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The UK is
bidding against Australia and Sweden to host the four day event.
The skills and knowledge of our people are absolutely
vital to Scotland's
future economic success.
 Businesses
across Scotland were today urged to add their support to a UK-wide bid to
host an international skills competition in 2011.
Held every two years, Worldskills bring together hundreds of young people
aged 18 to 22 from more than 40 countries to compete in skills ranging from
engineering and IT to carpentry and cooking.
The UK is bidding against Australia and Sweden to host the four day event.
If the bid is successful, Scotland will be given an opportunity to host one
of these days, providing a window to showcase the country's skills and
know-how on a world stage.
Deputy Enterprise and Lifelong Learning Minister Allan Wilson was speaking
following his attendance today at a business reception held by the Lord
Mayor of London to encourage firms across the UK to get behind the
Worldskills bid.
He said:
"The skills and knowledge of our people are absolutely vital to Scotland's
future economic success. We are ambitious for our young people, who are the
future drivers of our economy, and want to excite them about learning and
the world of work.
"Determined to Succeed, our strategy for enterprise education, is ensuring
that every schoolchild can get the opportunity to develop a 'can do, will
do' attitude.
"Beyond school, our highly successful Modern Apprenticeship programme is
enabling more than 34,000 people to combine work experience with training.
"Bringing Worldskills to the UK would provide a fantastic opportunity to
inspire Scotland's young people to medal success and to consider the
benefits of vocational education and training.
"I want to see Scotland play an active part not only in 2011 but in events
leading up to the competition itself.
"The support of business and training providers will be crucial in this. We
need companies of all sizes to come on board, both as sponsors and in
helping develop our young people to compete with the rest of the world.
"By coming forward and showing their support, businesses can help shape
Scotland's future workforce."
Worldskills is the largest event of its type in the world. Last year's event
took place in Helsinki with Japan playing host in 2007 and Canada in 2009.
The successful bid for the 2011 Worldskills will be announced in Melbourne
in May.
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