Employers should increase their financial support for international skill competitions, according to the chief executive of the Institute for Apprenticeships.

Speaking with Tes at EuroSkills 2018 in Budapest, Sir Gerry Berragan said he knew that WorldSkills UK was finding its level of government funding to be tight, and that he “would like industry and business to sponsor this”.

“This is a way to showcase their people and to also showcase their products. So I would like to see more of that,” he added.

Team UK ‘punching above its weight’

Sir Gerry said the UK had “punched above its weight” in previous international skill competitions, having secured top-10 positions at EuroSkills in Gothenburg in 2016 and WorldSkills in Abu Dhabi last year.

He stressed that the UK was excelling at a number of skills: “We are really good on technology and in a number of other areas - we really can do some of those skills here.”

Supporting Team UK’s young competitors was important, he added. 

“I came to the Skills Show [now known as WorldSkills UK Live] within a week of taking over the job, and saw the skills of the competitors,” said Sir Gerry. “So, when I was asked if I wanted to come [to Budapest], I felt it was important. It is really important that the young people feel they are being supported.”