Eleven Welsh organisations have won the right to ‘Showcase’ at the world’s largest international skills competition, the Deputy Minister for Skills, Jeff Cuthbert has announced.
Ten colleges and mid Wales based Cambrian Training have all been successful in their bid to gain Showcase status at international Worldskills event which is taking place in London’s ExCeL Centre between the 5th and 8th October 2011. It is the first time the event has been held in the UK for over twenty years.
The Showcasing will range from building a traditional Yurt (Coleg Harlech), professional boatbuilding (Pembrokeshire College) to a masterclass in Welsh butchery skills (Cambrian Training Company). Coleg Menai will deliver three showcases; the only Welsh organisation to do so. Other successful colleges include: Coleg Gwent, Coleg Glan Hafren, Coleg Llandrillo, Coleg Morgannwg, Deeside College, Coleg Sir Gar and The College Ystrad Mynach.
The event, which will see young people from across the globe competing to be the best of the best in their chosen field, is expected to attract 1,000 competitors from over 50 countries – competing in 46 separate skills competitions – and a massive 150,000 visitors.
The job of the Showcasing organisations is to inspire the visitors and competitors and help them to consider a wide range of possibilities for their future jobs and careers. Visitors can also ‘Have a Go’ at hundreds of different skills and get expert information, advice and guidance
Speaking about the Welsh colleges’ success in securing showcase status, the Deputy Minister said:
“I understand that colleges and training providers from across the UK applied in their hundreds to gain international Showcase status at this event, so I am extremely proud that ten colleges and a work based training provider from Wales have been selected.
“With this number of Welsh providers Showcasing, we are certainly punching above our weight and this is an excellent endorsement not only of the high quality of provision here in Wales, but also of our determination to engage with, and learn from education systems from around the world.”
The successful eleven have been assessed by both a Welsh and UK wide panel to ensure they comply with the high standards required for the Worldskills event.
Come October they will all be put under the spotlight when they stage a highly visual, entertainment-led programme of displays, workshops and demonstrations.
The Colleges will also highlight and promote a diverse range of skills from boat building to musical theatre, from culinary arts to woodcraft and from iron casting to creative industries.
Aidan Jones, Executive Director of WorldSkills London 2011, said:
“The huge range of Showcasing ideas that poured in from colleges across the UK is really impressive. With 150,000 visitors to the WorldSkills London 2011 Competition, the Showcase stages will demonstrate the widest range of skills that shape our world and be a really exciting part of the biggest, most inspirational and visual display of careers ever seen in the UK – all under one roof!”
With 46 skills on display ranging from fashion technology to mobile robotics, WorldSkills London 2011 is as varied as it is exciting and viewed by experts from around the globe as a highly prestigious event.
