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. From Northern Ireland, five students from the region are set to take part in Skills Olympics. This includes Isaac Bingham, a past carpentry apprentice from Southern Regional College in Newry. Isaac has previously seen glory at WorldSkills UK taking home the gold medal and will be keen to capitalise on this success in Lyon.
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.
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.
“I couldn’t be prouder of Isaac Bingham and all 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.”
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!"
Lindsay Bronte, Organisation Development Manager at Southern Regional College added:
“I am absolutely delighted that Isaac has been selected to represent the UK in Lyon 2024. Isaac’s talent was evident at an early stage of his studies with the college and that talent combined with his dedication, enthusiasm and commitment to self-improvement has been rewarded with this recognition. I wish him well for what will be an intense period of preparation over the next few months and event itself in September”
WorldSkills Lyon 2024, the 47th WorldSkills Competition, will take place from 10-15 September.