LONDON, April 16, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — They’re the United Kingdom’s best younger pros, the way forward for our personnel, now they stand in a position to compete at the international level in a competition as intense, hard and prestigious as any world carrying match.
Group UK has been formally introduced for WorldSkills Shanghai 2026, the world pageant referred to as the “Skills Olympics,” the place the sector’s maximum proficient apprentices and younger pros pass head-to-head in a high-stakes struggle of ability, precision and innovation.
Decided on, mentored and skilled via WorldSkills UK, Group UK brings in combination a bunch of competition on the very most sensible in their fields. Those persons are a few of the maximum extremely professional younger pros any place on this planet.
Competing in opposition to the most productive from over 80 nations, Group UK will show off world-class experience throughout a various vary of disciplines, together with renewable power, 3-d video games design, automotive portray, well being and social care, chemical laboratory technician, bricklaying and electric set up. Each and every pageant is a high-performance take a look at of precision and staying power.
WorldSkills is globally recognised as without equal benchmark of talents excellence, the place countries pass head-to-head to end up their skill to energy long term industries and financial expansion. This 12 months’s match in Shanghai is anticipated to draw greater than 250,000 guests, along executive leaders, world employers and training professionals.
Group UK’s adventure to this second has been years within the making. Competition have stepped forward via rigorous WorldSkills UK regional and nationwide competitions, adopted via extensive specialist coaching each in the United Kingdom and across the world. Within the ultimate months sooner than Shanghai, Group UK will go through additional high-performance preparation to verify they’re in a position to compete on the easiest conceivable degree.
Pearson, the lifelong finding out corporate, is the reliable spouse of Group UK for WorldSkills Shanghai 2026.
Ben Blackledge, Leader Government, WorldSkills UK stated: “At a time when employers are sceptical about employing young people Team UK show just how important it is to have young professionals in the workforce. These young technicians have an incredibly valuable mix of world-class technical skills, impressive employability skills and a mindset to succeed. If we are serious about tackling the NEET challenge, we need to get more young people ready for work, and skills competitions are a proven way to improve engagement in training and work readiness.”
Freya Thomas Monk, Managing Director of Pearson {Qualifications}, stated: “Every member of Team UK has earned their place through exceptional dedication and commitment to their chosen fields, representing the very best of our nation’s talent. WorldSkills Shanghai is an opportunity to celebrate their vocational and technical expertise, and the skill, determination, and ambition it takes to set new benchmarks for excellence on the global stage. Pearson is proud to support Team UK as they take on this extraordinary challenge and inspire future generations to aim high and believe in their potential.”
WorldSkills Shanghai 2026 takes position from 22-27 September and can function round 1500 younger folks collaborating from over 80 nations.
Group UK – WorldSkills Shanghai
SkillTeam UKHometownOrganisationTraining Manager3D Virtual Sport ArtLogan Prepare dinner (Holds BTEC qualification)Newport, WalesColeg Gwent (Coaching Supplier)Paul Browne, Cheshire Faculty – South and WestAdditive ManufacturingOliver Coombs (Apprentice, holds BTEC qualification)BathBath Faculty (Coaching Supplier)
BIMTek (Employer)
Bryn Jones, Grwp Llandrillo MenaiAircraft MaintenanceElyot Harmston (Apprentice, holds BTEC qualification)Biggleswade, BedfordshireThe Shuttleworth Assortment (Employer)James Callaghan, Royal NavyAutobody RepairJoe Wilton (Apprentice, holds BTEC qualification)Ballymena, Northern IrelandRiverpark Coaching (Coaching Supplier)
SDM Paintwork (Employer)
James Bown, self-employedBeauty TherapyNeve DunnSouth ShieldsTyne Coast Faculty (Coaching Supplier)Hayley Huxtable, Good looks Treatment ConsultantBricklayingJoseph Shingler (Apprentice)ShrewsburyShrewsbury Faculty (Coaching Supplier)
The Shingler Crew (Employer)
Stephen Chapman, Southern Regional CollegeCabinet MakingStanley Waterproof coat (Apprentice)NorwichRycotewood Faculty (Coaching Supplier)
Invoice Cleyndert and Corporate (Employer)
Christian Notley MBE, WorldSkills UKCar PaintingOisin McKerrLurgan, Northern IrelandSouthern Regional Faculty (Coaching Supplier)
Porters Frame Store (Employer)
Richard Wheeler, Coleg GwentChemical Laboratory TechnicianRuth Douglas (Apprentice)Banbridge, Northern IrelandSouthern Regional Faculty (Coaching Supplier)
Almac (Employer)
Michael Hughes, College of Manchester
Deirdre Murray, Southern Regional Faculty
CNC MillingTomas Ankers (Apprentice, holds BTEC qualification)Wrexham, WalesColeg Cambria (Coaching Supplier)
Electroimpact (Employer)
Adam Youens, Coleg CambriaElectrical InstallationJonathan Gough (Finished apprenticeship, holds BTEC qualification)Waringstown, Northern IrelandSouthern Regional Faculty (Coaching Supplier)
Self-Hired
Mitchel Smith, NICEICHairdressingKatie Sime (Apprentice)Wooded area of Dean, GloucestershireReds Hair Corporate (Coaching Supplier and Employer)Linzi Weare, Reds Hair CompanyHealth and Social CareGrace LongdenMacclesfield, CheshireMacclesfield Faculty (Coaching Supplier)
Keele College (Coaching Supplier)
Sau Guy Li, JS ConsultantsIndustry 4.0
Business 4.0
Caolan McCartan (Finished apprenticeship)
Patrick Sheerin (Finished apprenticeship)
Newry, Northern Eire
Portadown, Northern Eire
Southern Regional Faculty (Coaching Supplier)
Southern Regional Faculty (Coaching Supplier)
A J Energy (Employer)
Marcin Regulski, Wago UK & Eire
Marcin Regulski, Wago UK & Eire
IT Community Programs AdministrationCharlie PriestleyAberdeen, ScotlandNorth East Scotland Faculty (Coaching Supplier and Employer)
Robert Gordon College (Coaching Supplier)
Nitheesh Kaliyamurthy, College of Wales Trinity Saint DavidJoineryJamie Matthews (Apprentice)Ballyclare, Northern IrelandNorthern Regional Faculty (Coaching Supplier)
Mivan (Employer)
Andrew Pengelly, self-employedMechanical Engineering CADStuart LyonsLanark, ScotlandNew Faculty Lanarkshire (Coaching Supplier)
Glacier Power (Employer)
Andrew Beel, HowdenMechatronicsEmily Bettridge (Apprentice)
Liz Hopkinson (Apprentice)
Nottingham
Alfreton, Derbyshire
Toyota Production UK (Coaching Supplier and Employer)
Toyota Production UK (Coaching Supplier and Employer)
Calum Knott, Didactic Services and products LtdPainting and DecoratingShelby Fitzakerly (Apprentice)Accrington, LancashireAccrington and Rossendale Faculty (Coaching Supplier)
SPAIN Development and Upkeep (Employer)
Mike Swan, Dundee and Angus CollegePlumbing and HeatingAndrew McCann (Finished apprenticeship)Aughnacloy, Northern IrelandSouth West Faculty (Coaching Supplier and Employer)
AMC Plumbing and Heating Services and products (Employer)
Ronnie Ferris, self-employedRefrigeration & Air ConditioningSamuel JonesAshton, WiganPRTC Burnley (Coaching Supplier)
Commercial Cooling Apparatus Ltd (Employer)
Mark Forsyth, Coriolis InternationalRenewable EnergyMadeleine Warburton (Apprentice)Ashby-de-la-Zouch, LeicestershireGrwp Coleg Menai (Coaching Supplier)
RWE (Employer)
Chris Turnbull, Didactic Services and products LtdRestaurant ServicesYuliia BatrakLlandudno, WalesGrwp Llandrillo Menai (Coaching Supplier)
St George’s Resort
Dr Shyam Patiar, self-employed
Ian Whitaker, Bean 2 Paintings CIC
Internet TechnologiesFinn Gallagher (holds a BTEC qualification)Cardiff, WalesCardiff UniversityVal Adamescu, College of Portsmouth
