"WorldSkills is a beacon of aspiration, we can be the best in the world, we must not lose sight of the investment and life changing opportunities. Despite challenges, of which there will be many, we must get behind the Team and competition and celebrate going to Canada," he said.

Guest speaker James Cracknell OBE, the double Olympic gold medallist and adventurer, said "luck is something that you earn ... good things happen to people who deserve it". He encouraged the team to "make the most of it" and wished them all the best luck.

Former Team UK member Keith Chapman, who competed at WorldSkills Shizuoka 2007, said he had not only had the most fantastic experience of his life but as a result his people skills and confidence had grown greatly.

His advice to Team UK 2009 was to "stay focused, concentrate, stay motivated and pay attention to detail because detail means points and points mean medals".

The full team going to WorldSkills Calgary is as follows:

Aircraft Maintenance
Stewart Wright from Peterborough.

Autobody Repair
Daniel Cain from Grimsby

Automobile Technology
Dean Jones from Swansea

Beauty Therapy
Charlotte Burford from Penkridge

Bricklaying
Sam Fairgrieve from Leicester

Cabinet Making
Luke Griffiths from Chichester

Car Painting
Zak McLaughlan from Denham

Carpentry
Cliff Williams from Talley

CNC Milling
Christopher Coates from Wilmslow

Confectioner / Pastry Cook
Alistair Birt from Hillingdon

Cooking
Adam Smith from Orpington

Electrical Installation
Richard Sagar from Langholm

Electronics
Melanie Adam from St. Albans

Floristry
Joe Massie from Liverpool

Hairdressing
Linzi Weare from Coleford

IT PC and Network Support
Hugo Landau from St. Albans

Jewellery
Adam Claridge from Robertsbridge

Joinery
Trevor Woods from Lack

Landscape Gardening
Luke Denby from Skipton
William Gadd from Bury St. Edmunds

Mechanical Engineering Design CAD
Martin Eusebi from Glasgow

Painting and Decorating
Mark Nevin from Livingstone

Plumbing and Heating
Christopher Lonsdale from Bishop Auckland

Restaurant Service
Katie Watson from Hamilton

Stonemasonry
Oliver Clack from Chichester

Web Design
Richard Edwards from Milton Keynes