National news

UK Team strikes gold in Japan

Following a tough season for world championship sports events, the UK can be justifiably proud of a national team whose achievements can be truly celebrated. It was announced today, Wednesday 21^st November, that the UK WorldSkills team, made up of 22 highly talented young people, has won a fantastic four medals and nine medallions of excellence at WorldSkills 2007, the biggest skills based competition in the world. This year’s team score results placed the UK 11^th in the world overall, and fourth in Europe, improving the UK’s position in the team league table by one place from 2005. 

WorldSkills is a gruelling four day event, held every two years, in which 49 nations compete in skills such as engineering, landscape gardening, graphic design, hairdressing and beauty therapy and which this year saw over 200,000 spectators turn out in support. The UK team competed in 21 categories, including floristry and landscape, where Medallions of Excellence were  awarded to Natalie Stanyer (21), in the floristry event and Keith Chapman and Tim Lancaster (both 21), in the landscape gardening event.

John Denham, Secretary of State said: “WorldSkills is about raising the status and the standards of vocational education. What this years’ team has done epitomises that. Forty-nine nations competed, highlighting how essential these skills are globally. For our team to have achieved such great results proves we have skills in this country at world class levels. This team is helping to break down the snobbery around skills training - there is nothing second best about good skills-based careers.

"Throughout their training and the competition the team showed magnificent pride in their work. I hope that young people seeing what has been achieved in Japan will feel inspired to take up skills they can excel at professionally. I want many more to rise to the challenge themselves for the next competition in Canada in 2009 and again in 2011 when London will be hosting WorldSkills - and when we can show we can be the best!”

Lantra Chairman, Gordon McGlone, added “Worldskills Japan has been a terrific shop window to demonstrate that our industries and people aspire to be world class. Lantra’s work touches the lives of everyone in the UK through the skills of the people that care for the land and its associated businesses. I am sure that by the time that WorldSkills reaches London in 2011 we will have many more competitors.  In the meantime I wish to congratulate Natalie Stanyer, Keith Chapman and Tim Lancaster on their tremendous success and achievements!”

David Lammy, Minister for Skills said: “I have met each and every one of these young people and can testify to their hard work and achievement. Their skills are the very best of British. Each team member is entitled to be very proud of what they have achieved.”

Chris Humphries, Chairman of UK Skills and newly appointed chief executive of the UK Commission for Employment and Skills said: “Skills matter to UK businesses and the UK economy, and WorldSkills provides the ultimate benchmark of a nation’s young people, and the education and training we provide them. These 22 young UK competitors rose to the challenges presented by the WorldSkills competitions and confirmed that they are indeed true champions – up there with the best in the world. To them all, to our medal and medallion winners, and to their teachers and trainers, UK Skills offer our heartiest congratulations!”

The team will now spend time in Shanghai for a de-brief and review of the competition  before returning home to the UK. Preparation will then start to secure a new team to take part in WorldSkills 2009 and WorldSkills 2011, when London will host the event.

The UK WorldSkills team is managed by UK Skills working in partnership with the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills, the Scottish Executive, the Department for Employment and Learning Northern Ireland, the Welsh Assembly Government and key partners from education, government and industry.