Nine engineering stars are following in the footsteps of our sporting Olympic stars, as they prepare to represent the UK at WorldSkills Lyon 2024, known as the ‘skills Olympics’.
- Nathan Young, a student at New College Lanarkshire, will compete in Mechanical Engineering: CAD
- Charlie Carson and Jason Scott, former students at Northern Regional College, will compete in Robot Systems Integration
- Alex Whitemore, who works for Babcock International, will compete in CNC Milling.
- Oscar McNaughton, a student at University of Wales Trinity St David, will compete in Additive Manufacturing.
- Mikhaela Rain Roy, a student at Middlesex University, and Simonas Brasas, a student at Kingston University will compete in Industry 4.0
- Lucy Yelland and Ben Love, apprentices with Siemens, will compete in Mechatronics.
WorldSkills UK, a four nations partnership between education, industry and UK governments, is responsible for selecting, mentoring and training Team UK. Pearson, the world’s leading learning company is the official partner of Team UK for WorldSkills Lyon 2024 which takes place from 10 -15 September.
Just like their sporting counterparts, Team UK has been training hard for this once in a lifetime opportunity to represent their country in their chosen career. The UK has been taking part in the WorldSkills Competition since 1953 and the event is used by governments around the world, economists and global business leaders as a litmus test to measure preparedness to optimise future economic growth.
WorldSkills Lyon 2024 will host over 1500 young people from 65 countries, who will compete in 62 different skill disciplines.
Simonas, who holds a BTEC in Engineering and is an Aerospace Engineering and Space Technology Undergraduate at Kingston University said: “I still can’t quite believe it. Industry 4.0 is a demanding multi-skilled discipline, being able to proceed to WorldSkills Lyon 2024 is going to be a brilliant experience. We can’t wait.”
Mikhaela Rain Roy added: “This is definitely a life-changing moment for me.”
Minister for Skills, Apprenticeships and Higher Education Luke Hall said: “Best of luck to our remarkably talented competitors at this summer’s “skills Olympics”.
“WorldSkills is an excellent opportunity to prove on the global stage that we have built a world class skills and apprenticeship system. I am hoping for a podium sweep from our apprentices and students in Lyon.”
Ben Blackledge, Chief Executive, WorldSkills UK said: “WorldSkills Lyon 2024 – think Olympic Games – where the prize is the world-class skills that UK employers are crying out for.
“The UK’s participation in the ‘skills Olympics’ will provide vital insights to ensure we can develop our apprenticeship and training programmes, to make them truly world-class.”
“I couldn’t be prouder of the exceptional young people in Team UK; they are fantastic role models. Together with Pearson, we will use their participation at WorldSkills to boost the prestige of technical and vocational education, inspiring many more young people to take up technical and vocational training across the UK to help drive investment, jobs and economic growth.”
Freya Thomas Monk, Managing Director of Vocational Qualifications and Training at Pearson, said: “Pearson shares many goals with WorldSkills UK – celebrating the best of vocational and technical education, raising awareness and the prestige of the sector and supporting young people to set benchmarks of excellence in their chosen fields.
“I hope the Team UK members take pride in the fact that their dedication and talent have rightfully earned them a place in this prestigious competition. The skills they have honed, and the standards they have worked so hard to reach, represent the very best our nation has to offer. Here at Pearson, we are cheering you on every step of the way.”
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