Team UK has achieved its best ever EuroSkills results at this year’s competition in Gothenburg, winning a total of five medals. The UK finished seventh in the final medal table for average points scored per competitor.

At the closing ceremony, its competitors were awarded two gold, one silver and two bronze medals. Welder Josh Peek and landscape gardenering duo Will Burberry and Adam Ferguson won golds, while Danielle Scandone claimed a silver in floristry. Ruth Hansom won bronze in the cookery competition, as did the team of Sam Hillier and Thomas Revell in mechatronics.

In addition, Dan McCabe was announced as the winner of the 3D games design competition - a demonstration skill showcased at EuroSkills for the first time, which has not been counted in the final medal table.

In addition, eight competitors have been awarded a medallion for excellence, which signifies that they have reached the highest European standards.

In the final medal table, the UK was ranked seventh out of the 28 countries taking part, calculated according to the average point score per competitor.

This year’s EuroSkills competition saw almost 500 competitors test their skills in 44 disciplines.

‘We are overjoyed’

WorldSkills UK chief executive Neil Bentley said:  “We are overjoyed. Our best ever performance - just at the moment when we really need it. This competition is a microcosm of how the UK is doing against economies across Europe. You can see us competing cheek by jowl against the French, the Dutch, the Germans, the Scandinavians and others. You can actually see what we are up against.”

He added:  “These young people are going back in to their workplaces and sharing that knowledge and experience - which helps businesses thrive and that’s what’s going to help businesses compete with others across the world. They are the future, the future of our economy, the future of our nation. They are going to help our economy grow.”

Team UK’s medal success

Gold:

Landscape gardening: Will Burberry (training provider - Merrist Wood College; employer - Gardenscapes) and Adam Ferguson (training provider - CAFRE; employer - Historic Royal Palaces)

Welding: Josh Peek (training provider - Great Yarmouth College; employer  - L&G Skilled Engineering)  

3D game design: Daniel McCabe (training provider - West Cheshire College)

Silver:

Floristry: Danielle Scandone (training provider - Merrist Wood College; employer - Moonflower)

Bronze:

Cooking: Ruth Hansom (training provider - Westminster Kingsway College; employer - The Ritz Hotel)

Mechatronics: Sam Hillier (training provider and employer - Toyota Manufacturing UK) and Thomas Revell (training provider and employer - Toyota Manufacturing UK)

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