Wednesday, 15 December 2010 00:00 The UK's EuroSkills representatives have returned home with an impressive haul of 17 medals – including seven gold medals and three Medallions for Excellence.

Nearly 500 young people from 27 countries competed for medals at the competition – including 20 representatives from the UK.

EuroSkills, which this year took place in Lisbon, aims to raise the profile of vocational education and training in European countries.

The UK skills squad competed in 16 skills disciplines during the two day competition, which is seen by many as a warm up to next year's WorldSkills competition in London.

FE Minister John Hayes was on hand to offer his congratulations to the UK squad.

"I congratulate the UK competitors for their hard work and talent. These inspiring young people have demonstrated to everyone across Europe that the UK stands for excellence in skills"," said Mr Hayes.

The UK's seven gold medals were won in disciplines ranging from hairdressing to landscape gardening design, and the three Medallions for Excellence – which are awarded to those competitors who demonstrate that they have surpassed the European benchmark in their skill area – were awarded in the cooking and the cook and serve multi-skill categories.

Elsewhere, silver and bronze medals were won by the UK team in categories including fashion technology, welding, landscape gardening installation, farriery, stonemasonry and mobile robotics.

Reiterating the importance of skills training for the UK, Mr Hayes continued: "It's more important than ever that we continue to build the skills of our workforce, helping individuals find employment and succeed at work, and ensuring businesses stay competitive.

"That is why this Government is reforming and strengthening the skills system, including through an expanded Apprenticeship programme, to deliver the high level training that will drive growth."

Medals were won by the following UK competitors:

 

GOLD

• Mechanical Engineering CAD: Ryan Sheridan (19) from East Kilbride, Scotland who is a student at Motherwell College. Ryan is a member of Squad UK for WorldSkills London 2011.

• Landscape Gardening Multi Skill Team: Keith Chapman (24) from Richmond, Yorkshire, Grant Finch (19) from Scarborough, Yorkshire and Oliver King (21) from Woodbridge, Suffolk. Keith Chapman and Grant Finch are both City & Guilds qualified. Grant and Oliver are members of Squad UK for WorldSkills London 2011.

• Landscape Gardening Design: Keith Chapman (24) from Richmond, Yorkshire who is self employed and is City & Guilds qualified.

• Hairdressing: Linzi Weare (20) from Gloucester, who works for Reds Hair Company.

• Window Display: Kirsty Hoadley who is studying at East Berkshire College and Hannah Cook who is studying at University of Glamorgan.

SILVER

• Fashion Technology: Rory Andrew (19) who studies at North Glasgow College and Marcus Wernitznig (19) who studies at New College Nottingham. Rory and Marcus are members of Squad UK for WorldSkills London 2011.

• Farriery: Jackie Campbell, (19) from Newmiln, Scotland, who studied at Myerscough College.

• Welding: Danny Broadbent, (21) from Grimsby who works for Alstom Thermal Services. Danny is City & Guilds qualified and a member of Squad UK for WorldSkills London 2011.

• Landscape Gardening Installation: Grant Finch (19) from Scarborough, Yorkshire who is studying at ABC Landscape Academy and Oliver King (21) from Woodbridge, Suffolk who is studying at Otley College. Both are members of Squad UK for WorldSkills London 2011. Grant Finch is City & Guilds.

BRONZE

• Stonemasonry: Chris Berridge (21) from Crewkerne, Somerset, who works for Ham Hill Masonry Works and is City & Guilds qualified. Chris is a member of Squad UK for WorldSkills London 2011.

• Mobile Robotics: Puja Varsani (21) and Darren Lewis (21) who are both studying at Middlesex University. Puja and Darren are both members of Squad UK for WorldSkills London 2011.

MEDALLION FOR EXCELLENCE

• Cooking: Ben Murphy (20) from Hendon, London, who is a student at Westminster Kingsway College and is City & Guilds qualified. Ben is a member of Squad UK for WorldSkills London 2011.

• Cook and Serve Multi Skill: Ben Murphy (20) from Hendon, London and Ben Hare (19) from Solihull, who is a student at University College Birmingham. Both are members of Squad UK for WorldSkills London 2011.

Click on the image below to see a short video of the Landscape Gardening Gold Medal team, including Gold Medal winner Keith Chapman for Landscape Garden Design, building the UK Skills landscaped garden at the Chelsea Flower show. Mr Chapman was part of a wider team building the garden (his interview is at 2:15 mins):

Mark Astley