Team UK announced for WorldSkills Calgary 2009

Twenty-six young men and women from across the UK have been chosen as members of Team UK to compete at WorldSkills Calgary 2009.

The WorldSkills Competition brings together young adults from across the globe to compete for Gold, Silver and Bronze medals in skills ranging from plumbing to landscape gardening and IT.

The team was welcomed by James Cracknell, OBE and Chris Humphries, CBE, UK Skills chairman, at an event held at the House of Lords earlier this week.

At WorldSkills over 200,000 spectators are expected to watch a total of over 900 competitors from 51 countries competing in skills ranging from bricklaying to landscape gardening, cooking and floristry.

Education foundation Edge is the official supporter of both Squad UK and Team UK, as part of its commitment to raising the status of practical and vocational learning.

Simon Bartley, chief executive of UK Skills, who manages Team UK, said "We are very pleased to welcome each and every member of Team UK. The quality and dedication all our competitors demonstrated during the selection process was of the highest level, but the exceptional work that these 26 individuals carried out proved to judges that they had what it takes to be part of Team UK and represent their country.

"Being selected for the Team however does not mean it's time to relax. From now until September the Team will need to train hard to make sure that they are up to the world class standard they need to be at, to be able to compete against the best young skilled people in the world. We wish them luck in their final months of training."

Skills minister Kevin Brennan said: "This team of talented young people are determined to make a difference in their careers and will represent the UK in showing the rest of the world just how talented our country is.

"In these tougher times it's more important than ever that we continue to support and invest in the skills of our workforce, helping individuals get into and stay on at work as well as helping businesses stay competitive and prepare for the upturn."

James Cracknell commented: "I am delighted to be here today to have met so many members of the team who will represent the UK at the WorldSkills Competition in Calgary. Each of the 26 young men and women who have been selected should be rightly proud of their achievements. There is no greater thrill than representing your country.

"When they get to Calgary it will be the end of a very long journey as each and every one of them has already undertaken months and months of rigorous training. It will also be the start of another journey, for competing at this level will catapult their careers to a new level. I wish them the very best of luck in the competition."

WorldSkills Calgary 2009 takes place from 1st-6th September. There are 26 members of Team UK, who will compete in 25 skill categories.

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

In October 2011 the WorldSkills event will be hosted by London.