Team UK celebrate EuroSkills 2014 success

Team UK took home glory at last week’s EuroSkills competition in Lille, France, after securing nine medals in a variety of events.

The group won three gold medals and six silver medals, showcasing the extraordinary skills of young people in the country.

Congratulating their success, Nick Boles, Minister of State for Skills and Equalities, said: “They have demonstrated that when it comes to skills the UK has world class ability. Team UK are ambassadors for our country and demonstrate how high-quality apprenticeships can lead to successful careers. I offer my congratulations to Team UK who delivered an outstanding performance at EuroSkills 2014.”

Ross Maloney, CEO at Find a Future, which operates the WorldSkills UK Skills Competitions and the UK’s entry into the international WorldSkills Competitions, said: “Team UK is an incredible group of young people, who act as great ambassadors for our country. Through their international success, and the wider work of Find a Future, we want to inspire young people about the different careers that exist and provide them with the chance to unlock their potential and get excited about the world of work. Many congratulations to Team UK.”

Team UK highlights from EuroSkills 2014:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_mTcoKU6VAo

The UK was awarded:

GOLD

Automobile Technology
Declan McGrath who works for Bundoran Motors and attends South West College.
John Dawson, Training Manager, from EMTEC, part of Central College Nottingham, who is City & Guilds qualified.

Cooking
Danny Hoang who works for The Grove and attended Westminster Kingsway.
Michael Godfrey, Training Manager, who is City & Guilds qualified.  
Danny was supported in this Competition by Peter Anderson, North Warwickshire and Hinckley College. 

Mechanical Engineering CAD
Andrew Beel who works for Pacson Valves and attends New College Lanarkshire.  Andrew was also awarded Best in Nation.
Barry Skea, Training Manager, from New College Lanarkshire. 

SILVER

Beauty Therapy
Rianne Chester who works for Akira Nails & Beauty and attends Warrington Collegiate.
Jenna Bailey, Training Manager, from Ashton College.

Carpentry
Simon McCall who works for Jones & Johnson and attends Coleg Sir Gar and Mark Hawthorne who works for Trainor Contracts and attends South Eastern College.
Pat Phillips, Training Manager.

Hairdressing
Eleni Constantinou who works for Tino Constantinou. 
Robert Rousseau, Training Manager.

Visual Merchandising
Jasmine Field who works for Marks & Spencer and attended Fashion Retail Academy and Catherine Abbott, who attended East Berkshire College and works for Topshop.
Julianne Lavery, Training Manager. 

MEDALLION FOR EXCELLENCE

Mechatronics
John Peerless and Calum Knott from Middlesex University.
David Russell, Training Manager, Northern Regional College.

Restaurant Service
Lucy Jones who works for Chewton Glen Hotel & Spa and attends Brockenhurst College.
Katie Kryousis, Training Manager, from Gleneagles.

All UK participants for the EuroSkills 2014 are now training in progression for the upcoming WorldSkills event in Sao Paulo 2015. EuroSkills 2014 formed part of their training scheme ahead of selection for Squad UK’s entry to WorldSkills, which will take place from 11^th – 16^th August 2015. The young people were also invited to compete for a place in Squad UK after excelling at WorldSkills UK National Competitions. They are slowly approaching the finals which will be held at The Skills Show in the NEC, Birmingham arena from 13^th – 15^th November, where they’ll be competing but also putting in additional training ahead of the WorldSkills event next year.

Richard Burdon – Apprentice