The UK has won its bid to host the WorldSkills competition in London in 2011, beating off strong competition from Australia and Sweden.
Voting took place last week among delegates from the 38 member nations of the organisation attending the WorldSkills Annual General Meeting in Melbourne.
It is the world’s largest skills competition, with 40 countries participating.
Nine months before the Olympics start, WorldSkills contestants will compete for medals in areas ranging from hairdressing and beauty therapy to landscape skills.
The competition will take place at ExCeL London from 6 to 9 October 2011.