Yesterday, the 22 young people who make up Team UK touched down in Budapest, where today, this year’s EuroSkills competition will kick off with a glittering opening ceremony. Tes will be reporting live from Budapest, but while we wait for the competition to kick off, here is everything you need to know about EuroSkills Budapest 2018:
What is EuroSkills?
It is the European championships of young professionals, held every two years and alternating with the worldwide equivalent, WorldSkills.
What happens at EuroSkills?
Hundreds of young people compete in dozens of skills from floristry to mechanical engineering and plumbing. They are judged by experts from each competing nation and held to an international standard in their skill.
This year, competitors from 28 countries will compete in 37 official skills competitions and 29 so-called “try a skill” competitions - competitions where medals are awarded but they do not contribute to the overall medal table.
Who can take part?
Each country can enter one competitor or team per trade, and the upper age limit for competitors is 25.
Team UK is made of 22 young apprentices or college students from England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales. Many have trained for over two years and all have qualified through regional and national skills competitions.
When does the event take place?
EuroSkills Budapest kicks off this evening at 6pm UK time with the opening ceremony at Budapest’s Papp László Budapest Sportaréna. Competitions then start tomorrow morning at the city’s Hungexpo, and will conclude on Friday evening.
Is the event open to the public?
Yes, around 80,000 spectators are expected.
When will the results be revealed?
The medals will be announced in the Closing Ceremony, which will take place at Papp László Budapest Sportaréna from about 6.30pm UK time on Saturday evening.
What can we expect for Team UK?
Team UK will be hoping to equal or beat the great results of recent years. At last year’s WorldSkills competition in Abu Dhabi, Team UK came 10th in the final medal table - ahead of Germany, who came 12th. And at the last EuroSkills competition, Gothenburg 2016, Team UK came 9th, while Austria topped the medals table.
