Celebrating Success at WorldSkills Shanghai
It is both a privilege and a pleasure to stand before you today, extending a warm welcome to colleagues, partners, educators, family members, and especially Team UK here in Parliament.
This occasion serves as a wonderful opportunity to acknowledge your remarkable achievements at WorldSkills Shanghai. I recall meeting the team prior to the welcoming ceremony in Shanghai, where I sensed a few nerves about the challenges ahead. However, what struck me most was your exceptional preparation and readiness to excel.
Watching you all parade during the spectacular opening ceremony filled me with immense pride. You may have noticed my enthusiastic applause as you took centre stage. It truly was a magnificent spectacle, despite being slightly taken aback by the sight of robots performing alongside ballerinas! This indeed represents the future, and we are fortunate to have talents like Peter and Pratham to lead our advancements in robotics.
The Significance of Team UK’s Achievements
Your performance as a team was outstanding. Securing a spot in Team UK is no small feat; it embodies years of hard work, dedication, and resilience. In Shanghai, you showcased the pinnacle of UK technical and vocational education, competing against the most talented young individuals from around the globe and triumphing.
This year’s competition was particularly momentous, as Team UK delivered its best WorldSkills performance in nearly a decade. This achievement is a testament to your talent, determination, and professionalism, as well as to the robustness of the UK’s skills system.
Every competitor should take immense pride in their participation, regardless of the medals won. Success at WorldSkills transcends accolades; it embodies excellence, personal growth, and the honour of representing your nation on an international stage.
Acknowledging Support Systems Behind Success
It is essential to also recognise the countless individuals who contributed to your success. Your training managers and technical experts played a pivotal role, alongside the colleges, training providers, and universities that supported your journey. The employers who invested in nurturing your talents, as well as your families and friends, deserve commendation for their unwavering encouragement during the many months and years you dedicated to achieving excellence.
While medals are indeed commendable, WorldSkills encompasses much more than that. It provides a platform to evaluate ourselves against the world’s best, facilitating the adoption of international best practices and elevating standards across education, training, and industry throughout the UK. The skills represented by Team UK are crucial for our nation’s future, as they propel economic growth, foster innovation and productivity, and build the workforce required by our industries moving forward. By competing at this level, you are also inspiring future generations to pursue technical education, apprenticeships, and skilled professions.
Fostering International Collaboration
Recently, the Prime Minister highlighted the significance of prioritising technical and vocational education, and you exemplify that commitment. The event in Shanghai underscored the importance of international collaboration and learning. Following my recent visit, I am pleased to announce our continued collaboration with China, culminating in the UK-China Education Summit scheduled for 24 and 25 November 2026 in Beijing. This summit will facilitate the ministerial dialogue I initiated with my counterparts during my time in Beijing and Shanghai.
Engagements of this nature are vital to strengthening educational partnerships, sharing expertise, and creating future opportunities for collaboration.
Reflecting on Achievements
As we gather to celebrate today, I hope that every member of Team UK takes a moment to reflect on your accomplishments. You have represented the United Kingdom with distinction, demonstrating excellence on a global platform and securing Britain’s strongest WorldSkills result in almost a decade.
On behalf of the government, I extend my heartfelt gratitude for your achievements and for serving as exemplary ambassadors for UK skills. Congratulations once again to Team UK; you have certainly earned the right to revel in today’s celebration. Thank you.