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 today among delegates from the 38 member nations of the organisation attending the WorldSkills Annual General Meeting in Melbourne.
WorldSkills is the largest skills competition in the world, with 40 countries participating.
Medals are won in skills areas ranging from hairdressing and beauty therapy to landscape skills and welding. Following the UK’s win, the competition will take place at ExCeL London between 6 and 9 October, 2011.
Education and skills secretary Alan Johnson said: “This is wonderful news. We now have a unique chance with the government, business and the education sector working closely together to raise the status of skills and vocational education dramatically and inspire a new generation of youngsters to take up good careers in all sectors of the economy.”
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Chris Humphries, chairman of UK Skills, the organisation which spearheaded the UK bid, said: “This is such an achievement for the UK. We now have the foundations to raise the profile of WorldSkills in the UK and at a global level.”
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