Andy Burnham says competitions are a brilliant way for young people to develop skills.
The UK’s top students and apprentices will be going for gold in Greater Manchester this autumn after the region was chosen to host the prestigious WorldSkills UK National Finals.
Nine venues – including Trafford College – will play host to over 50 finals with 500 competitors from all over the UK competing on 14, 15, 16 &17 November*.
From Hair & Beauty at Trafford College to aircraft maintenance at Wigan and Leigh College and the laboratory technician competition at the University of Manchester, via landscaping in Oldham and 3D digital game art at The Manchester College, young people across the region will have the opportunity to witness the spectacle and drama of the finals.
The celebration of world-class skills will culminate in the announcement of the winners at a glittering awards ceremony on Friday 17 November at The Bridgewater Hall.
James Scott, Principal and Chief Executive of The Trafford College Group, said:
“A focus on Skills Excellence has been at the heart of our approach in Greater Manchester for many years – with the FE Colleges working collaboratively on regional skills competitions for over a decade and contributing heavily to WorldSkills UK each year. For Greater Manchester to host the WorldSkills UK national finals this coming November is therefore a culmination of this endeavour and is well timed given the recent announcement of the Mayor’s transformational ambition towards creating a technical education city region. I am particularly proud that Trafford College will be hosting a number of categories in these finals. Our college is one of the pioneering WorldSkills UK Centres of Excellence, and for the last two years The Trafford College Group has held the record of the most WorldSkills UK registrations.”
– James Scott, Principal and Cheif Executive of The Trafford College Group
The news of the finals being held in Greater Manchester comes a week after Mayor Andy Burnham launched proposals for a Greater Manchester Baccalaureate (MBacc) to improve access to technical education courses in the region.
WorldSkills UK Interim CEO Ben Blackledge said:
“We are delighted to be bringing the National Finals to Greater Manchester this autumn. With 50 finals spread over nine venues there will be something for everyone.”
– Ben Blackledge, WorldSkills UK Interim CEO
As well as boosting young people’s personal skills and developing the skills that employers and the economy needs, events like the WorldSkills UK National Finals shine a light on the vital importance of high-quality skills to the UK and the vast talent and potential we have in the next generation.
Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham said:
“The WorldSkills UK competitions are a brilliant way for students and apprentices to develop their skills and push themselves to be the very best they can. We are working hard in Greater Manchester to create opportunities for young people to develop high-level technical skills. WorldSkills UK along with the idea of a Greater Manchester Baccalaureate for technical education are helping us achieve our ambitious plans to ensure young people in the city-region are given the tools they need to achieve their career aspirations.”
“We are all really excited that we will be welcoming students and apprentices from across the UK to showcase the very best of their skills and inspire young people in the region.”
– Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester
The competitions are a seven-month process including regional heats and intensive training before stepping up to the ultimate test of the National Finals in November. Young people are full of praise for the competitions with the vast majority (97%) of previous entrants saying taking part improved their technical skills and 93% saying they improved their personal and employability skills.
Designed by industry experts, the competitions even provide a salary boost. Research by Frontier Economics found that young people who have been involved with WorldSkills UK competitions earn around 60% more than their peers who have not taken part.