UK apprentices are heading to Denmark in September, to compete against their European counterparts at
EuroSkills Herning 2025 — Europe’s largest skills competition takes place 9-13 September. Selected and trained in skills excellence by
WorldSkills UK, in partnership with
Pearson, the world’s lifelong learning company, the team will compete in a raft of skills disciplines. Team members have already been through months of competition and selection processes and now face the last crucial months of their intensive training programme for
EuroSkills Herning 2025.
Jacqui Smith, Minister for Skills, said: “Congratulations to all those chosen for the EuroSkills team, it is a fantastic achievement and a unique opportunity to showcase the strength of UK skills on the European stage. These young people represent the ambition and expertise being developed through our further education system, which is central to building a workforce fit for the future.
WorldSkills UK does vital work to raise standards and ambition across technical education.”
Team UK will compete in skills at the heart of the Government’s ambition to build 1.5 million homes and create new modern places of work. These skills include electrical installation, plumbing and heating, joinery, cabinet making and painting and decorating.
Supporting the Government’s drive to position the UK as an epicentre of excellence in engineering and manufacturing, Team UK will also compete in mechatronics, industry 4.0, electronics, mechanical engineering CAD, CNC milling, web technologies, graphic design and welding. The UK’s health, hospitality and lifestyle sectors will also be showcased on the European stage with Team UK participating in health and social care, hairdressing, cooking and restaurant service.
‘Skills Olympics’WorldSkills UK uses its participation in the EuroSkills competition to promote skills excellence across the UK and embed world class training standards.
EuroSkills Herning 2025 is also seen as crucial ‘litmus test’ to measure the UK’s readiness to compete on the global stage at the WorldSkills Competition. Known as the ‘Skills Olympics’, the next WorldSkills takes place in Shanghai, China in September 2026.
Ben Blackledge, WorldSkills UK chief executive, said: “We are so excited to be supporting and nurturing this fantastic group of young professionals as they head for Denmark to compete. They will be tested to the highest standards, showcasing the skills that global employers are looking for, and will return to the UK with the knowledge and experience that will turbocharge their careers. EuroSkills is ultimately a test of how internationally competitive UK skills are. It gives us the impetus to raise standards at home and help more young people get high quality jobs.”
Freya Thomas Monk, managing director of Pearson Qualifications, said: “We are incredibly proud to support this inspiring group of young people as they prepare for the
EuroSkills challenge this year. Celebrating the best of technical and vocational education and raising the prestige of the sector is very important to us. I wish Team UK the best of luck as they prepare to compete in Denmark in September."
Pearson is the official partner of Team UK for
EuroSkills Herning 2025 and
WorldSkills Shanghai 2026, following a successful partnership at
WorldSkills Lyon in 2024.