CarnaudMetalbox apprentices prepare for WorldSkills event
Abu Dhabi 2017 marks the next stage of competition for CMB apprentices Jake Green, Alexander McClusky and Jacob Parker. They are currently preparing to take on the world in the Manufacturing Team Challenge.
The team from CMB will join the nation’s elite young skilled women and men who have been selected to go for gold against the rest of the world, in a litmus test for the future of our economy. Successful Team UK members have beaten off the challenge from thousands of fellow and former apprentices and students to represent the UK at the WorldSkills Finals in Abu Dhabi from October (14-19).
32 talented skilled professionals will continue to undergo a rigorous regime of ‘Olympic style’ training in preparation for an intense week of competition. Skills represented range from aircraft maintenance and mechanical engineering, through to restaurant service and cyber security. WorldSkills Finals are held every two years when over a thousand competitors from more than seventy countries gather for four days of competition. This year’s final is seen as an important showing the world how well the UK will fare post Brexit. Homegrown skills will become ever more important as industries seek to reduce reliance on workers from the EU.
It will be a busy week for the team, with a schedule as follows:
- Team UK Send Off, Houses of Parliament, 10 October Each member of Team UK will be presented with a WorldSkills UK Enamel.
- Team UK, One School, One Country On Thursday 12 October, Team UK will take part in a cultural exchange programme with the Al Ezzah School in Abu Dhabi. The team will teach the students (primary age) about the UK and they will learn about Abu Dhabi
- Opening Ceremony, Saturday 14 October, 4:30pm (UK GMT) Think Olympics Opening Ceremony! Team UK will parade in the ceremony and you can all watch live at worldskills.org from 4:30pm
- Competition Days, 15-18 October
- Results Ceremony, Thursday 19 October, 4:30pm (UK GMT).
CMB has a long history of developing and supporting its young apprentices, as proven when CMB and the UK achieved a Medallion of Excellence at the 2015 World Skills competition in Sao Paulo, Brazil.
Commenting on the teams’ achievements, Andrew Truelove, general manager at CarnaudMetalbox, said: “We couldn’t be prouder of our young engineers and we’re absolutely thrilled to have a team representing the UK once again. The future of industries like ours is in their hands, and we can protect that future by encouraging them to develop their skills and nurturing the talents they quite clearly possess.
“We are delighted with the quality and value the apprenticeships we provide, and this selection reinforces the message that we are committed to drive invention within the can making industry and continue to invest in its future. We wish the team luck in Abu Dhabi this week.”
In preparation for World Skills, the team were interviewed on 9th October by BBC Breakfasts’ Step McGovern, a longtime supporter of the event.