The UK’s representatives for EuroSkills Gothenburg 2016, Europe’s largest skills competition, have been announced.
Team UK consists of 19 young people from 17 industries. They will look to better the haul of three gold medals, six silver medals and three medallions for excellence that Team UK achieved at the most recent EuroSkills competition in 2014.
This year’s event, which will be held from 1-3 December in Gothenburg, Sweden, brings together Europe’s best apprentices under the age of 25 to compete in more than 35 different skill areas, from visual merchandising and window dressing to stonemasonry and beauty therapy.
Last year members of Team UK competing in the WorldSkills competition in São Paulo claimed three gold medals, four silvers, two bronzes and 24 medallions of excellence - and took the flagship prize for the best overall performance.
Skills minister Nick Boles said: “The young people who have earned a place on Team UK are worthy ambassadors and show the great things you can achieve with high-quality apprenticeships and technical training. I congratulate each and every member of Team UK and look forward to hearing about their performance at EuroSkills Gothenburg 2016.”
Peter Lauener, chief executive of the Skills Funding Agency and Education Funding Agency, said: “Year on year, I am constantly impressed with the quality of competitors that get through to the EuroSkills and WorldSkills competitions. They each demonstrate a huge amount of talent, a desire to succeed and a professionalism beyond their years.
“These young people are fantastic ambassadors for the importance of gaining the skills that employers are calling out for.”
Team UK for EuroSkills Gothenburg 2016:
Skill: Automotive technology
Employer: Ballinamullan Auto Repair
Training provider: South West College
Skill: Beauty therapy
Employer: Experience Health and Beauty
Training provider: City of Glasgow College
Skill: Cabinet making
Employer: Waters and Acland
Training provider: Waters and Acland
Skill: CNC milling
Employer: Electroimpact UK Ltd
Training provider: Coleg Cambria
Skill: Floristry
Employer: Moonflower
Training provider: Merrist Wood College
Skill: Hairdressing
Employer: Lucy is the owner of Hair by Knight
Training provider: N/A
Skill: Joinery
Employer: Paul Jackson Carpentry and Joinery
Training provider: West Suffolk College
Skill: Landscape gardening
Employer: Gardenscapes
Training provider: Merrist Wood College
Skill: Landscape gardening
Employer: Grassmaster NI
Training provider: College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise
Skill: Mechanical engineering CAD
Employer: N/A
Training provider: New College Lanarkshire
Skill: Mechatronics
Employer: Toyota Manufacturing UK
Training provider: Toyota Manufacturing UK
Skill: Mechatronics
Employer: Toyota Manufacturing UK
Training provider: Toyota Manufacturing UK
Skill: Painting and decorating
Employer: Self-employed
Training provider: Southern Regional College
Skill: Plumbing and heating
Employer: Briggs and Forrester
Training provider: EAS Mechanical
Skill: Plastering and drywall
Employer: Alan Allison
Training provider: Stockport College
Skill: Visual merchandising and window dressing
Employer: N/A
Training provider: London College of Fashion, University of the Arts London
Skill: Web design
Employer: N/A
Training provider: Neath Port Talbot College
Skill: Welding
Employer: L&G Skilled Engineering
Training provider: Great Yarmouth College
Skill: Stonemasonry
Employer: Wells Cathedral Stonemasons
Training provider: Bath College
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