Six months before the 2012 Olympic Games comes to London another global gathering will be taking place in our capital. Over 1000 competitors from across the world will be gathering to take part in the 42nd World Skills Competition taking place at the Excel Centre in October 2011.
The World Skills Competition is the biggest skills competition in the world and is held every two years for young people aged under 23 in over 40 vocational categories ranging from cabinet making to web design. Much like the Olympic and Paralympic Games competitors win gold, silver and bronze medals to show that their global achievement, the competition is also the culmination of a number of years of training, commencing with local, national and international skills competitions before competitors are selected to be part of the Team UK squad for the World Competition. Each individual competitor who is part of the UK squad has their training overseen by a training manager, a volunteer professional generally a skilled individual with an industry background or a tutor or lecturer from Further or Higher Education.
At the last World Skills Competition in Shizouka, Japan Buckinghamshire played its part in helping Team UK claim its only Gold medal in a craft which the county has a fine heritage. Peter Legg a former lecturer at Bucks New University was the training manager to Gary Truddenham from Cumbria who took the top prize in the Cabinet Making competition. Peter, who has been involved in World Skills for over 20 years said, “WorldSkills gives competitors a wonderful experience of life, together with the acquisition of top quality skills to move forward with their careers."
23 year old Will Torrent, a Confectionary & Pastry Chef from Iver in Buckinghamshire claimed a Medallion of Excellence at the Shizouka Games and is already looking to help pass on his skills and experience to the next wave of competitors as an Assistant Training Manager for the 2009 World Skills Competition taking place in Calgary. Also representing Buckinghamshire in Calgary will be Car Painter Zac Mclaughlan from Denham and Confectioner Alastair Burt who works in Burnham.
Much like the Olympic & Paralympic Games the whole selection process for the World Games is a lengthy process and potential competitors looking to represent the UK in 2011 need to start their registration process now. Initial applications for competitors need to be submitted by April 9th, so if you are interested in participating either as a competitor or through helping pass on your skills as a training manager visit www.ukskills.org.uk or telephone 0800 6120742
Ian Barham
Buckinghamshire Manager for the 2012 Games