Saturday, 04 September 2010 13:22

With just over a year to go until WorldSkills London 2011, preparations for the world's biggest and best skills competition are ramping up with a 'taster' event running at skillscymru from 16th -18th September.

skillscymru, which takes place at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, will mark the start of a year-long programme of events and activities taking place across the UK in the run up to WorldSkills London 2011. skillscymru is being hosted by the Welsh Assembly Government, which is also a Partner of WorldSkills London 2011, as part of its commitment to raise skills levels throughout Wales with the aim of increasing national competitiveness and success in business.

Barry Liles, Principal at Coleg Sir Gâr and a WorldSkills Champion for Wales will be attending skillscymru. He said: "As a college, we will be showcasing the excellence achieved by some of our learners who have competed in national skills competitions. Taking pride of place in the showcase will be Cliff Williams, a carpentry student at the college who represented the UK in WorldSkills Calgary 2009."

Here at UK Skills, the WorldSkills London 2011 team are keen to encourage colleges to think about how they can get involved in WorldSkills London 2011. We also want people to think about how they can help to deliver skills-related events during the UK-wide, three-week celebration of skills planned for September-October 2011. Visitors to the stand at skillscymru will be able to find out more about WorldSkills and take part in a fun chocolate welding 'have a go' activity provided by the Institute of Welding.

Taking place from the 5th - 8th October 2011 at ExCeL London, WorldSkills London 2011 will showcase how skills shape our world. The event aims to be the catalyst that sparks the ambitions not just of competitors but of young people across the UK – showing them how every community and business in the UK thrives on skills, enterprise and inspiration and opening their minds to the possibilities their futures may hold. WorldSkills takes place every two years and WorldSkills London 2011, hosted by a subsidiary of UK Skills, will be the 41st WorldSkills Competition. The event will bring together 1,000 competitors from across the globe, watched by 150,000 visitors. The young people taking part will compete to become the best of the best in 45 different skills. At stake: the honour of being the greatest in the world at their chosen skills.

Looking forward to skillscymru, I encourage anyone in the region to visit the event. It is a great opportunity to meet individuals who are realising that in today's highly competitive and challenging economy, it is training of the highest quality that is needed to help them launch or progress their careers.

For more information visit the WorldSkills London 2011 website to register for updates. For more information on skillscymru click here.

Simon Bartley is chief executive of UK Skills, which champions learning through competitions and awards

 

Read other FE News articles by Simon Bartley:

A fresh look at careers advice

FE needs a new Apprenticeship framework

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