Special Features - All skilled up

The UK offers some of the best vocational training in the world.

All skilled up
(14/12/07)

The UK has a glowing reputation for its academic education. Many people don't realise that the same applies to its vocational schooling.

The WorldSkills 2007 results - one of the biggest vocational skill competitions in the world - are a classic example of this fact.

Medals and medallions of excellence

The UK team - made up of 22 highly-talented young people - won four medals and nine Medallions of Excellence in the contest held in Shizuoka, Japan, in November.

Forty-nine nations - around 800 contestants - entered the gruelling four-day competition. Categories included landscape gardening, graphic design, hairdressing and beauty therapy.

Eleventh in the world

The team battled it out in 21 categories and was awarded the overall result of 11th in the world - fourth in Europe - an improvement on last year's world position of 12th. Some of the winners included:

Gary Tuddenham, 22, who won gold in cabinet making;
Harry Smith, 22, who won silver in graphic design;
Simon Noble, 21, who won bronze in auto body repair;
Jonathan Lloyd, 21, who won bronze in car painting.

Jade Kidd, 19, a skilled beauty therapist, was among the nine Brits who picked up a Medallion of Excellence.

World-class levels

John Denham, Secretary of State for the Department of Innovation, Universities and Skills, commented on the wins. He said: "WorldSkills is about raising the status and the standards of vocational education. What this year's team has done epitomises that. Forty-nine nations competed highlighting how essential these skills are globally.

"For our team to have achieved such great results proves we have skills in this country at world class levels. This team is helping to break down the snobbery around skills training - there is nothing second best about good skills-based careers."

All eyes on London

This year marked the 39th WorldSkills Competition, which is held every two years. In 2011, London will be hosting the event, a year ahead of the Olympics in 2012.

Vocational education in the UK has had a new lease of life over the past few years with many schools, colleges and businesses offering a wide variety of courses.

For those interested in knowing more about this type of education in the UK, check out the links below.