Going for Gold
-  The 2007 WorldSkills Competition  -

The search is now on to find enthusiastic and talented young chefs, waiters and pastry chefs with passion, drive and flair to represent the UK at the next WorldSkills Competition in Shizvoka, Japan, in 2007. This will be followed by WorldSkills Competitions in Canada (2009), and in London (2011).

WorldSkills, the international vocational skills training organisation, holds the competition that bears its name bringing together, biennially, hundreds of young people aged 18-22 from across the world.  Participants compete in almost 40 skill areas ranging from engineering to beauty therapy, competing for Gold, Silver, and Bronze medals.  In the hospitality industry, we are looking to select three competitors to represent the United Kingdom in:

• Cookery
• Pastry
• Restaurant Service

London’s bid to host the 2011 WorldSkills Competition was backed by the Prime Minister, Tony Blair, the Skills Minister, Phil Hope, and the Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone.  The final decision was made in Melbourne, at the World Skills General Assembly, on 10th May 2006.  You can find out more at www.ukskills.org.uk

All competitors must be holders of a British Passport and be aged 18 – 22, born not before 1st January 1985 or after 1st January 1989.  If candidates are too young to enter the 2007 competition in Japan, we are also looking for potential candidates, who, with the right training and development, could compete in 2009, in Canada.

The competition will provide marvellous opportunities to talented young people.  Together with our colleagues on the Hospitality Skills Committee, and at UK Skills, our Training Managers will support and help put those with promise through a structured development programme to bring them up to “World Class” competition standards, in preparation for Japan next year.

If you think you have the potential to compete in Japan in 2007, or know someone who does, click here to apply or contact us at:

skills@halm.co.uk

We very much look forward to hearing from you.  We need to select our team for Japan within the next few months, closing date:  Friday 18th August 2006.