Press Release
backUK Skills launches WorldSkills, UK Alumni Awards
November 12, 2009
UK Skills today (Thursday 12th November) launched the annual WorldSkills, UK Alumni Awards, sponsored by independent education foundation Edge.
The awards were launched at a glittering ceremony held at the BFI London IMAX cinema to celebrate gold medallists from this year’s WorldSkills UK competitions. Run annually these competitions aim to encourage young people and adults across the UK to excel in their vocational skill area.
Open to all of those who have represented the UK as part of Team UK at WorldSkills, the international skills competition, the UK Alumni Awards aim to recognise those who continue to make a significant contribution to skills and practical learning. There are two categories:
• Most Valuable Contribution to Skills and Practical Learning - by a former Team UK Competitor
at the international WorldSkills Competition
• Outstanding Achievement - by a former Team UK competitor at the international WorldSkills
Competition
Andy Powell, Chief Executive of Edge said: “Edge believes that there are many paths to success and is dedicated to raising the stature of practical and vocational learning in the UK. We’re therefore very proud to be premier supporter of the WorldSkills Alumni. There are so many ways that these talented people who’ve competed internationally at WorldSkills can use their expertise and experience to inspire and nurture others.
The aim of the Awards is to both encourage and recognise the hugely positive contribution that can be made by past competitors to promoting practical learning in the UK. We’re very much looking forward to celebrating the first of these winners’ achievements next year.”
Simon Bartley, Chief Executive, UK Skills added: “From speaking with past competitors, we have found that that many still play a very active role in contributing to the teaching and promotion of skills and we wanted to recognise this officially. The launch of these annual awards allows us to do just this and highlight how taking part in skills competitions not only benefits your immediate future but can shape the development throughout your working life. We are extremely grateful to Edge for their support of this initiative and more generally the work of UK Skills.”
Entrants can apply directly or be nominated by friends, work colleagues, UK Skills and Edge.
For regular updates, please visit www.worldskillsukalumni.org.uk
- Ends -
For more information, please contact:
Kate Moloughney – UK Skills - 0207 429 2827
kate.moloughney@ukskills.org.uk
NOTES TO EDITORS:
*For a full list of competitions, please visit www.worldskillsuk.org
About WorldSkills UK
• WorldSkills UK is the name for the UK’s premier set of skills competitions. These competitions are open to all ages.
• Competitions run every year in around 70 skills within these five main sectors:
Built Environment
Cultural and Creative Arts
Engineering
Information Technology and Business Administration
Professional, Social, Public and Hospitality Services.
• In 2008, over 3,500 people registered to enter a WorldSkills UK competition.
• Outstanding WorldSkills UK national finalists may be considered for inclusion in Squad and Team UK and a large proportion of the International competitors that represent the UK at WorldSkills come through the WorldSkills UK competition framework.
• For most competitions, this is the last opportunity to enter to be in with a chance of competing at WorldSkills London 2011. For a comprehensive list of relevant competitions please visit www.worldskillsuk.uk.org
About the WorldSkills Competition
• The WorldSkills Competition is the biggest international skills competition in the world, and is organised by WorldSkills International.
• Around 50 member countries send highly trained young people to compete in around 40 different vocational skills.
• The WorldSkills Competition happens every two years and the scale of the event is unrivalled with over 1000 competitors taking part.
• Young people are tested against tough international standards over the four day event, whilst their progress is watched by hundreds of thousands of visitors.
• The UK will host the next WorldSkills Competition to be held from 5th-8th October 2022 at ExCeL, London.
About UK Skills www.ukskills.org.uk
• UK Skills, a not for profit organisation, manages the delivery of innovative, high profile competitions and awards which showcase excellence and demonstrate how exceptional performance improves individual and organisational success.
• Established in 1990, UK Skills works to raise the profile of skills in the UK and oversee the UK’s premier set of skills competitions, WorldSkills UK.
• UK Skills also manages the UK team entry to WorldSkills, the biggest skills competition in the world. Most recently UK Skills spearheaded the bid to bring WorldSkills to London in 2011. WorldSkills London 2011 will be a truly global showcase for skills and young people from across the world.
• UK Skills also manages the National Training Awards which celebrate exemplary training in the workplace; from coordinating the awards famously robust judging processes to organising celebration events across the UK, UK Skills works on behalf of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills to shine a spotlight on those who have made a difference to their organisation through training.
About Edge
www.edge.co.uk
• Edge is an independent education foundation. It is dedicated to raising the stature of practical and vocational learning, so that all young people have the opportunity to achieve their potential, and the UK’s future workforce is equipped with the skills to be successful in the modern economy. Edge believes that ‘learning by doing’ is as important as academic learning, and that there are many paths to success.
