Apprentices from across the UK have been selected as members of Squad UK for WorldSkills London 2011.

The squad members - including 10 from Northern Ireland - were announced by Minister of State for Further Education, Skills and Lifelong Learning, John Hayes, at the Association of Colleges Annual Conference in Birmingham.

They were chosen from a variety of backgrounds and from across the UK by UK Skills to form Squad UK.

They will now spend the next year preparing to take on the very best 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.

The Squad members, all aged 18-24, were chosen after tough selection competitions which took place last month. The skills represented by Squad UK range from Electrical Installation, Mobile Robotics and Web Design to Cooking, Hairdressing and Landscape Gardening.

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Stormont Employment and Learning Minister, Danny Kennedy said: "Northern Ireland's strong representation among Squad UK is testament to the high standards of vocational training in our colleges and the commitment to excellence shown by our young people.

"The talents which they will go on to display at WorldSkills will not only bring the prospect of individual and team success in this prestigious competition, but also ensure that the quality of Northern Ireland's workforce of the future is able to meet the economic challenges which lie ahead."

By entering the WorldSkills Competition, the UK is able to benchmark and assess training standards from around the world, helping with the Government's commitment to create an internationally competitive workforce here in the UK. With over 50 nations competing in 45 skills areas and an anticipated 150,000 visitors, WorldSkills London 2011 promises to empower people across the UK – opening their minds to the opportunities learning a skill can bring.

The Minister continued: "I wish every squad member well with their training, and look forward to watching their progress in the run up to WorldSkills London 2011."

Over the next 12 months, a full calendar of WorldSkills London 2011 events and activities all around the UK will showcase how skills shape our world and helping to shift public perceptions of workplace learning.

(GK/BMcC)