Five of the best and brightest young skilled, apprentices and students in Wales have been selected to Team UK to compete at the ‘Skills Olympics’ in Russia.
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More than 30 young professionals from engineering, hospitality and professional services, construction and digital and IT – have cleared the highest hurdle in a two-year challenge to be the best in the World.
These skilled young people have already triumphed in regional and national competitions and had one more momentous obstacle to overcome at Team Selection events the length and breadth of the UK.
The results were revealed at Loughborough University which has a strong association with training Team GB for the Olympics.
[/aoa]Team UK will represent the United Kingdom at The WorldSkills Finals in Kazan, Russia in August (22-27).
Neil Bentley-Gockmann OBE, CEO of WorldSkills UK, which selects and trains the team and uses their successes to promote skills across the country, said: “Think Olympic Games – but much more important to the economic future of the United Kingdom.
“This is a life-changing opportunity for all those involved.
“I couldn’t be more proud of these extraordinary young people who will be on the plane to Russia. They have worked tirelessly for weeks, months and years to be the best – they are a shining example to the next generation – let’s celebrate their spirit, commitment, and success.
“We are not only giving young people the opportunity to reach their full potential but we also believe that, working with them, we can transfer the insights gained from competing against other countries into the wider UK economy, driving up training standards for young people to world-class levels, giving a much-needed boost to productivity.”
Welsh members of Team UK
- Sam Everton – Pembrokeshire College and Crwst (Cooking)
- Thomas Lewis – Cardiff and Vale College and Blues Electrical (Electrical Installation)
- Phoebe McLavy – Coleg Sir Gar and Morgan Edward Salon (Hairdressing)
- Christopher Caine – Pembrokeshire College and DH Carpentry & Joinery (Joinery)
- Collette Gorvett – Gower College Swansea (Restaurant Services)
More than 60 countries are sending elite teams to the Tatarstan Capital 800 km east of Moscow – to do battle and go for bronze, silver and gold in 56 different skills disciplines.
The event, dubbed the ‘Skills Olympics’, which takes place every two years, will be shown live on TV and streamed around the World (including the UK) – and change the lives and careers of those that compete.
At the last WorldSkills finals (2017) in Abu Dhabi, Team UK finished in 10thposition and is hoping to replicate or better the result.
