Samuel Jones helped Team UK strike gold in Shanghai, winning the WorldSkills Refrigeration & Air Conditioning competition.
Team UK, the nation’s brightest young apprentices and professionals, were showered with medals as they triumphed in the city of Shanghai picking up two golds, one silver and three bronze medals at the ‘skills Olympics’.
A further 13 Medals for Excellence, denoting achieving world class standards, were awarded to the UK meaning medal recognition for 19 of the 25 skills Team UK competed in.
This is the strongest Team UK performance since 2017, when the event was held in Abu Dhabi, with Team UK 7th (of 68) in terms of average points scored.
The WorldSkills Finals, the World’s biggest and most prestigious skills competition drew to a close last night (Sunday September 27th), with a spectacular closing ceremony before a packed Mercedes Benz Arena.
Team UK is selected, trained and managed by WorldSkills UK.
Gold medals went to:
Chemical Laboratory Technology, Ruth Douglas, aged 21, from Banbridge, Northern Ireland, who works at Almac and attends Southern Regional College.
Refrigeration & Air Conditioning Samuel Jones, aged 21, from Ashton, near Wigan, who works for Industrial Cooling Equipment Ltd and attends PRTC, Burnley.
Silver medal went to:
Aircraft Maintenance, Elyot Harmston, (who has a BTEC), aged (23) from Biggleswade, Bedfordshire, who works for the Shuttleworth Collection maintaining historic aircraft
Bronze medals went to:
Car Painting, Oisin McKerr, aged 21, from Lurgan, Northern Ireland, who works for Porters Body Shop and attends Southern Regional College.
Beauty Therapy, Neve Dunn, aged 20, from South Shields who works for Crown Hair and Beauty and attends Tyne Coast College.
Additive Manufacturing (3D Printing), Oliver Coombs (who has a BTEC), aged 20, from Bath, who works for BIMTek and attends Bath College.
Medals for Excellence (which denotes achieving worldclass standards) went to:
Mechatronics Liz Hopkinson, aged 23, from Alfreton, Derbyshire and Emily Bettridge, aged 23, from Nottingham, who both work for Toyota.
CNC Milling, Tomas Ankers (who has a BTEC), aged 19 for Wrexham, who works for Electroimpact and attends Coleg Cambria.
Plumbing & Heating, Andrew McCann, aged 21, from Aughnacloy, in Northern Ireland, who works for AMC Plumbing & Heating and attends South West College.
Autobody Repair, Joe Wilton, aged 20, from Ballymena, Northern Ireland (who has a BTEC) who works for SDM Paintwork and 20, who attends Riverpark Training.
Web Technologies, Finn Gallagher, aged 20, from Cardiff and attends Cardiff University.
Electrical Installation, Jonathan Gough, aged 22, from Waringstown, Northern Ireland, (who has a BTEC), who is self-employed and attends Southern Regional College.
Bricklaying, Joseph Shingler, aged 21, from Shrewsbury, who works for the Shingler Group and attends Shrewsbury College.
Painting & Decorating, Shelby Fitzakerly, aged 20, from Accrington, who works for SPAIN Building & Maintenance and attends Accrington and Rossendale College.
Hairdressing, Katie Sime, aged 21, from Drybrook, Gloucestershire, who works for Reds Hair Company.
IT Network Systems Administration, Charlie Priestley, aged 21, from Aberdeen, who works for North East Scotland College, and attends Robert Gordon University.
Industry 4.0, Caolan McCartan, from Newry and Patrick Sheerin, both aged 24, from Portadown, who both attend Southern Regional College.
3D Digital Game Art, Logan Cook, aged 21, from Newport who attends Coleg Gwent.
Renewable Energy, Madeleine Warburton,aged 20, from Ashby -de-la- Zouch, who is employed by RWE and attends GRWP Coleg Menai.
Ben Blackledge, CEO of WorldSkills UK said:
“This is a terrific set of results which everyone in the UK should be proud of.
“Each and every one of the team has put in a phenomenal effort – not just this week, but the three years that they have been in the process, competing, learning and evolving their skills throughout the process.
“Being part of this amazing international skills movement gives us the knowledge and expertise to help thousands of young learners across the UK prepare for the world of work.
“WorldSkills UK is liaising with the Government and the Milburn Commission about ensuring that more young people can benefit from involvement in WorldSkills UK’s competitions, locally, regionally and nationally to help tackle the rising number of NEETs.”
Minister for Skills, Baroness Jacqui Smith, who flew to China to cheer on the team, added:
“I couldn’t be prouder of Team UK – they have all worked so hard and been brilliant, just to get here.
“My message to team UK is we already know that you are brilliant now’s your opportunity to show the World.”
