Thorson explains how industry provided a legacy to educational establishments in Alberta through equipment that was used at the competition being introduced into the secondary and post-secondary education system, enabling trade and specialist skills training to learners.

He also discusses how industry in the region has become 'switched on' by skills competitions, and how businesses now see the events as a recruitment tool and a great way to encourage young people to consider careers in their vocational area. Skills Canada has made a very big push on advice and guidance at the competitions to enable young people to make informed decisions on their future career choices, he adds.

During WorldSkills Calgary 2009, over 50,000 young people across Alberta were transported into the competition. The legacy of this means Skills Canada is 'bursting at the seams' with requests from young people to get involved in their skills programmes, according to Thorson. This has to be very encouraging to our UK Further Education and Skills system, particularly when you take into account some 200,000 young people visited WorldSkills London 2011.