Julian Smith MP has met two constituents who are representing the UK at WorldSkills Abu Dhabi 2017, which is often referred to as ‘the Skills Olympics’. Alexander McCluskey and Jacob Parker have been selected for the national team in the manufacturing team challenge competition and will travel to Abu Dhabi to take part in the competition in October this year.
The WorldSkills competition in Abu Dhabi sees talented young people from 77 countries go for gold in 51 skills competitions, ranging from manufacturing to patisserie and jewellery to construction. WorldSkills UK is funded by the Department for Education, with the aim of bringing together industry, education and government to drive forward the standard of skills and apprenticeships for young people.
Julian Smith: ‘I was very impressed by Alexander and Jacob, and it is wonderful to see that our constituency has two representatives in the national team, out of a total of thirty four. The WorldSkills competition in Abu Dhabi draws the best competitors from across the globe and it is a fantastic achievement to make the UK national team.
‘Schemes like this show the benefit of Government and industry investment in improving the skills and apprenticeships that young people can access. We have some world-leading companies based in our region and they need talented young people like Alexander and Jacob if they are to continue to succeed in the future. I am very proud of what this Government has achieved with apprenticeships and it is excellent news that the Government will deliver three million more by 2020.
‘I wish Alexander and Jacob the best of luck for the competition in October and I know that they will do a fantastic job of representing our country.’
