Team UK had a fantastic result at EuroSkills Budapest 2018, where it placed ninth out of 28 European countries – which was a brilliant success, and the medals prove it.

However, a major underlying challenge was raised during our participation in Europe’s most prestigious skills competition: our team was not as inclusive as we would like.

All members of Team UK were white, and gender-segregated by skill. We need to get a real grip on this.

Diversity is an issue we must crack

I know that diversity in our competitions programme is a long-standing problem, and it is not isolated to our work, given that increasing diversity in apprenticeships more broadly is also a challenge. 

Nevertheless, it is an issue we must crack. I am determined that we will.  

The consequences of not doing so are far too significant for us. Failing to address this challenge means we cannot help our employer partners to develop a more competitive edge if young people, from all backgrounds, are not given the opportunity to accelerate their careers through participating in our skills competitions.

Further, we cannot encourage a wider take-up of apprenticeships and technical education among young people if we are not creating diverse role models who speak to all and encourage more to follow in their footsteps.

A systemic approach is needed

Past attempts to make our competitions more inclusive have not delivered the desired change. That says clearly to me that what is needed is a more systemic approach to tackling the issue.

That is why we are undertaking deep research into all areas of social mobility and diversity, to understand the barriers that are preventing so many young people from engaging with our work - young men and women from disadvantaged backgrounds, BAME communities, young people with special education needs and young people who identify as LGBT+.

We will then use the research findings to develop a clear action plan to address the challenges identified. 

I know these findings could involve us reviewing the industries our competitions are run in, the rules and regulations of entering our programme and the content of our marketing campaigns. We will address the areas that are identified.

Engaging with under-represented groups

Working with the BAME Apprenticeship Alliance, supporting the Asian Apprenticeship awards and engaging in the Apprenticeship Diversity Champions Network, we are joining forces with employers to look at how our programmes can support the drive to attract more apprentices from diverse backgrounds.

WorldSkills UK LIVE, which takes place from 15-17 November at the NEC in Birmingham, provides us with an immediate opportunity to engage with under-represented groups.

Working with the Association of Colleges and the Association of Employment and Learning Providers, we will be running a visitor programme to help BAME students find out more about career opportunities, and in partnership with CITB and Semta, we will be offering the opportunity for young women to find out more about careers in construction and engineering.

Looking ahead to WorldSkills Kazan 2019

All young people who attend these programmes at LIVE will be given a mentor who has previously competed in our competitions, so they can understand how participating in competition activity can further their careers.

We will then invite them to attend the Team UK selection event for WorldSkills Kazan 2019 in Spring next year, when they will take part in competition activity related to their chosen area of training.

They will then be given the opportunity to register to compete in the 2019 cycle of our national competitions with the aim of being selected to represent the UK at WorldSkills Shanghai 2021.

It is this wide level of engagement which will provide us with a more inclusive pool from which to select those who will go on to join Team UK and participate in international skills competitions, creating role models for all.

'Ambitious for change'

At WorldSkills UK we are ambitious for change – but we can’t do it alone. We need the support and collaboration of our partners to help ensure that all our programmes are fully inclusive.

As a partnership between governments, businesses and the skills sector, we are an accelerator for young people’s career development, and that should mean all young people being able to take up apprenticeships and technical career routes.

So please join us to help make our work more inclusive for all young people, irrespective of who they are or where they come from.

Dr Neil Bentley is the chief executive of WorldSkills UK. To find out more, get in touch at enquiries@worldskillsuk.org