Call for Entries for 2008 Competitions
January 24, 2008
If you excel in a vocational skill, the competitions are a chance to gain recognition, be
awarded and represent your country on the world stage. Entrants can be in employment,
training or education and participation is free.
The 70 WorldSkills UK competitions are designed by leading industry experts and are held
across the UK, covering skills in the following sectors:
• Cultural and Creative Arts
• Engineering
• IT and Business Administration
• Personal, Social and Hospitality services
Winners from each competition are selected to represent the UK at forthcoming international
events – EuroSkills 2008, taking place this September in The Netherlands, and the 2009 WorldSkills
Competition being held in Calgary, Canada.
Simon Bartley,
Chief Executive of UK Skills, the organisation leading WorldSkills UK commented “
Skills competitions have well recognised benefits; they allow young people to stretch their skills,
showing employers they have what it takes to perform under pressure. They give employers the chance
to compare their training standards against those of their competitors whilst showcasing their
company, helping to raise its profile. For training providers they also raise standards,
demonstrating teaching skills and enlivening teaching.”
Many of the UK team for WorldSkills Calgary 2009 will be selected from the top performers in the 2008 WorldSkills UK competitions. WorldSkills is the largest skills event competition in the world. Young people from over 50 countries meet and compete in over 40 different skills, ranging from cabinet making to web design. The ultimate prize is gold, silver or bronze medals. The WorldSkills competition in 2009 takes place in Calgary, Canada. London will host the event in 2011.
Prime Minister Gordon Brown recently hosted a reception at 10 Downing Street (watch the video clip) for the UK team, who came 11th overall at the WorldSkills 2007 competition in Shizuoka, Japan in November. The team competed against 47 nations in skills such as engineering, landscape gardening, graphic design, hairdressing and beauty therapy, winning a gold, a silver and two bronze medals and nine medallions of excellence.
A number of WorldSkills UK competitions are also open to adults. Visit www.worldskillsuk.org/competitions for a list of competitions. For further details call our competitions hotline on 0800 612 0742.
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Contact details
For more information please contact Colin Levy/Kathryn Crookenden, UK Skills: Tel: 020 7612 9260 Email: colin.levy@ukskills.org.uk or Kathryn.crookenden@ukskills.org.uk
Notes for editors
1. WorldSkills UK
WorldSkills UK is the new name for the UK’s premier set of skills competitions for young people and adults, which until last year were known as Skills Challenge. WorldSkills UK represents a new approach to skills competitions, and incorporates:
- a new brand and image
- stronger partnerships with champions across the UK and with sector leaders
- a framework for quality assurance and development.
The purpose of this change is to help lift standards of training and performance at work by strengthening the contribution of skills competitions to the UK’s economy, promoting World class skills and international competitiveness.
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.
2. UK Skills
UK Skills is a not-for-profit organisation which champions skills and learning for work through competitions and awards.
The organisation was established in 1990 with the primary purpose of raising skill levels in the UK through skills competitions and managing the UK team which competes in the WorldSkills Competition. UK Skills also manages the National Training Awards and organises other skills related events.
www.ukskills.org.uk/competitions
3. WorldSkills
The WorldSkills Competition is the biggest skills competition in the world and is held every two years in one of its member countries. Its sets world class standards in over 40 skill categories ranging from cabinet making to web design.
Over four days of tough competition, young people drawn from 51 member nations test themselves against tough international standards. The ultimate prizes are gold, silver and bronze medals.
For all the young people who take part it is an invaluable, unique learning experience. Many of the competitors go on to act as ambassadors for their respective skills and promote excellence in vocational education and training in their own countries.
WorldSkills will be held in Calgary Canada in 2009 and London, UK in 2011.