Another UK Team achieves gold - 8 gold medals won at EuroSkills 2008
September 22, 2008
EuroSkills 2008 Team UK Winners -
EuroSkills 2008 Team UK microsite
EuroSkills is a new, pan-European, skills competition which was this year held from 18th-20th
September in Rotterdam, Netherlands. Watched by around 40,000 spectators, the 400 competitors from
29 countries competed in 25 different competitions covering 49 different vocational skills.
Team UK competed in six competitions: Automotive Technology Light Vehicle, Cleaning Services,
Farrier, Fashion, Hairdressing and Office ICT Team and achieved the following:
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Gold – won by the Cleaning Team - Kirsty Steel (21) from Halifax, West Yorkshire, Craig
Robinson (20) from Seaham, County Durham, Sandro De Nobrega (26) and Fabio Silva (22), both from
London
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Gold – won by the Farrier Team - Ben Casserly (21) from Uckfield, East Sussex and Ricky
Hilton (22) from Welshpool, Powys
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Gold – won by the Fashion Team - Hilary Wells (20) from Bishopton, Bristol and Victoria
Griffiths (22) from Somerset
- Gold – won by Sarah Terry (20) from Bishops Tachbrook, Leamington Spa, for Hairdressing
In addition, some EuroSkills competitions are marked individually and medals
presented to the highest scoring competitors. Team UK was awarded the following:
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Gold – Ricky Hilton, the highest scoring individual in the Farrier competition
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Silver – Ben Casserly, who achieved the second highest score in the Farrier competition
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Gold – Kirsty Steel, the highest scoring cleaning supervisor in the Cleaning competition
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Gold – Fabio Silva, the highest scoring cleaning manager in the Cleaning competition
- Gold – Craig Robinson & Sandro De Nobrega, the highest scoring cleaner operator team in the Cleaning competition
Simon Bartley, Chief Executive, UK Skills said: “EuroSkills is creating a new platform enabling
us to promote the incredible skills there are across Europe and to encourage skills development and
vocational education. What Team UK has done has proved that those skilled people live and work in
our own country and should be celebrated for their ability.”
Celebrity chef and Team UK supporter, Brian Turner, said: “It is easy to forget about, or
think less of, vocational education but without these skilled people so much of the things we enjoy
and take for granted every day – driving to work in your car, enjoying a clean office, eating in a
great restaurant for example - wouldn’t be possible. Skills will always matter to UK businesses and
the economy, so it is incredibly important that we encourage other people to choose this route and
praise those that work hard to achieve their very best in their chosen fields. I send my heartfelt
congratulations to the whole team on their success.”
Skills Minister David Lammy said: “Each of the young people in the team have worked hard to
earn the right to represent their country - and it was inspiring to see them competing against the
brightest and best from countries all across Europe. The results reflect the unprecedented
investment we have made in skills training in the UK, and I hope the success of Team UK will
inspire others to pursue excellence in their vocational skill.”
The UK EuroSkills team is managed by UK Skills, in association with partners from education,
government and industry. UK Skills is a not-for-profit organisation that exists to champion skills
and learning for work through competitions and awards, and organises the UK’s entry into
international skills competitions such as EuroSkills and WorldSkills. UK Skills is currently
recruiting a Team UK for WorldSkills 2009, which will be held in Calgary and is looking for
candidates to compete in WorldSkills London 2011, when the event will be hosted by the UK.
Team UK for EuroSkills 2008 is sponsored by Snickers Workwear which is providing the team
uniforms.
To find out more about the team’s success visit the
EuroSkills 2008 Team UK microsite.
- Ends -
Photography of the team in action at EuroSkills and individual team members are available on
request.
