London aims to host 2011 World Skills competition
In a move which parallels London's successful bid to host the 2012 Olympics, UK Skills has today announced that it has a green light to submit a bid in March to host the 2011 WorldSkills Competition.
The Government has confirmed its support by pledging £11 million - half the £22 million required to host the event - if business sponsors and social partners also come on board. This partnership approach is widely seen as the key to success, as well as an important legacy for future competitions.
WorldSkills - organised by the international vocational training organisation of the same name - is the world's leading international vocational skills competition. Held every two years, it brings together hundreds of young people from the leading industrialised nations and developing countries to compete in 40 events ranging from engineering to beauty therapy, from confectionery to stonemasonry. In a parallel with the
Olympics, contestants compete for Gold, Silver and Bronze medals.
Andrew Blair, a panel beater from County Antrim, won gold in autobody repair at WordSkills 2005 in Helsinki. He said:
"Some people think that only people who did badly at school work in a garage. I hope my gold medal will show them they're wrong. It was great to represent my country and to beat off strong challenges from Japan and Korea proving that the UK is the world's best for autobody repair".
Announcing the UK bid Chris Humphries, Chair of UK Skills, said:
"Being involved with the world's premier skills event is of paramount importance to the UK as the opportunity to showcase UK skills and know-how. Skills competitions are being used increasingly as part of the strategy to drive up standards and raise the esteem of vocational training. Combined with our recent success in bidding for the Olympic Games there has never been a better time for the UK to stage WorldSkills."
UK Skills has won Government backing for the initiative. Skills Minister
Phil Hope said:
"I am very happy to be actively involved in developing a bid to host WorldSkills in London in 2011. The impact of WorldSkills on raising our skills performance in the UK could be huge. WorldSkills has the potential to change the way that we train, to build the reputation of our training providers and to touch the lives of many people for years to come."
Support has also been offered from Ministers in the devolved administrations in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
Chris Humphries is confident that the UK can win the right to host the 2011 competition, but more support is needed if the bid is to match the success of the London 2012 campaign.
He said:
"WorldSkills provides the opportunity for UK industry to shine on a prestigious international platform. But we need business to come on board. Hosting an event of this magnitude will not only require funding, but also the equipment, raw materials and consumables used by the competitors.
"I am delighted with the level of support that we have already received from the Mayor of London, education charity Edge, City & Guilds, Honda Institute, Festo Didactic GB and L'Oreal Professional, demonstrating their commitment to 2011 in London."
In January a panel from WorldSkills will visit London to assess its suitability for hosting the event. If approved by the panel, the bid will be put forward for consideration by the full WorldSkills Council.
The final decision will be announced in May 2006 in Melbourne after presentations by candidate countries.
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