Honda (UK) the latest sponsor to support Worldskills London and UK Worldskills

“

UK Skills is delighted to announce that Honda (UK) has become a WorldSkills London 2011 sponsor. The company has also pledged its support to the UK WorldSkills Team in 2009.

As an executive sponsor of the UK team, Honda has always been a keen supporter of the WorldSkills programme and was involved in the UK’s successful bid to host the event in London in 2011. Having already helped to train team members at its development centre, The Honda Institute, near Slough, Honda has confirmed its commitment to support the UK teams in 2009, and then in 2011 at the London event.

The WorldSkills Competition is the biggest skills competition in the world and is held every two years in one of its member countries. It sets world class standards in over 40 skill categories ranging from cabinet making to web design and automotive engineering.

Over four days of tough competition, young people from 51 member nations test themselves against tough international standards for the ultimate prizes of gold, silver and bronze medals.

Managing Director of Honda (UK), Ken Keir, commented: “Honda has a wholehearted commitment to encouraging young people to develop goals and aspirations, inspiring them to work hard to achieve these dreams. The Honda Institute, our state-of-the-art Centre of Learning, is responsible for creating passion and developing skills in over 10,000 people in Honda (UK)’s dealer network ““ encouraging, recognising and rewarding excellence in all our people.

“We see the same spirit in the young people who take the challenge to compete in WorldSkills, and Honda (UK) is thrilled to play a part in supporting WorldSkills 2011 in London”.

UK Skills CEO, Simon Bartley, commented: “This agreement cements what is an already strong relationship between UK Skills and Honda. Honda has been a committed supporter of recent WorldSkills competitions as well as the UK bid to host the competition in London. I am delighted to have Honda working with us in the lead up to WorldSkills London 2011.”

The UK Government has given the competition its support by agreeing to match external sponsors pound for pound for their contributions up to the estimated £22 million costs of running the competitions, while City & Guilds is already a Premier Partner. Festo have also pledged substantial in-kind sponsorship. Ufi learndirect are also a key sponsor.