Jonathan prepares for ultimate test

7 November 2007

Jonathan Lloyd, from Newtownabbey, is about to embark on the journey of a lifetime as he boards a flight bound for Japan to compete in WorldSkills 2007.

The apprentice car painter, who works for Isaac Agnew Car Repair Centre, will be part of a team of 22 talented individuals heading to the WorldSkills Competition to represent the United Kingdom at the world’s most prestigious skills event.

WorldSkills is an international skills competition held every two years, where 48 member countries meet and compete in 40 different vocational skills including Beauty Therapy, Web Design, Cabinet Making, Floristry and Engineering. This intense four day event takes place from 15 -18 November in Shizuoka, in the foothills of Mount Fuji, Japan. At least 200,000 spectators are expected to attend the competition, where Jonathan will be taking part in the car painting event.

The UK team was selected in March following a series of play-off events designed to find the UK’s star performers. Since then, Jonathan has been hard at work training to ensure that he can deliver an award-winning performance at the competition.

Employment and Learning Minister, Sir Reg Empey, congratulated Jonathan on his achievements to date and added:  “Northern Ireland apprentices have a proud history of competing in the WorldSkills competition and it is clear that competing at the highest level builds the skills and confidence of competitors, leading to better career prospects and personal development.  Jonathan has proven to date that he is among the best in the United Kingdom at his chosen trade and through his achievement he is an ideal ambassador for vocational education and training.”

Commenting on the importance of these competitions, Sir Reg added:  “Whilst our performance in skills competitions has been very good, we cannot be complacent. There is a growing sense that we need to continue to raise our standards and aspirations.  WorldSkills has the potential to take us beyond the demonstration of competence in vocational education and to create a culture of skills excellence as the norm.”

The last WorldSkills competition took place in 2005 in Helsinki, Finland and saw Andrew Blair, an auto body repairer from Belfast, bring home a Gold Medal. Andrew had this advice for Jonathan: “Competing at the WorldSkills Competition is the chance of a lifetime, so Jonathan needs to stay focussed, remember everything he has been taught, and above all enjoy it!”

The 2007 competition is a crucial milestone on the road to WorldSkills 2011, when the event will be held in London. In preparation for hosting this high-profile international competition, UK Skills is working with a number of partners in both the public and private sectors to ensure that both the event itself, and the UK team, deliver award-winning performances in 2011.

The UK WorldSkills team is managed by UK Skills working in partnership with the Department for Employment and Learning, Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills, the Scottish Executive, the Welsh Assembly Government and key partners from education, government and industry.

NOTES TO EDITORS:

  1. The WorldSkills Competition is the biggest skills competition in the world and is held every two years in one of its member countries.  It sets world class standards in over 40 skill categories ranging from Cabinet Making to Web Design.
  2. Over four days of competition, young people drawn now from 48 member nations test themselves against tough international standards.  The ultimate prizes are Gold, Silver and Bronze medals.  
  3. Locations of previous and future WorldSkills competitions
    2003: St. Gallen, Switzerland
    2005: Helsinki, Finland
    2007: Shizuoka, Japan
    2009: Calgary, Canada
    2011: London, UK
  4. UK Skills is a not-for-profit organisation which champions skills and learning for work through competitions and awards.
  5. The organisation was established in 1990 with the primary purpose of raising skill levels in the UK through skills competitions and managing the UK team which competes in the WorldSkills Competition. In recent years they have widened the scope of their operations to include management of the National Training Awards and organising of other skills related events.
  6. Media queries to the Department for Employment and Learning Press Office on 028 9025 7872.
  7. Out of office hours please contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 07699 715 440 and your call will be returned.