Nine talented young people from Northern Ireland are counting down the days to the WorldSkills 2013 in July. WorldSkills, the skills equivalent of the Olympics, is the largest international vocational competition of its kind and will be held in Leipzig, Germany from July 4-7 this year.
The local apprentices will join 30 others from the UK to compete against over 1,000 young people from across the globe for the world title in 46 disciplines. Around 200,000 visitors are expected to attend.
Praising the local members of Team UK at a recent competitors’ event at CITB-Construction Skills NI, Employment and Learning Minister Dr Stephen Farry said: “Northern Ireland’s strong representation on Team UK is testament to the high standards of technical and professional training in our colleges. It is very telling that Northern Ireland, which accounts for less than 3% of the UK population, accounts for nearly 30% of Team UK.
“This is a wonderful opportunity for the young people to demonstrate to the world that Northern Ireland has a workforce with the high levels of skills and training required to compete in the global economy and meet the economic challenges which lie ahead.”
WorldSkills is held every two years in cities around the globe when those aged 18 to 25 compete for medals in over 40 different skill areas, ranging from electrical installation to health and beauty and from welding to cooking. Northern Ireland, with its nine competitors in the skills of wall and floor tiling, plastering and dry wall systems, joinery, carpentry, landscape gardening, autobody repair, car painting and mechatronics (mechatronics is concerned with mechanics, electronics and computer technology) which is a two person competition, has the highest number of team members of all the UK regions.
Ken Wilson, Team UK member in plastering and dry wall systems, said: “It is a huge honour to have been selected to represent the UK at WorldSkills Leipzig 2013. It still really hasn’t sunk in!
“I hope I can use this opportunity to do my best to demonstrate on a world stage the high level of skills that Northern Ireland has to offer. I also hope I can use this as an example to other young people how vocational training can lead to successful employment opportunities.”