This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Worldskills 2011
20/04/2006
Businesses across Scotland were today urged to add their support to a UK-wide bid to host an international skills competition in 2011.
Held every two years, Worldskills bring together hundreds of young people aged 18 to 22 from more than 40 countries to compete in skills ranging from engineering and IT to carpentry and cooking.
The UK is bidding against Australia and Sweden to host the four day event. If the bid is successful, Scotland will be given an opportunity to host one of these days, providing a window to showcase the country's skills and know-how on a world stage.
Deputy Enterprise and Lifelong Learning Minister Allan Wilson was speaking following his attendance today at a business reception held by the Lord Mayor of London to encourage firms across the UK to get behind the Worldskills bid.
He said:
"The skills and knowledge of our people are absolutely vital to Scotland's future economic success. We are ambitious for our young people, who are the future drivers of our economy, and want to excite them about learning and the world of work.
"Determined to Succeed, our strategy for enterprise education, is ensuring that every schoolchild can get the opportunity to develop a 'can do, will do' attitude.
"Beyond school, our highly successful Modern Apprenticeship programme is enabling more than 34,000 people to combine work experience with training.
"Bringing Worldskills to the UK would provide a fantastic opportunity to inspire Scotland's young people to medal success and to consider the benefits of vocational education and training.
"I want to see Scotland play an active part not only in 2011 but in events leading up to the competition itself.
"The support of business and training providers will be crucial in this. We need companies of all sizes to come on board, both as sponsors and in helping develop our young people to compete with the rest of the world.
"By coming forward and showing their support, businesses can help shape Scotland's future workforce."
Worldskills is the largest event of its type in the world. Last year's event took place in Helsinki with Japan playing host in 2007 and Canada in 2009.
The successful bid for the 2011 Worldskills will be announced in Melbourne in May.