Stockport student to compete at Euro skills event in Sweden

Stockport College plastering and drywall student Reece Wilson, 19, has been confirmed as one of 19 British apprentices that will compete at Europe’s biggest skills competition in December.

The UK’s representatives for EuroSkills Gothenburg 2016, Europe’s largest skills competition, have been announced.

Team UK consists of 19 young people from 17 industries including Stockport College student and former Marple Hall High School student Reece. They will look to better the haul of three gold medals, six silver medals and three medallions for excellence that Team UK achieved at the most recent EuroSkills competition in 2014.

This year’s event, which will be held from 1-3 December in Gothenburg, Sweden, brings together Europe’s best apprentices under the age of 25 to compete in more than 35 different skill areas, from visual merchandising and window dressing to stonemasonry and beauty therapy.

Last year members of Team UK competing in the WorldSkills competition in São Paulo claimed three gold medals, four silvers, two bronzes and 24 medallions of excellence – and took the flagship prize for the best overall performance.

Apprentice Reece, who is employed by Stockport based firm Alan Allison, spoke of his selection with real excitement.

Reece said “I am really overwhelmed by the year I have had in competitions. Having won the Plasterers’ student of the year award in London, and winning the UK skills competitions to confirm a place in team UK at WorldSkills in Abu Dhabi 2017, I thought there was not much else to achieve.”

Reece added “To be given the opportunity to represent Stockport College, my employer, Stockport Town and the North West in Europe this December doing something I love is phenomenal To be selected as an individual for my talents in plastering and dry lining makes me feel very proud of my abilities. I am aiming to bring back gold from Gothernburg, nothing less.”

Skills minister Nick Boles said: “The young people who have earned a place on Team UK are worthy ambassadors and show the great things you can achieve with high-quality apprenticeships and technical training. I congratulate each and every member of Team UK and look forward to hearing about their performance at EuroSkills Gothenburg 2016.”

Peter Lauener, chief executive of the Skills Funding Agency and Education Funding Agency, said: “Year on year, I am constantly impressed with the quality of competitors that get through to the EuroSkills and WorldSkills competitions. They each demonstrate a huge amount of talent, a desire to succeed and a professionalism beyond their years.

“These young people are fantastic ambassadors for the importance of gaining the skills that employers are calling out for.”

Team UK for EuroSkills Gothenburg 2016:

• Reece Wilson
Skill: Plastering and drywall
Employer: Alan Allison
Training provider: Stockport College

• Seamus Goodfellow
Skill: Automotive technology
Employer: Ballinamullan Auto Repair
Training provider: South West College

• Isla McLarty
Skill: Beauty therapy
Employer: Experience Health and Beauty
Training provider: City of Glasgow College

• Angus Bruce-Gardner
Skill: Cabinet making
Employer: Waters and Acland
Training provider: Waters and Acland

• Ethan Davies
Skill: CNC milling
Employer: Electroimpact UK Ltd
Training provider: Coleg Cambria

• Danielle Scandone
Skill: Floristry
Employer: Moonflower
Training provider: Merrist Wood College

• Lucy Knight
Skill: Hairdressing
Employer: Lucy is the owner of Hair by Knight
Training provider: N/A

• Conor Willmott
Skill: Joinery
Employer: Paul Jackson Carpentry and Joinery
Training provider: West Suffolk College

• Will Burberry
Skill: Landscape gardening
Employer: Gardenscapes
Training provider: Merrist Wood College

• Adam Ferguson
Skill: Landscape gardening
Employer: Grassmaster NI
Training provider: College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise

• Betsy Crosbie
Skill: Mechanical engineering CAD
Employer: N/A
Training provider: New College Lanarkshire

• Sam Hillier
Skill: Mechatronics
Employer: Toyota Manufacturing UK
Training provider: Toyota Manufacturing UK

• Tom Revell
Skill: Mechatronics
Employer: Toyota Manufacturing UK
Training provider: Toyota Manufacturing UK

• Jordan Jeffers
Skill: Painting and decorating
Employer: Self-employed
Training provider: Southern Regional College

• Daniel Martins
Skill: Plumbing and heating
Employer: Briggs and Forrester
Training provider: EAS Mechanical

• Chloe Wills
Skill: Visual merchandising and window dressing
Employer: N/A
Training provider: London College of Fashion, University of the Arts London

• Nathan Jones
Skill: Web design
Employer: N/A
Training provider: Neath Port Talbot College

• Josh Peek
Skill: Welding
Employer: L&G Skilled Engineering
Training provider: Great Yarmouth College

• Toby Brook
Skill: Stonemasonry
Employer: Wells Cathedral Stonemasons
Training provider: Bath College