Seven highly-talented young people from Northern Ireland have fought off stiff competition from across the UK to be selected as members of Team UK for WorldSkills London 2011.

Commending the seven on their achievements, Employment and Learning Minister, Dr Stephen Farry said: "Northern Ireland’s strong representation on Team UK is testament to the high standards of technical and professional training in our colleges. This is a wonderful opportunity for these young people to demonstrate to the world that Northern Ireland has a workforce with the high levels of skills and training required to compete in the global economy and meet the economic challenges which lie ahead.”

The overall team of 43 members representing 37 skills areas was announced last night by Minister of State for Further Education, Skills and Lifelong Learning, John Hayes MP, at the National Apprenticeship Awards at the Mermaid Theatre, London.

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Northern Ireland, with its seven competitors in the skills of bricklaying, wall and floor tiling, refrigeration and air conditioning, landscape gardening, CNC milling, and mechatronics which is a two person team, has the highest number of Team members of all the UK regions.

The Minister continued: "To be selected for Team UK is an amazing achievement and I wish each team member the best of luck with their training, and look forward to watching them take on the best in the world in October. Northern Ireland has a proud history of medal winners at WorldSkills and I am hopeful that this will continue at WorldSkills London."

The entire team will now spend the next three months preparing to take on the very best young skilled people from 50 nations at the largest international vocational skills competition in the world, WorldSkills London 2011, which takes place from 5-8 October 2011 at London’s ExCel Centre. At WorldSkills young people from across the globe compete to become the best of the best in their chosen skill. 150,000 visitors are expected to watch 1,000 competitors from 50 nations competing in 45 skill areas over four exciting days of competition.

The members of Team UK have been and will continue to be supported in their training by Edge, the independent education foundation, and Brathay Trust.

(GK/KMcA)