Team UK Squad for WorldSkills Lyon 2024 Announced
31 young people prepare to shine in their chosen career for Team UK at WorldSkills Lyon 2024
Following in the footsteps of our sporting Olympic stars, is a group of talented young apprentices and students who will compete at WorldSkills Lyon 2024, known as the ‘skills Olympics’.
Team UK will be heading for glory on the world stage in Lyon, France, just hours after the Olympic flame in Paris is dimmed.
All aged under 25, the members of Team UK will be competing, from 10 -15 September, in disciplines including cyber security, renewable energy, digital construction, cooking, hairdressing and painting and decorating.
WorldSkills UK, a four nations partnership between education, industry and UK governments, is responsible for selecting, mentoring and training Team UK. Pearson, the world’s leading learning company is the official partner of Team UK for WorldSkills Lyon 2024.
Just like their sporting counterparts, Team UK has been training hard for this once in a lifetime opportunity to represent their country in their chosen career. The UK has been taking part in the WorldSkills Competition since 1953 and the event is used by governments around the world, economists and global business leaders as a litmus test to measure preparedness to optimise future economic growth.
WorldSkills Lyon 2024 will host over 1500 young people from 65 countries, who will compete in 62 different skill disciplines.
Minister for Skills, Apprenticeships and Higher Education Luke Hall said:
“Best of luck to our remarkably talented competitors at this summer’s “skills Olympics”.
“WorldSkills is an excellent opportunity to prove on the global stage that we have built a world class skills and apprenticeship system. I am hoping for a podium sweep from our apprentices and students in Lyon.”
Ben Blackledge, Chief Executive, WorldSkills UK said: “WorldSkills Lyon 2024 – think Olympic Games – where the prize is the world-class skills that UK employers are crying out for.
“The UK’s participation in the ‘skills Olympics’ will provide vital insights to ensure we can develop our apprenticeship and training programmes, to make them truly world-class.”
“I couldn’t be prouder of the exceptional young people in Team UK; they are fantastic role models. Together with Pearson, we will use their participation at WorldSkills to boost the prestige of technical and vocational education, inspiring many more young people to take up technical and vocational training across the UK to help drive investment, jobs and economic growth.”
Freya Thomas Monk, Managing Director of Vocational Qualifications and Training at Pearson, said:
“Pearson shares many goals with WorldSkills UK – celebrating the best of vocational and technical education, raising awareness and the prestige of the sector and supporting young people to set benchmarks of excellence in their chosen fields.
“I hope the Team UK members take pride in the fact that their dedication and talent have rightfully earned them a place in this prestigious competition. The skills they have honed, and the standards they have worked so hard to reach, represent the very best our nation has to offer. Here at Pearson, we are cheering you on every step of the way.”
Max Whitlock OBE, Triple World and Olympic Champion Gymnast, Six-time Olympic Medallist and former BTEC student said:
“Huge congratulations to the remarkable ‘skills Olympians’ selected to represent the UK at the upcoming WorldSkills competition. Their passion and hard work will guarantee that UK skills will shine bright on the global stage this September. My support goes out to every member of Team UK as they prepare to take on the world in Lyon!”
WorldSkills Lyon 2024, the 47th WorldSkills Competition, will take place from 10-15 September.
Team UK, WorldSkills Lyon 2024
| Name | Skill | Training Provider | Employer | Hometown |
| Nathan Young | Mechanical Engineering: CAD | New College Lanarkshire University of the West of Scotland | n/a | East Kilbride, Scotland |
| David McKeown (Former apprentice) | Autobody Repair | Riverpark Training | James McKeown Accident Repair | Ballymena, Northern Ireland |
| Ruben Duggan (Former apprentice) | Plumbing and Heating | Coleg Y Cymoedd | Powerserv LTD | Manmoel, Caerphilly, Wales |
| Daniel Knox (Former apprentice) | Electrical Installation | South West College | GP Electrical and Security LTD | Enniskillen, Northern Ireland |
| Isaac Bingham (Former apprentice) | Cabinet Making | Southern Regional College | Monkeywood | Rathfriland, Newry, Northern Ireland |
| Oska Ready | Cooking | DN College Group | DN1 Delicatessen & Dining | Doncaster, England |
| Finley Graham | IT Network Systems Administration | City of Glasgow College Glasgow Caledonian University | n/a | Airdrie, Scotland |
| Edie Hanna (Completed BTEC in Health and Social Care) | Health and Social Care | Sheffield College Manchester Metropolitan University | n/a | Sheffield, England |
| Yasmin George | 3D Digital Game Art | City of Glasgow College Glasgow Caledonian University | n/a | Glasgow, Scotland |
| Kasia Gierek (Degree apprentice) | Chemical Laboratory Technology | Manchester Metropolitan University | Italmatch Chemicals | Warrington, England |
| Isabelle Barron | Digital Construction | Sheffield Hallam University | WSP | Clitheroe, Lancashire, England |
| Danny McBean (Former apprentice) | Renewable Energy | UHI Moray / SECTT | Grants (Dufftown) | Elgin, Scotland |
| Charlie Carson | Robot Systems Integration | Northern Regional College University of Ulster | n/a | Ballymoney, Northern Ireland |
| Jason Scott | Robot Systems Integration | Northern Regional College | AES Global | Magherafelt, Northern Ireland |
| Dior Regan (Apprentice) | Painting and Decorating | Lincoln College | Lindum Group | Lincoln, England |
| Michael Crilley (Apprentice) | Electronics | Gloucestershire Engineering Training | Custommade Group | Stroud, England |
| Alex Whitemore (Former Apprentice) | CNC Milling | Babcock International | Babcock International | Plymouth, England |
| Rosie Boddy (Former apprentice) | Aircraft Maintenance | Coleg Cambria | Coleg Cambria | Broughton, Flintshire |
| Mark Kiss | Web Technologies | United Colleges Group | n/a | London, England |
| Harry Scolding (Former apprentice) | Joinery | Solihull College | HDS Joinery | Solihull, England |
| Aaron Luker | Cyber Security | University of South Wales | SudoCyber Limited | Swindon, England |
| Max Clarke | Cyber Security | University of South Wales | Prolinx | Swindon, England |
| Oscar McNaughton | Additive Manufacturing | University of Wales Trinity St David | n/a | Vale of Glamorgan, Wales |
| Miguel Harvey (Former apprentice) | Car Painting | Steer (Stratford- Upon-Avon) | Steer (Stratford-Upon-Avon) | Stratford-Upon-Avon, England |
| Ruby Pile (BTEC in Hospitality Management) | Restaurant Services | Cardiff and Vale College | Lucknam Park Hotel and Spa | Newport, Wales |
| Luke Haile (Former apprentice) | Refrigeration and Air Conditioning | Eastleigh College | Lightfoot Defence | Lee-on-the-Solent, England |
| Mikhaela Rain Roy | Industry 4.0 | Middlesex University | n/a | London, England |
| Simonas Brasas (BTEC in Engineering) | Industry 4.0 | Barking and Dagenham College Kingston University | n/a | Kingston Upon Thames, England |
| Lucy Yelland (Apprentice, BTEC in Engineering) | Mechatronics | Tameside College | Siemens | Newcastle-Under-Lyme, England |
| Ben Love (Apprentice, BTEC in Engineering) | Mechatronics | Tameside College | Siemens | Astley, Greater Manchester, England |
| Charlotte Lloyd (Apprentice) | Hairdressing | Reds Hair Company | Reds Hair Company | Ross-on-Wye, England |
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