, you can take a City & Guilds qualification in that subject area. For more information about City & Guilds’ range of qualifications, log on to www.cityandguilds.com.