China to host world's largest international skills competition
LONDON, April 16, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- They are the UK's finest young professionals, the future of our workforce, now they stand ready to compete on the world stage in a contest as intense, demanding and prestigious as any global sporting event.
Team UK has been officially announced for WorldSkills Shanghai 2026, the international competition known as the "Skills Olympics," where the world's most talented apprentices and young professionals go head-to-head in a high-stakes battle of skill, precision and innovation.
Selected, mentored and trained by WorldSkills UK, Team UK brings together a group of competitors at the very top of their fields. These individuals are among the most highly skilled young professionals anywhere in the world.
Competing against the best from over 80 countries, Team UK will showcase world-class expertise across a diverse range of disciplines, including renewable energy, 3D games design, car painting, health and social care, chemical laboratory technician, bricklaying and electrical installation. Each competition is a high-performance test of precision and endurance.
WorldSkills is globally recognised as the ultimate benchmark of skills excellence, where nations go head-to-head to prove their ability to power future industries and economic growth. This year's event in Shanghai is expected to attract more than 250,000 visitors, alongside government leaders, global employers and education experts.
Team UK's journey to this moment has been years in the making. Competitors have progressed through rigorous WorldSkills UK regional and national competitions, followed by intensive specialist training both in the UK and internationally. In the final months before Shanghai, Team UK will undergo further high-performance preparation to ensure they are ready to compete at the highest possible level.
Pearson, the lifelong learning company, is the official partner of Team UK for WorldSkills Shanghai 2026.
Ben Blackledge, Chief Executive, WorldSkills UK said: "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, said: "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 place from 22-27 September and will feature around 1500 young people taking part from over 80 countries.
Team UK - WorldSkills Shanghai
| Skill | Team UK | Hometown | Organisation | Training Manager |
| 3D Digital Game Art | Logan Cook (Holds BTEC qualification) | Newport, Wales | Coleg Gwent (Training Provider) | Paul Browne, Cheshire College - South and West |
| Additive Manufacturing | Oliver Coombs (Apprentice, holds BTEC qualification) | Bath | Bath College (Training Provider) BIMTek (Employer) | Bryn Jones, Grwp Llandrillo Menai |
| Aircraft Maintenance | Elyot Harmston (Apprentice, holds BTEC qualification) | Biggleswade, Bedfordshire | The Shuttleworth Collection (Employer) | James Callaghan, Royal Navy |
| Autobody Repair | Joe Wilton (Apprentice, holds BTEC qualification) | Ballymena, Northern Ireland | Riverpark Training (Training Provider) SDM Paintwork (Employer) | James Bown, self-employed |
| Beauty Therapy | Neve Dunn | South Shields | Tyne Coast College (Training Provider) | Hayley Huxtable, Beauty Therapy Consultant |
| Bricklaying | Joseph Shingler (Apprentice) | Shrewsbury | Shrewsbury College (Training Provider) The Shingler Group (Employer) | Stephen Chapman, Southern Regional College |
| Cabinet Making | Stanley Mackintosh (Apprentice) | Norwich | Rycotewood College (Training Provider) Bill Cleyndert and Company (Employer) | Christian Notley MBE, WorldSkills UK |
| Car Painting | Oisin McKerr | Lurgan, Northern Ireland | Southern Regional College (Training Provider) Porters Body Shop (Employer) | Richard Wheeler, Coleg Gwent |
| Chemical Laboratory Technician | Ruth Douglas (Apprentice) | Banbridge, Northern Ireland | Southern Regional College (Training Provider) Almac (Employer) | Michael Hughes, University of Manchester Deirdre Murray, Southern Regional College |
| CNC Milling | Tomas Ankers (Apprentice, holds BTEC qualification) | Wrexham, Wales | Coleg Cambria (Training Provider) Electroimpact (Employer) | Adam Youens, Coleg Cambria |
| Electrical Installation | Jonathan Gough (Completed apprenticeship, holds BTEC qualification) | Waringstown, Northern Ireland | Southern Regional College (Training Provider) Self-Employed | Mitchel Smith, NICEIC |
| Hairdressing | Katie Sime (Apprentice) | Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire | Reds Hair Company (Training Provider and Employer) | Linzi Weare, Reds Hair Company |
| Health and Social Care | Grace Longden | Macclesfield, Cheshire | Macclesfield College (Training Provider) Keele University (Training Provider) | Sau Man Li, JS Consultants |
| Industry 4.0 Industry 4.0 | Caolan McCartan (Completed apprenticeship) Patrick Sheerin (Completed apprenticeship) | Newry, Northern Ireland Portadown, Northern Ireland | Southern Regional College (Training Provider) Southern Regional College (Training Provider) A J Power (Employer) | Marcin Regulski, Wago UK & Ireland Marcin Regulski, Wago UK & Ireland |
| IT Network Systems Administration | Charlie Priestley | Aberdeen, Scotland | North East Scotland College (Training Provider and Employer) Robert Gordon University (Training Provider) | Nitheesh Kaliyamurthy, University of Wales Trinity Saint David |
| Joinery | Jamie Matthews (Apprentice) | Ballyclare, Northern Ireland | Northern Regional College (Training Provider) Mivan (Employer) | Andrew Pengelly, self- employed |
| Mechanical Engineering CAD | Stuart Lyons | Lanark, Scotland | New College Lanarkshire (Training Provider) Glacier Energy (Employer) | Andrew Beel, Howden |
| Mechatronics | Emily Bettridge (Apprentice) Liz Hopkinson (Apprentice) | Nottingham Alfreton, Derbyshire | Toyota Manufacturing UK (Training Provider and Employer) Toyota Manufacturing UK (Training Provider and Employer) | Calum Knott, Didactic Services Ltd |
| Painting and Decorating | Shelby Fitzakerly (Apprentice) | Accrington, Lancashire | Accrington and Rossendale College (Training Provider) SPAIN Building and Maintenance (Employer) | Mike Swan, Dundee and Angus College |
| Plumbing and Heating | Andrew McCann (Completed apprenticeship) | Aughnacloy, Northern Ireland | South West College (Training Provider and Employer) AMC Plumbing and Heating Services (Employer) | Ronnie Ferris, self-employed |
| Refrigeration & Air Conditioning | Samuel Jones | Ashton, Wigan | PRTC Burnley (Training Provider) Industrial Cooling Equipment Ltd (Employer) | Mark Forsyth, Coriolis International |
| Renewable Energy | Madeleine Warburton (Apprentice) | Ashby-de-la- Zouch, Leicestershire | Grwp Coleg Menai (Training Provider) RWE (Employer) | Chris Turnbull, Didactic Services Ltd |
| Restaurant Services | Yuliia Batrak | Llandudno, Wales | Grwp Llandrillo Menai (Training Provider) St George's Hotel | Dr Shyam Patiar, self- employed Ian Whitaker, Bean 2 Work CIC |
| Web Technologies | Finn Gallagher (holds a BTEC qualification) | Cardiff, Wales | Cardiff University | Val Adamescu, University of Portsmouth |
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/8bd1692f-a7c3-4f62-9870-11c783fcd47c
Further information from Dan Kirkby: dan@dkpr.co.uk
